Crystal-clear Arsenal shortcomings exposed by Crystal Palace

Arsenal's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League took a serious blow on Monday night as Crystal Palace, managed by a former Gunner Patrick Vieira, hammered their cross-city rivals.

Wiflfied Zaha comes on top against Bukayo Saka (©AFP)

This was one of those familiarly dreadful nights for Mikel Arteta and his team. Nothing went right going forward, while every defensive error resulted in a goal for the opponents. The Eagles come on top thanks to goals from Jean-Philippe Mateta, Jordan Ayew and Wilfried Zaha.

Serial corner flag killer Mateta powered a header past Aaron Ramsdale after Joachim Andersen had only half-willingly bounced a Connor Gallagher free kick across the goalmouth. The Frenchman dished out his trademark celebration of kung-fu kicking the corner flag as the noisy Selhurst Park rocked around him.

Vieira's men are yet to lose a game in which they'd scored first this season, and it was easy to see why that is. The Eagles have built up a lot of momentum and they used it in the best way possible - by scoring another goal.

Andersen hit a searching low pass through the middle towards Ayew. The ball rolled between Nuno Tavares and the diving Gabriel perfectly for the Ghanaian to slam it in and double the lead midway through the first half.

The Gunners dished out a poor performance, reminding their fans of some frustrating performances from the start of the campaign. Arteta's misfiring team went for all or nothing in the second half, but simply lacked the cutting edge needed to carve out any real chances.

All hopes for the North London team were killed off by Zaha with 15 minutes remaining. The Ivory Coast international was fouled in the area by Martin Odegaard. Zaha then dusted himself down, placed the ball on the spot and hammered it in to make it 3-0.

Emile Smith-Rowe came close twice for the visitors, but this wasn't their night. Vicente Guaita was inspired for Palace.

PREMIER LEAGUE - ROUND 31

Saturday

Liverpool - Watford 2-0 (1-0)

/Jota 22, Fabinho 89 pen/

Wolverhampton - Aston Villa 2-1 (2-0)

/Jonny 7, Young 36 og - Watkins 86 pen/

Chelsea - Brentford 1-4 (0-0)

/Rudiger 48 - Janelt 50, 60, Eriksen 54, Wissa 87/

Leeds United - Southampton 1-1 (1-0)

/Harrison 29 - Ward-Prowse 49/

Burnley - Manchester City 0-2 (0-2)

/De Bruyne 5, Gundogan 25/

Brighton - Norwich City 0-0

Manchester United - Leicester City 1-1 (0-0)

/Fred 66 - Iheanacho 63/

Sunday

West Ham United - Everton 2-1 (1-0)

/Cresswell 32, Bowen 58 - Holgate 53/

Tottenham - Newcastle 5-1 (1-1)

/Davies 43, Doherty 48, Son 54, Royal 63, Bergwijn 83 - Schar 41/

Monday

Crystal Palace - Arsenal 3-0 (2-0)

/Mateta 16, Ayew 24, Zaha 74 pen/