Era defining game as Crystal Palace humble Arsenal

Pride. Togetherness. Desire. Bravery.

Our performance against Arsenal had those things in spades, it was like watching a throwback to the Palace side of two short years ago, a side we all thought Pardew had done a good job of murdering and burying in a shallow grave in the back garden. More impressive than that though, there was one more attribute that shone through on Monday night and it was something we showed a damn sight more of than Arsenal. Quality.

The Chelsea win was huge, it was an impressive performance for a number of reasons, chief of which was the defensive solidity we displayed in the face of Chelsea’s menacing attack. Last night, last night was better.

If we’re completely honest Chelsea could have had a hatful, Costa had one heck of an off day and Palace defended with their lives. That just wasn’t the case against Arsenal, we were simply better than them and that was reflected in the scoreline. The Gunners got what they deserved… nothing.

While Chelsea saw a whole lot of last-ditch challenges last night we were assured and calm for the most part. Hennessey pulled out a couple of great stops and there were some key blocks but on the whole Arsenal posed little threat which is testament to our shape, discipline and preparation. The partnership of Kelly & Sakho that I criticised on Wednesday were excellent last night, as was the whole defensive unit.

While Arsenal were sloppy, ineffective and bereft of ideas Palace were sharp, direct and effective. Christian Benteke put in a huge performance, arguably one of his best in a Palace shirt. He dominated the two Arsenal centre-halves, he battled for everything and was involved in all three of Palace’s goals. You can ask for no more than that.

I said Wilfried’s performance would be key and he returned with a bang and was back to his glorious best. He really is a joy to watch, whimsically inventive with the ball at his feet and an asset to the team defensively in a way many with his talent feel is above them. Zaha is a player who just makes you smile, 3-0 up at home against Arsenal and some outrageous skill leaves two Arsenal defenders wishing they’d not bothered: that’s real joy.

For all of the excellent performances across the pitch Andros Townsend stood head and shoulders above the others. His work rate was unbelievable, he scored one, assisted one and won the penalty and more generally exploited Arsenal’s defensive weaknesses wonderfully. I wouldn’t have minded if he’d left in January and I feel a lot of fans are with me on that front, after a few good performances initially he looked despondent, uninterested and technically lacking.

The last few weeks and particularly last night leads me to think that perhaps we were all too quick to judge. He looks a different player now and was perhaps scapegoated very early based on our perception of him coupled with the team’s collective struggles. That’s not to say he didn’t have a poor patch but he has proved what an asset he can be.

Two seasons ago Liverpool came to Selhurst Park, under the floodlights, still very much in the hunt for their first title in the Premier League era. In 90 minutes their world was turned on its head by lowly Crystal Palace and, save for Steven Gerrard’s slip against Chelsea, that game will forever be etched into Scousers’ minds as the day that Liverpool saw any chance of the league finally slip away from them.

Fast forward two years and Crystal Palace fans everywhere are again basking in the afterglow of the most unlikely of wins. We find ourselves at the heart of an era-defining moment for our opposition again but this time it’s also a huge moment for ourselves.

Last night may be era defining for Arsenal because this could, and perhaps should, be the beginning of the end for Arsene Wenger. It would be unfair of me to point towards Monday’s game as the sole reason for Wenger’s departure but let me add some perspective. Losing to Palace leaves Arsenal 3 points off the Europa League, 7 points off the Champions League, 14 off the now dominant Tottenham and an incredible 21 points off Chelsea.

In the space of 90 minutes under the lights at Selhurst Park, Arsenal could have seen their chances of a top-four finish dissipate in much the same way as Liverpool’s title hopes did in 2014. Fail to achieve Champions League football and Wenger has to go and with that comes the end the last dynasty in English football.

When Liverpool rolled into town we were safe, sitting pretty in 11^th. Realistically, there was little in it for us. This time the free swing against the ‘big-hitter’ was eminently more important due to our precarious league position and winning a game nobody could have banked on us winning means that I feel confident enough to say three words that mean so much. The three words we’ve been longing to hear since the very start of the season, “I Love You” pales into insignificance compared to these three words.

We are safe.