3 Points down and Arsenal back at the top!

Article by e-Arsenal Correspondent Andrew Given

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I opted not to write a review of the Palace game until after watching the Man City v Chelsea game last night, this way I don't have to speculate about what might happen at the top of the table and I can tell you exactly how we stand.

So to begin with...Kim "desperation" Kallstrom...what a transfer window cock up! Yeah he's a good player, yeah I was pleased to hear that we'd signed someone but then I hear that we've signed someone to replace an injured player who is also injured for the same amount of time, massive fricking face-palm!

I read reports on Sunday saying that Wenger knew he was injured before he had even signed and that he was signed out of desperation. In an interview with the Guardian Wenger was quoted, when asked about the completion of the deal, "It crossed my mind [not to complete the deal] but I would not have signed him if we'd had two or three more days to do something."

Ummmm....I call bull**** on that one Wenger, you had a month, a whole month to strengthen. I know we only found out about Ramsey's extended injury towards the end of the window but you put so much effort into signing Draxler that you pretty much didn't think about anyone else, Not even an extra striker. The whole debacle has been disappointing and frustrating to say the least.

So, when the match kicked off on Sunday, I wasn't as excited as I'd have liked to be. No new faces, not even on the bench, but quickly forgetting all that I zoned in to holler my support.

The team lined up without Gibbs, Monreal started at left back again. Podolski started on the left, Cazorla on the right, Ozil behind Giroud and then the surprise starting central midfielder, Alex "The Ox" Chamberlain along side Arteta.

The First half of the match was wholly forgettable, a couple of chances by both sides on goal. We didn't look that threatening going forward but then again neither did Palace, Chamakh looking a little fiery, making a return to his old club.

0-0 at half time and the guy next to me was falling asleep into his Pint.

No changes at half time and we started at Palace like a greyhound out of the gates. We looked invigorated from the half time orange slices and 2 minutes in Cazorla played a beautiful floating cross from the right side of the pitch in the left hand side of the box straight to Chamberlain who took it well on his right and chipped it over a sprawling Speroni.

The Ox is back and its 1-0 to the Gunners.

Palace hit back quickly and forced a magical reflex save out of Szczesny. A few minutes later when the ball, crossed from the right into the box, met Jerome's powerful head, Szczesny did well to get down quickly and stop it with his legs.

For the next 20 minutes we looked energetic but sloppy up front, playing silly passes that got picked off quickly or not having any support. At the back we looked calm and controlled as ever. Koscielny defending well with his speed and Mertesaker with his head. Palace never really looked like a threat and our solid defending made me feel relaxed.

Then in the 73rd minute the Ox looked inspired again when we received the ball in midfield, played a back heel to Giroud who held it up. Chamberlain spun the defender, running clear of Giroud and receiving the 1-2 through ball, he charges into the Palace box and fires low into the right hand side of the goal. Speroni got a hand to it but it had far to much power on it.

2-0 to the Gunners!

Palace tried desperately to get back into the game but failed at every attempt to penetrate our golden defense. Rosicky, Bendtner and Gibbs all got a run out before the final whistle, we where back the top of the table, at least for 24 hours.

As I'm sure you're aware, Man City played Chelsea last night, one of the many top 4 scraps that will take place over the next few weeks. A draw would have been the best outcome for us, both City and Chelsea would have dropped points and we'd stay, rightfully, at the top. A Chelsea win would also have been good, City would miss out on points but Chelsea would catch them up and a City win would have sucked since we would drop back down to second again.

Jose's men won in the end. The Etihad is no longer a fortress and City, it seems, can be beaten there.

We stay 2 points clear at the top ahead of our trip to Anfield on Saturday. We are still in a very precarious position, no points can be dropped or we will drop from the Premier Throne. Come on the Gooners!!

42 points to go.

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