Alexis Sanchez put Arsenal ahead but Yannick Bolasie's goal made it three games unbeaten for Alan Pardew as Wenger's men failed to impress
Arsenal's season continues to evaporate into nothingness after drawing 1-1 withCrystal Palace at the Emirates.
Arsene Wenger's men flattered to deceive for large spells against Alan Pardew's side, but took the lead through Alexis Sanchez on the stroke of half-time, heading home Danny Welbeck's clipped pass.
That was only their second shot on target in a turgid first period, and while the Gunners dominated possession, they struggled to create clear-cut opportunities against the FA Cup semi-finalists.
The game looked set to end with a 1-0 home win, but Yannick Bolasie had other ideas, cutting in from the left flank and firing a low effort past a sluggish Petr Cech with 10 minutes remaining.
Here's five things we learned at the Emirates...
1. Despite his goal, Alexis guilty of falling into old ways
As you would expect from the club’s two most expensive-ever signings, when Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez are ‘at it’, Arsenal look at their best.
Quite simply, the ex-Real Madrid and Barcelona men are the Gunners’ two most important players in the attacking third, and it is when they are allowed to flourish, in close proximity, that the side looks most threatening.
But here, as has been the case all too often in 2016, such moments were few and far between. And as the assists have dried up for Ozil, wins for the team have followed a similar path.
During the first half of the campaign, there was a more ruthless edge about Wenger’s side. Now, they’ve turned back full circle to the days of overplaying, trying to walk the ball into the back of the net.
And while Ozil isn’t doing anything particularly different, still probing and penetrating with his passing, Alexis, for all his work-rate and energy, is as guilty as anyone.
His goal here was well-taken, no doubt. But too much of his play lacked clarity; too many touches, too many better options turned down all in the hope - not expectation - of playing the killer ball that wasn’t on.
Invariably, that not only closes space for himself, but also, when the ball is released, for others.
For every neat step-over away from an opponent, there were too many moments of running aimlessly, going nowhere. All too often, his poor decision-making, in stark contrast to Ozil's intelligent use of the ball, made life easy for a packed Palace defence.
2. Walcott’s time looks up
Another Premier League encounter, another non-event for Theo Walcott.
At the start of the campaign, the 27-year-old was a viable alternative to Olivier Giroud for the main striker spot, perhaps even nudging ahead of the Frenchman for a time. Now he’s behind both Giroud and fit-again Danny Welbeck for that particular job.
And not only that, but he’s also down the order in terms of the wide positions; Alexis and Alex Iwobi, again impressive, are currently the duo en vogue, but there’s also Aaron Ramsey and Joel Campbell both vying for a place - not to mention Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Walcott has made just one league start since the end of January and had played just 40 of the 450 league minutes prior to this match. Ten years after his arrival, and he’s no closer to being vital than when he first arrived.
His Euro 2016 hopes look up in smoke and he still has three years left on his deal - but for the sake of his future as much as anything, it’s time for him to head elsewhere this summer.
3. Pardew’s striking conundrum is wasting Bolasie
It’s fair to say that Crystal Palace haven’t got much change from their strikers this season. Ahead of today’s match, in a combined 59 matches, Messrs. Campbell, Wickham, Chamakh, Gayle and Adebayor had a paltry seven goals between them - five via Wickham.
At the Emirates, with safety all but assured after the events of the last week, Alan Pardew elected to go with a 4–4-2 formation, as he continues his quest to solve his striking conundrum. Wickham led the line, the 23-year-old now well placed to be the No.1 man for the remainder of this campaign, and next season.
But with Joe Ledley playing wide left, Yannick Bolasie was chosen to play alongside Wickham. In itself the idea wasn’t a foolish one - looking to get the Congolese star to exploit the channels, and turn one-vs-one against either Koscielny or Gabriel, isolating them with his pace and trickery.
However, much of what has made Palace such a counter-attacking threat under Pardew, has been Bolasie, down the left, picking the ball up deep and driving forwards, dragging his team up the field. Without either he, Bakary Sako or Wilf Zaha in the starting XI doing that, they aren’t as effective at exploiting gaps. The side simply doesn’t go from back to front as quick.
And Bolasie, who has put together quite the one-man highlight reel in recent seasons, is far less potent when having to battle centre-halves, or take the ball with his back to goal.
Tall and rangy, he needs to be facing play with space in which to work, to get the best out of him.
That means out wide and cutting in, not vice-versa. His goal, making the most of the space afforded, proved just that.
4. All-rounder Elneny does just the job
Ever since the breakup of the Patrick Vieira-Gilberto Silva axis, Arsenal have been searching for the kind of all-action midfielder, blessed with technique and power, who can both fit into their artful scheming and offer brute force in front of their defence.
The emergence last season of Francis Coquelin into a first-team player and his subsequent partnership with Santi Cazorla, gave the Gunners a balanced mixture at the base of midfield; Cazorla’s creativity with the Frenchman’s tenacity.
But Cazorla has spent much of this season injured - and his absence has been felt - while Coquelin, fine sweeper of danger in front of his defence, isn’t the best passer vertically.
However since his arrival from Basel in January, Mohamed Elneny has been a fine addition, and harks back to the days when Wenger’s (best) sides were blessed with both silk and steel.
The 23-year-old Egyptian is powerful, doesn’t shirk a tackle, can get about the pitch - in many ways, he’s a throwback to Vieira. Like the former captain, he can play too, not just side-to-side but forwards, before affecting the game in the final third (witness his excellent goal in Barcelona for proof).
Increasingly, with his chest puffed out, he looks like he belongs and often here it was he who attempted to take the bull by the horns as Arsenal searched for a second goal.
5. Neither can end their league season soon enough
Much of the first half was played out at testimonial pace. Let’s not beat about the bush, it was pretty turgid stuff.
Arsenal dominated the ball, but failed to test Wayne Hennessey until Ozil’s 43rd minute effort, ahead of Alexis’ injury-time opener.
They looked like a side going through the motions, happy to get that top four finish and call time on a season which has ultimately delivered little.
Meanwhile Palace, who ended their dismal run of 14 league games without a run in victory over Norwich last week, are safe.
At least they have an FA Cup semi-final to look forward to next weekend.
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