Crystal Palace vs Arsenal 4 April 2022 Premier League

hello everyone the heavens opened earlier and the rain doesn't appear to want to stop here at selhurst park in south london i'm derek ray positioned here on the commentary gantry and alongside me at the microphone is stuart robson i'm very much looking forward to bringing you action from the premier league it's crystal palace versus arsenal well derek as is always the case the team that dominates midfield will be the team that controls the flow of the game and that for me is the area that's key today [Applause] and this is the arsenal starting eleven aaron ramsdale as the goalkeeper granit xhaka plays with thomas party in central midfield and leading the line today alexandre lacazette [Applause] just looking for the right moment for that final pass granit xhaka very comfortable when in possession must take the lead here oh but he's missed it how on earth is this still level well i just don't know derek just a real lack of composure in the end they should be ahead now well whenever you're trying to defend against wilfried zaha quite simply you've got to be on your toes stuart what do you expect to see from him today well it's his ability well how close was that inches away [Applause] mitchell kuyase arsenal's free kick here [Applause] and lacazette determined defending spot on with that circle granit xhaka party they've given it away anderson philippe delightful pass it was a menacing attack but tidied up [Applause] the referee correctly decided to play advantage gallagher [Applause] passing it around looking for the goal that would put them ahead well i think a classic commentator's curse just then couldn't make the ideal pass now let's see what they can do here but nothing comes of it good defending it was and unable to keep the ball going well and the keeper driving towards him [Applause] let's see about the delivery relatively straightforward to mop up defensively [Applause] or sloppy in possession granite jacker tierney great strong tackle throw in forthcoming marcinelli [Applause] splendid tackle and the outcome is a corner here going short [Applause] well high and more than a bit helpful flying effective challenge [Applause] regaining possession [Applause] arsenal pushing forward with options available but they dealt with the threat post and tremendous individual skill now counter-attacking possibilities here well it fizzled out and played the pass well prepare to take on the shot well that was easy on the eye and he didn't miss by much well that's how to counter attack they did it with such pace just couldn't finish it off oh a lovely ball there is the goal to open the scoring who can say they don't deserve to be in front well let's look at that again i'm almost lost for words here derek it's really sloppy defending you can't be giving the ball away in such a dangerous area like that and not expect to get punished it's just really poor and they're getting the ball moving again can palace come up with an answer here connor gallagher cool yeah now can they create something from here and a good looking ball oh a fantastic save but hang on offside is the decision here [Applause] so almost at the break here i'm not quite going to plan for the home side what to do stuart well they've not had quite enough purpose to their attacking play so far it's all been a bit too predictable but in the second half if they can get more support to their strikers and play with greater intensity and the keeper able to hold on to it there will be one minute added on at the end [Applause] good tackle [Applause] that is that for the first half here well let's advantage arsenal after the first 45 minutes but still a long way from being decided here thomas party it's with erdogan granit xhaka farsi jacka with it marcinelli a very timely interception [Applause] gallagher mitchell showing a real will to win the ball oh a lovely incisive pass [Applause] and hunting for his second goal tonight however well you're absolutely right he's been on great form today that was another good effort connor garnica well alex lacazette when he's on song really can be a captivating player and stuart i know he's caught your attention so far well it's been a really good display for him so far derek he scored the leading goal he's been energetic and his movement has caused lots of problems to this back line can he keep it going in the second half though and the counter looks on here options available well at peter dax gallagher [Music] still trailing but they're upping the pressure [Applause] really getting stuck in kieran tierney an alert intervention [Applause] arsenal have it back [Applause] marcenelli opportunity lacazette and he scored not once but twice they simply cannot stop him and no wonder he's enjoying himself well just look at this again the speed of counter attack is so impressive and then the finish is fairly simple in the end that's a good goal [Applause] a second goal for them [Applause] unsuccessfully cut out excellent passing carsonelli [Applause] well that's how to put in a clean tackle can they hit on the break defenders need to cover [Applause] but ultimately upper cul-de-sac [Applause] wilfred zaha [Applause] well possibilities in the center not all that convincing defensively and in the end no damage done and he read it well this looks more than decent you certainly can't fault them for trying as they keep the pressure on well that was a decent effort and you just since the goals coming here there has been plenty of limbering up from substitutes and now both sides will make personnel switches [Music] nicola pepe able to skip past his man and throwing himself up the ball now they fancy a short one zouty defending to win the ball back [Applause] anderson [Applause] and the conditions look pretty good for the counter attack ezzy and take it away this attack looks highly promising had to come up with the ball and did 10 minutes to go back here which he does and maybe just maybe there's enough time for an equalizer it would be quite the frenetic turnaround well let's see this again this is counter-attacking football at its very best and then just look at the finish derrick he reads the flight perfectly and absolutely smashes it beyond the goalkeeper there's just no stopping that well two one it is here good looking sequence and foiled by the post [Applause] pepe this could finish it and with that they thwarted the opportunity and lacazette well that would certainly have put the game to bed but there's still a bit of time left here jean philippe still pressing for a goal here and a wonderful diving save to deny the opportunity a corner kick and who knows this might represent the last chance to grab an equalizer well it wasn't a great header in all fairness and the goal kick it is it is a decent looking attack here oh good looking run if they can score again from this corner it probably would be the end of the story taking shorts it's one corner after another but he's gone short with it oh it comes to nothing in the end really should have made more of that and that brings this game to an end a day of frustration for crystal palace all things considered three points dropped well derek it was a hard fought contest which neither side completely dominated but the result will certainly hurt them they need to bounce back next time out