Defeats are always hard to take, but it is more difficult to accept when the performance is gutless and inexcusable. Well, that's just what happened as Arsenal were outclassed in a 3-0 defeat at London rivals Crystal Palace!
Yes, give Palace a lot of credit, they did a number on us and thoroughly deserved their win. But at the same time we also made them look good and our lack of fight and hunger to get back into the game was very frustrating to watch.
We barely threatened Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey and apart from a headed chance and a penalty shout I can't really remember us doing much else. The defeat hurts, but the manner of it hurts more. I wouldn't have felt much better, but had we actually looked remotely like making a comeback and tested Hennessey more it might have been easier to take. Instead we seemed void of ideas and didn't look remotely like even getting one goal.
This season was already looking bleak, but at least we had games in hand and the chances of getting back in the top four if we won them looked half decent. After that showing it looks even tougher to get back in the top four and we could even drop lower than our current position of sixth. Even if we do somehow perform a miracle and snatch fourth it still wouldn't be good enough. Yes, if we can win the FA Cup that would be amazing as I do love that competition, but I'm not sure I can even see that and it still wouldn't paper over the big cracks. Something has to change!
Palace had the better of the chances in the opening 15 minutes, although both Luka Milivojevic and Yohan Cabaye sent their efforts off target.
Arsenal forced Hennessey into a decent save soon after as Mohamed Elneny's strike was excellently tipped to safety by the Welsh goalkeeper. But the scores didn't stay goalless for much longer as Palace scored their first goal after 17 minutes. It was poor defending by Arsenal, although a Palace fan did admit to me that it could have been a foul from Christian Benteke in the build up to Andros Townsend's goal. Townsend exchanged passes with Cabaye before the latter released Wilfried Zaha. Zaha got away with slipping before setting up Townsend to score from close range and the Arsenal defence really should have done better.
Alexis Sanchez forced Hennessey into a save before sending his next effort narrowly wide, but sadly that was about as good as it got for us at Selhurst Park.
Hennessey also saved a header from Arsenal defender Gabriel, while at the other end Emiliano Martinez did well to keep out Benteke before the break.
It nearly got worse for Arsenal soon after the restart, but fortunately Hector Bellerin blocked Benteke's effort before Martinez later denied Townsend.
Elneny fired a shot wide as Arsenal attempted to haul themselves back into the game, but it was Palace who were deservedly next to score after 63 minutes as Cabaye latched onto Zaha's cutback to hit a wonderfully curled effort into the top corner.
Arsenal then had a penalty shout, which at the time looked like it was wrongly not given, but either way it would have made little difference and Palace were definitely the better team on the day.
The hosts made our evening worse by adding a third goal from the spot soon after as Townsend appeared to be fouled by Martinez in the box. Milivojevic made no mistake from the spot as he fired the ball into the bottom corner.
Bellerin sent a shot wide as Arsenal failed miserably to get back into what was a one-sided contest. Credit to Palace for the win, but the lack of times we tested Hennessey's goal was not good enough and the performance really was poor.
We couldn't even manage a goal and didn't really look close to scoring apart from the odd effort here and there. Not only are we miles behind leaders Chelsea, but we are in serious danger of falling even further behind our usual comfort of fourth spot and myself and the rest of our fans are all understandably unhappy.
OPPOSITION VIEW
Eagles fan Chris Williams was understandably delighted after his side's brilliant result against the Gunners.
"Oh what a night!" said Williams. "Despite our recent upturn in form I was worried going into the game. Not only had Palace never beaten Arsenal at home in the Premier League era, but injuries to key defenders have left us weaker at the back.
"I needn't have worried, Mamadou Sakho has been a rock in central defence since his loan arrival from Liverpool and once again he was outstanding tonight.
"Big Sam has worked wonders with Andros Townsend as well, a player who was lacking confidence and game time under Alan Pardew. He may have looked for the penalty tonight, but you can see why the referee awarded it.
"Wilfried Zaha will be named Palace's Player of the Year this season, two more assists for him tonight. The club will have to try really hard to keep hold of him during the summer transfer window.
"I have every confidence Palace will still be a Premier League side come the summer, we are now six points above the relegation zone with a game in hand on our closest rivals. We have the toughest run-in of all the sides at the bottom but six points from our remaining seven games should be enough. Bring on Brighton next season!"
MY FINAL THOUGHTS
There is absolutely no excusing that woeful performance and, although Palace did deserve it, we should have put up a far better showing than we did at Selhurst Park.
This season has already been a failure, but after a draw against Manchester City and a win over West Ham reaching fourth actually looked possible especially with having games in hand. But not after that awful defeat to Sam Allardyce's men.
It was certainly a night to forget and has left us seven points off fourth-placed Manchester City, who we meet in the FA Cup semi-final later this month, albeit with a game in hand.
When you have the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil on the pitch yet still struggle to create much of note it is very worrying. The games will continue to get harder now with teams feeling more than ever that we are there for the taking.
Let's just hope the next match away at Middlesbrough is a lot better than this. It certainly won't be easy as Middlesbrough will certainly fancy their chances of causing an upset as will many teams against us at the moment as we have under-performed massively.
But being a fan isn't all about glory, you have to take the rough with the smooth. Yes it is mainly all rough at the moment, but I'll continue to back the team and just pray we can perform better and not put in another Monday horror show!
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
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