Before this match, Arsenal were 5 points behind leaders Liverpool after a series of 3 consecutive defeats and only 1 win in the last 7 matches in all competitions. The "Gunners" were also eliminated from the 3rd round of the FA Cup by Liverpool before heading to Dubai (UAE) during the winter break.

After topping the table last December, Arsenal have lost their way in the race for a first English top-flight title since 2004. The main problem is their lack of goals, having scored just five times in their last seven games.

However, with Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus returning from a knee injury, coach Michel Arteta has said he will not be signing any strikers in the winter transfer window this year. The Spaniard is confident that his players will be more energetic after enjoying the warm weather in Dubai to avoid the cold winter in England.

Welcoming Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium, the Gunners performed exactly as Arteta expected. They dominated their opponents throughout the match and the important thing was to find the back of the net.

After leading 2-0 in the first half thanks to Gabriel Magalhaes and an own goal by goalkeeper Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Arsenal continued to score in the second half with goals from Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinell (2 goals) to seal a resounding 5-0 victory.

This victory helped coach Arteta's team temporarily rise to 3rd place, 2 points behind Liverpool but having played 1 more game. Meanwhile, coach Roy Hodgson is still under a lot of pressure as Crystal Palace continues to stagnate in the bottom half of the rankings.