Crystal Palace 3 Arsenal 0: WATCH HIGHLIGHTS – Gunners Champions League hopes in tatters after humiliating defeat at Selhurst Park

ARSENE WENGER endured his fourth straight away defeat for the first time in his 21 years as Arsenal boss after watching his dreadful side crushed at Crystal Palace.

Goals from Andros Townsend, Yohan Cabaye and Luka Milivojevic leaves the Gunners seven points off the top four as their Champions League hopes capitulate.

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Crystal Palace were hoping to catch their opponents off guard in the early stages and their pressure soon paid off after 17 minutes when Townsend lashed in his third goal of the season.

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Cabaye’s pass out wide found Wilfried Zaha whose cross fell perfectly into the path of the winger to give the Eagles a crucial lead.

Arsenal’s best chance of the half came through Mohamed Elneny but his strike was well parried by keeper Wayne Hennessey.

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But it was Palace who looked most likely to extend their advantage and third choice keeper Emiliano Martinez had to be at his best to deny Christian Benteke just five minutes before the interval.

Danny Welbeck then dragged his shot wide of the post as he tried to beat the Welshman from a tough angle.

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Arsenal had to come out fighting in the second period but they nearly found themselves two behind when Benteke poked the ball into the net only for the offside flag to go up.

And it wasn’t long after until Cabaye produced a scintillating first time lob over Martinez to leave Sam Allardyce jumping for joy on the touchline.

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Any hopes of a comeback where over when Martinez brought down Townsend in the box before Milivojevic made no mistake from 12 yards.

Arsenal fans then turned on their own players as they sang: 'You're not fit to wear the shirt'.

The results leave Allardyce's side six points clear of the relegation zone in their bid for survival.

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FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS

• WHEN will visitors to south London learn that even the shortest journey can take an eternity? Arsenal stayed in a Croydon hotel yet were still caught in traffic and didn’t arrive at Selhurst Park until 45 minutes before kick-off.
• THIS was Arsenal’s 11th defeat of the season and the first time they had lost at Crystal Palace since 1979. No wonder their fans chanted “We want Wenger out” and “you’re not fit to wear the shirt”
• WENGER named an unchanged team for only the fourth time this season, which meant that Theo Walcott continued to wear the armband in the absence of injured captain Laurent Koscielny

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• THE Palace fans lapped up the hard work their team put in to close Arsenal down and no-one put in more of a shift than winger Andros Townsend.
• IT IS more than three months since Danny Welbeck returned from a long-term knee injury but the Arsenal striker is still struggling to make any kind of impact up front and it was no surprise when he was subbed after an hour.
• WHAT has happened to Hector Bellerin? The Spanish full-back is supposed to be on Barcelona’s radar but maybe he’s starting to believe the hype because his form has been terrible these past few months.

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• MAMADOU SAKHO has been a revelation since arriving at Palace on loan in January. Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp might not rate him but the big Frenchman was as solid as a rock once again.
• SASA CURCIC was Palace’s half-time guest and time has not been kind to the former Eagles midfielder.  The eccentric Serb who led a playboy lifestyle has piled on the pounds and looked like he had just finished a shift on the building site.
• WILFRIED ZAHA has suffered more fouls than any other Premier League player this season but the Palace winger is no angel himself and wasn’t averse to leaving a foot in every now and then.
• LUKA MILIVOJEVIC scored his first Palace goal when he overruled Townsend to convert from the penalty spot and confirm Palace’s precious victory.

BIG PICTURE

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SOCIAL SAYS

WHAT THEY SAID

Palace boss Sam Allardyce: "Tactically the players were aware of how to beat Arsenal. Arsenal have been weak defensively, they leave the centre-backs exposed.

"We won a lot of possession off them and created lots of chances. Cabaye's goal, what a finish - and that was down to us pressing them. It wasn't a shock for me because we played Chelsea and won that game. Everything worked perfectly for us today."

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger: "I understand our fans are disappointed and we all are deeply tonight. It's very worrying and disappointing the way we lost the game. Palace were sharp, they beat Chelsea the other day, and that shows they have quality.

"We lost too many duels and we paid for that. There is no obvious reason why. We prepared and everyone prepared well. It's difficult to explain just after the game."

DREAM TEAM RATINGS

Crystal Palace: Hennessey 7, Ward 7, Kelly 7, Sakho 7, Schlupp 7, Cabaye 8 (McArthur 74, 6), Milivojevic 7 (Flamini 82, 6) Zaha 9 (Delaney 88, 6) Puncheon 7, Townsend 9, Benteke 7

Subs not used: Speroni, Fryers, Kaikai, Sako

Goals: Townsend, Cabaye, Milivojevic

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Arsenal: Martinez 5, Bellerin 6, Mustafi 7, Gabriel 6, Monreal 6, Elneny 6 (Ramsey 59, 6) Xhaka 7 Walcott 6 (Oxlade-Chamberlain 69, 6) Ozil 6, Sanchez 6, Welbeck 6 (Giroud 59, 5)

Subs not used: Macey, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Coquelin

Booked: Mustafi

STAR MAN: WILFRIED ZAHA