Crystal Palace 3 - 0 Arsenal

 I can't argue with the score at halftime.  Palace was at least that much better.  I don't see a way back for the Gunners now, but I'm looking forward to seeing how they go about meeting this challenge.  A loss here would drag them into the middle of the pack of chasers for 4th spot.

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The second half was much better, but Palace still was superior.  We had a lot of the ball, which Palace did not mind, and fashioned some good chances, which the defense did just enough on to stop.  Palace's penalty was irrelevant to the result.  As far as I'm concerned, the referee did a very good job and I'll accept his call.  

I was really impressed with the energy the CP players brought.  They kept running, and pressing, and going forward.  The goals were superb.  For once, Arsenal looked slow and lazy, at least until the second half.  Vieira may have prepared for Arsenal's preferred formation, but whatever the reason, the Gunner attack was nonexistent for the first 45.

We're out of 4th place and our prospects of regaining it probably hinge on the games with our direct rivals in the table:  Man U, Tottenham, and West Ham.  We also play Chelsea.  Run that table and we're in, get blanked and we're out.  The actual results will probably lie in between, but where?  At the beginning of the season, I'd have jumped at 6th place and Europa League.  That may be where we end up--or even lower, unless we pull ourselves together.  The problem is the thinness of the squad.  Our two outside backs are injured, and the replacements were just enough under the first string level that it showed.  Partey got injured today.  We can't go much further into the squad without throwing more teenagers out there (apparently Pepe has been forgotten).  I think 6th is more likely than 4th at this point.  I hope it's not lower.