Arsenal V Crystal Palace - Six classic matches from over the years

Olivier Giroud

Arsenal V Crystal Palace - Six classic matches from over the years

By Tom Masters

Last week Arsenal were left frustrated by Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex after a goalless draw saw the Gunners fall into the bottom half of the table. 

After three victories in a row, including an impressive 3-1 victory in the north London derby, this has put a dampener on proceedings, but the Gunners still sit just four points behind the Champions League places. 

Next up for Mikel Arteta’s men is Crystal Palace at the Emirates, not an easy game perhaps, but a fixture in which they have a very good historical record.

In fact, since the first fixture between the two sides, a 7-0 FA Cup win for next weekend’s hosts in 1934, the Eagles have only defeated the Gunners five times. 

Down the years there have been some classic matches between the two sides, with Arsenal on the right side of the score line, more often than not.


Arsenal v Crystal Palace – Six classic matches over the years 

02 November 1992 – Crystal Palace 1-2 Arsenal

In a season where George Graham’s Gunners lifted both the FA Cup and the League Cup, this game was famous mainly for the celebration of a former Palace player who scored the winning goal at Selhurst Park.
 
Ian Wright’s celebration after his goal in the 73rd minute to ensure Arsenal made the trip back across London with all three points infuriated Palace fans and delighted Arsenal fans. 

Paul Merson’s early strike was cancelled out by an Eddie McGoldrick goal midway through the second half, but Wright found some space and took his chance well to knock it past Nigel Martyn in the Palace net before celebrating in front of the Eagles faithful.

 

14 February 2005 – Arsenal 5-1 Crystal Palace 

Newly promoted Palace came to Highbury the year after Arsenal’s invincible season, and it was a one-way game from start to finish. 

Thierry Henry’s stunning brace set North London alight, with two spectacular goals from the World Cup winning Frenchman. 

Arsene Wenger’s men scored three goals in seven minutes through Dennis Bergkamp, José Antonio Reyes and Henry’s first stunner to lead 3-0 at half-time. 

Patrick Vieira made it 4-0 after the break with a tap-in before Andrew Johnson’s penalty gave the Eagles a consolation goal just after the hour mark. Henry then scored his second after a wonderful run from Bergkamp to finish the job off. 

 

 01 January 2017 – Arsenal 2-0 Crystal Palace

This was a game famous for a Puskas award winning goal from another of Arsenal’s French superstar strikers, Olivier Giroud. 

The build-up play between Hector Bellerin and the target man was exceptional, before Alexis Sanchez played in a sumptuous ball for Giroud to attack and put past a helpless Wayne Hennessey via the crossbar with an audacious scorpion kick. 

Later in the game Alex Iwobi made it 2-0 to leave Arsenal on a nine-match unbeaten streak at the Emirates.

Nacho Monreal and Alexis Sanchez

 

28 December 2017 – Crystal Palace 2-3 Arsenal

After Sam Allardyce’s Palace won 3-0 against the Gunners the previous April, Arsenal were out for revenge, and a quickfire Alexis Sanchez double ensured this trip to Selhurst Park would be successful. 

Shkodran Mustafi gave Arsenal the lead inside the opening half an hour before Andros Townsend’s equaliser early in the second half. 

Sanchez’s well taken double came in the 62nd and 66th minute respectively, before James Tomkins’ late goal gave Palace a consolation goal. 


20 January 2018 – Arsenal 4-1 Crystal Palace 

This was one of the most explosive performances from Arsenal in a season where they were unable to make the top 6, as the Gunners raced into a 4-0 lead after just 22 minutes.

Goals from Nacho Monreal, Alex Iwobi, Laurent Koscielny and Alexandre Lacazette gave the Gunners an incredible unassailable lead, much to the joy of the Emirates faithful. 

A Luka Milivojević goal late in the second half gave Palace fans something to cheer about, but ultimately it was not enough to make up for Arsenal’s incredible first half. 


19 May 2021 – Crystal Palace 1-3 Arsenal 

In Roy Hodgson’s final game both for Palace and in professional football, the scores were level at 1-1 heading into the 90th minute before the Gunners stole the lead and then added a third goal in stoppage time to spoil the party atmosphere at Selhurst Park. 

Nicolas Pépé scored the first of the stoppage time goals, to add to his goal in the first half, before youngster Gabriel Martinelli made it 3-1. 

Christian Benteke made the scores level just after the hour mark and it seemed like the points would be shared before the late flurry meant Arsenal took maximum points.

Photo credit: Getty Images

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