The Gunners blew an injury depleted Palace off the pitch in 22 minutes and then coasted to an easy win. No one should be lulled into thinking we solved any basic problems today. Palace was awful on the day, especially early, and even so they had their chances. They could have had more goals had Cech not been sharp. The goal was not his fault. We definitely missed Kos and Monreal; did Nacho actually get a goal and two assists in 15 minutes? The passing wasn't really crisp. Ozil and Jack did seem to work together well. Elneny stayed back and did his defensive job, but we still looked shaky after giveaways, of which there were way too many.
But Lacazette putting one in was fantastic, and it didn't hurt to see Iwobi stick one in either. Kos seems to specialize in bundling them over from close range. (I'll never forget his bicycle kick goal aganist Southampton last season, though.) What a crisp, definitive header from Monreal to start things off.
Well, this was three points we had to get. Burnley's loss means real separation between 6th (that's us) and 7th, so Europe looks like a good bet, if not ECL. But fourth seems out of reach. We'll give it a go on Wednesday in the 2nd leg of the League Cup semi, and there's no reason to think it won't be a close game.
Feeling better now? I am.
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