Arsenal have returned to the top of the Premier League with a 2-0 home win against Crystal Palace.
The Gunners started well and dominated possession with some decent build-up play. However, they did little to worry the Palace defence.
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That changed with seven minutes played. Mesut Ozil floated a pass to Nacho Monreal, who saw his effort kept out by Julian Speroni. Santi Cazorla also shot over the bar from a 30-yard free kick.
Palace then put together a rare attack. Damien Delaney lofted the ball to Cameron Jerome, but the forward was offside.
Arsenal continued to huff and puff as they tried to break down a stubborn Palace defence, with Tony Pulis's side matching the home side's slick passing with tough defending.
Ozil's free kick went through everyone in the box, before Speroni was forced to tip the ball away.
The away side threatened shortly before the break, but Jerome's header from Jason Puncheon's free kick was saved by Wojciech Szczesny.
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Arsenal broke the deadlock with just a minute played in the second half. Cazorla did well on the edge of the box and floated the ball to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who got in behind the Palace defence and lifted it over the onrushing Speroni.
The Eagles almost equalised, but Szczesny kept out Jerome's header with his legs. The hosts looked comfortable after that, although Delaney headed wide from Joel Ward's cross.
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The Gunners doubled their lead with just under 20 minutes remaining, and it was Oxlade-Chamberlain again.
The midfielder was allowed to run at the Palace defence and made it to the penalty area. He then worked some space and drilled a low effort past Speroni.
Gary Peters
