Lethargic is probably the best word to use to describe Arsenal’s performance on Sunday.

We looked tired, off the pace. We looked like a team who had played Monday, Thursday and then Sunday. A side that had played a European away just 60 hours before the kick-off in South London.

Having won 11 in a row, fans left the ground with a feeling of frustration and annoyance that we did not make it 12 in a row. It was a natural feeling after Arsenal were 1 up with just 10 to play. But having seen the side lose 11 away games last season, the disappointment in a draw just highlights how optimistic fans have become under Unai Emery.

It was a very sloppy display by Arsenal, and in days gone past we would not have even come away from Selhurst Park with a point.

The first half was typical of a lot of first halves under Emery.

The one criticism that you would put against the Spaniards time at the club so how poor we are in the first half. The statistics are quite startling:

There are two schools of fault.

The first is to praise Emery for changing things, and turning tough positions into victory – something we were not doing last season. The second is to justifiably question why we have led a Premier League game at half time yet.

Slow starts will eventually catch up with you, and instead of finding yourself drawing (or 1 down) at half-time, you will find yourself 2 or 3 down, the game gone before any changes can be made.

Despite this criticism, there is clear progress at Arsenal.

A few media bods have jumped on a 2-2 draw away to Palace to shout “Arsenal were never quite as good as those wins suggested” Almost celebrating Arsenal slipping up as they are aware that negativity about the club creates the hits – a successful Arsenal team does not make for good advertising revenue.

The reality is, Arsenal fans – and the management- knew things were not perfect. No one attempted to paint us as being flawless. We all know a time would come where the winning run came to an end. And that happened at Palace.

The criticism the club has had over the last 24 hours for the draw is a bit OTT. It is almost like journalists have taken out 3 months of frustration that we were winning.

Instead of being on a 11 game winning run, we are now on a 12 game unbeaten run – the longest current unbeaten run in English football.

We sit in 4 place after 10 games.

When Emery took over from Arsene Wenger, we all would have agreed that 4th after 10 games; 4 points off top would be a successful start to the new era.

We are on the coat tails of the title race and have one foot in the knock out stages of the Europa League.

The press will try and paint things differently to what they are. They will attempt to knock us off our perch. To present us in a negative light.

No Arsenal fan expects the club to win the league this season. our title challenge will depend more on if Manchester City run away with it again. What we expect is for us to be in the race for 2nd or 3rd. A top 4 finish will be a good season.

We will drop points, home and away, throughout the season. But so will Tottenham (lost to Watford) and so will Chelsea (drew with West Ham). Man City have drawn against Wolves this season – highlighting that no side is perfect.

A draw away to Crystal Palace is not a bad result.

Arsenal will look to continue their unbeaten run against Blackpool on Wednesday.

Hopefully Emery looks at the Palace game and understands that some players were jaded. with a huge game against Liverpool coming up on Saturday, anyone in line to make the starting XI should not be involved in the League Cup.

On a final note, we at She Wore would like to send our deepest condolences to the families, friends and those connected to Leicester City Football Club and the Srivaddhanaprabha family.

Keenos

Follow @KeenosAFC

Crystal Palace (1) 2 Arsenal (0) 2
Premier League
Selhurst Park, London SE25
Sunday, 28th October 2018. Kick-off time:1.30pm

(4-2-3-1) Leno; Bellerín, Mustafi, Holding, Xhaka; Torreira, Guendouzi; Iwobi, Özil, Aubameyang; Lacazette.
Substitutes: Cech, Sokratis, Ramsey, Lichtsteiner, Mkhitaryan, Welbeck, Smith-Rowe.
Scorers: Xhaka, Aubameyang
Yellow Cards: Lichtsteiner, Guendouzi

Referee: Martin Atkinson
Attendance: 25,086

Another lunchtime kick-off on a Sunday, another match in London, another derby away from home. This time we meet Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, a ground where we have traditionally done well, losing only once in a Premiership match there since they returned to the top flight back in season 2013-14. Two of our most famous players in the past 40 years have arrived to us from The Eagles (or The Glaziers, depending on how far back you started supporting them), namely future Arsenal and England skipper Kenny Sansom in 1980, and the legendary Ian Wright, our second highest goalscorer of all time, who signed for The Gunners in 1991. He scored 185 goals from 288 appearances, before leaving us for West Ham United in 1997.

Of course, we started slowly, as per usual. And as per usual there were several heart attack moments in the first quarter of an hour or so, which only meant that Crystal Palace started to grow in confidence as the first half wore on. Although we had chances to score (which we criminally wasted), the back line struggled at times as the opposition started to get more and more physical, and as they did, our defence were unable to contain them adequately. And again an individual error led to disaster. Almost on the stroke of half-time, Shkodran Mustafi made a very clumsy tackle on the Palace attacker in the penalty area; of course he went to the ground, of course it was a penalty and of course The Eagles scored. When will we ever learn from our mistakes?

Guess what? Six minutes into the second half, we redressed the balance with an absolutely fantastic goal, worthy of one that would win a cup final. After Lucas Torreira was brought down with a hasty challenge from a Palace defendeer on the edge of the box, Granit Xhaka perfectly struck a beautiful free-kick into the top corner of the goal, via the post. Now we have a purpose. Being on the ascendancy for the first time in the match, we pressurised the Palace goal relentlessly, and within five monutes of the equaliser, we took the lead with a controversial goal, which, to tell the truth, should have not been given. Granit Xhaka took a corner, Alexandre Lacazette unbelievably had his arm in the air, and unfortunately ball went to hand that enabled it to change flight, enough so for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to bundle the ball over the line. Chaos then ensued, with a vengeful Crystal Palace bringing the game to us with some urgency. An angry Mesut Özil (who flung his gloves on the floor in disgust as he left the pitch) was substituted for Danny Welbeck, and in turn ten minutes later Aaron Ramsey replaced Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in order for Arsenal to regroup and consolidate in order to ensure the three points. Alas, it was not to be. Another controversial moment, another penalty decision against us. Less than ten minutes from full-time, Granit Xhaka stuck a leg out towards an attacking Palace striker in the penalty area; quite naturally the forward went to ground quickly, and just minutes later Crystal Palace scored from the penalty spot to make the final score being an exhausting two-all draw.

For Arsenal, this match was a disappointment to say the least. We still do not learn our lessons with regards to the defence, and although it was unfortunate for us not to continue the winning run, it may just be that it could be a blessing in disguise. Going into the Liverpool match next weekend, we now know how it feels to have victory snatched from us, so it could just be that this could be the impetus for us to win in front of our supporters. The proof will definitely be in The Emirates pudding come full-time on Saturday evening. We’ll see. Remember everyone, keep the faith, get behind the team and the manager, as these early days are going to be crucial for our future success in all competitions. Stick with the winners. Victoria Concordia Crescit.

Steve

Too Dearly Loved To Be Forgotten: Arsenal v Racing Club de Paris 1930-1962 by Steve Ingless (Rangemore Publications, ISBN 978-1-5272-0135-4) is now available on Amazon.