Arsenal vs Crystal Palace match thread

[Painter]

The end result wasn't unexpected, but we made it tough for Arsenal, who currently top the Premier League and Champions League tables.
Lacroix is getting some stick, but a ball doing pinball in the 6 yard area pinged off his foot into the nett, I doubt he saw it coming. His penalty wasn't any worse than a lot of the others, just the keeper guessed right on his 8th attempt. Lacroix is still a key player for us and constantly a good performer.
Canvot was thrown into the deep end against the tricky 2 footed Martinelli, not his position so a big learning curve for him.
Mateta is the worry, my cat can hold onto a ball better than he can, ever since he played for France his form has nosedived, needs a spell on the bench.

 

[Hrolf The Ganger]

If you have had a 'Gastric Band' implanted this could be the reason.

Just a hiatal hernia.

 

[Teddy Eagle]

You more or less echo my argument. The system that brought a brief period of success is now failing due to its very inflexible nature, and that of a manager incapable (thus far) of attempting anything different.
As it stands, with players missing and those you name as replacements, it doesn't work anymore.

Harsh since we held them to a draw in the actual game with important players missing and their bench would have probably all have made our first team. Had it been a league game we'd have been happy with the result after Leeds.

 

[Palace Old Geezer]

I am ambivalent about going out given the stretch on our resources. And I am not overjoyed by Richards' injury but....

Others have commented on the inequality of arms and the fact the team sitting clear top of the EPL and ECL have now narrowly scraped wins against us on 2 occasions at home.

I have also seen the bile aimed at Canvot that is spectacularly unfair. A teenager out of position. His time will come but we visibly improved with Clyne on.

Nketiah on the other hand... I forgot he was there. Devenny markedly improved our performance.

However, the point I was labouring toward is that, by contrast, arsenal put 3 of the world's best players on as they could not break us down. And it made no difference. Their goal was a fluke and we got one back. We were pretty good in the second half.

A sensible post silvertop. I felt for Lacroix last night, he didn't exactly know much about the goal that has his name on it and to have his penalty saved was just cruel.

Still, the Carabao Cup was always going to stretch our limited resources and I for one am not sorry it's out of the way. Much prefer us to focus on a repeat of our FA Cup exploits.

 

[est1905]

After the appalling performance against Leeds (one in which I was actually ashamed of) I feared the worst last night.
I was discussing the game yesterday morning with my son who was very down about our prospects. His best mate is an Arsenal fan and was already giving him stick. I advised that we follow a club that has a pumping heart. That when we're on a bad run, when we have injuries, that everything seems to be going wrong and backs are against the wall we turn up and we surprise everyone. I didn't promise a result but I did promise a reaction after Leeds (with my fingers crossed behind my back).
Saying to my wife a few minutes before the game I just hope for our son's sake we give a good account of ourselves and dont get battered.
I have to say I am exceptionally proud of all of them. Canvot was played out of position against Brazil's left winger who can play with both feet. It was'nt fair on him but he did his best. He'll be back. Max did what all top brave defenders do, he got stuck into the action and never shied away. Own goals happen when you do that. Ask Marc Guehi!
We may have rode our luck in the first half but in the second I would argue we were the better team. For a start Arsenal needed an OG to get on the score sheet. We scored a good goal. As for the pens? We matched them goal for goal in front of their pathetically renamed 'North Bank' end in front of their fans. In the end it came down to which keeper would guess the right way first. Kepa got lucky, simple as that. Could have gone either way and Arsenal know it. I'm not massively upset we are out but in the greater scheme of things this elimination wont hurt us. In fact it will help our preparation for the Conference League play off.
If you're going to go out of a competition this is the way you want to go out. With your head held high, knowing you've given the other team a real game.
Very proud but now we move on.