Arsenal ease past Palace and cement top spot

Arsenal moved eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table after a confortable 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace at the Emirates.

Palace have sacked manager Patrick Vieira on Thursday after a 12-match winless run, and interim boss Paddy McCarthy saw his team close to score with 11 minutes played when Wilfried Zaha struck the post.

Arsenal became more dominant throughout the first half and managed to take the lead in the 28th minute when Bukayo Saka clipped a cross into the box for Gabriel Martinelli, who drilled a left-footed shot into the bottom-right corner.

Saka doubled lead on 43 minutes with a simple finish into the bottom corner after being played in down the right by Ben White.

With 10 minutes into the second half, Mikel Arteta's men added a third after Leandro Trossard played a through ball to Granit Xhaka and the Swiss bundle in at the near post.

In the 63rd minute, Jeffrey Schlupp pulled one back from close range following a Michael Olise corner.

But any hope of a draw dissipated when Saka struck his second and Arsenal's fourth with 74 minutes on the clock, with a first-time from Kieran Tierney's cross.

The victory means that Arsenal move eight points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table, while Palace remain 12th in the table but are just four points ahead of bottom side Southampton.

Next up, Gunners host Leeds to the Emirates in their first game back following the international break, while are at home to Leicester City on April 1.