Arsenal wasted their chance to take advantage of Manchester United’s earlier defeat with a limp and error-ridden performance in defeat to Crystal Palace.

Arsenal played one of their worst first halves of the season after being forced into a number of changes from the midweek win over Napoli. Christian Benteke gave Palace the lead as he was unmarked in the box from a free-kick, and that was pretty much that for notable first-half chances.

Mesut Özil dragged Arsenal back into the game early in the second half, before Shkodran Mustafi gifted Palace the chance to kill the Gunners’ momentum again. James McArthur added to the lead not long afterwards, and a positive individual goal from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang couldn’t help Unai Emery’s side avoid defeat.

Let’s have a look at our individual player ratings for the match.

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Midfield and Wing-Backs

Carl Jenkinson 2

Jenkinson worked hard but his touch let him down repeatedly and he had no support on the right-hand side. In the end, he had to come off for Maitland-Niles, as he was having no impact on the game.

It’s lucky Maitland-Niles has really taken to the wing-back position because it’s been a long time now since Jenkinson or Lichtsteiner have had performance worthy of note.

Matteo Guendouzi 5

Guendouzi has never looked better than when he was alongside Elneny in the first half. He was caught in possession a couple of times throughout the match, but he tried to make things happen and showed more fight than a lot of his teammates.

Mohamed Elneny 2

Elneny’s performance was both disappointing technically and also in terms of his work rate. He seemed to hide from the ball on a regular basis and when he did receive it he wasn’t interested in trying anything other than safe sideways passes.

Despite only playing 20 minutes less than Guendouzi, Elneny attempted just 45 passes to Guendouzi’s 86. The onus to build the play was entirely on the 19-year-old and Mesut Özil when he was forced to drop back.

Sead Kolašinac 4

Kolašinac should’ve done better on the few occasions he did get in behind the Palace defence, but Aaron Wan-Bissaka was on top of his game and a lot of credit has to go to him for the way he shut the Arsenal man down in general. One rocket of a shot that almost crept in at the near post was Kolašinac’s best contribution.

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