Premier League: Martinelli scores late double as Arsenal thrash Palace - reaction

The Premier League table is an intriguing one.

Arsenal have moved up to third place, level on points with Manchester City and just two points behind Liverpool, who have a game in hand.

There are five points between leaders Liverpool and fifth-placed Tottenham.

Crystal Palace, as Roy Hodgson says, are in a relegation battle because they are only five points from safety.

They play Sheffield United at Selhurst Park next in what could be a hugely important game for them.

Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson, speaking to TNT Sports about if he understands fans' frustrations: “Yes because we are going through a very bad spell, no doubt about it. We were hoping this year to kick on, it has not happened. There are reasons for it, it is not quite as simplistic as all that but the fans are always entitled to their opinions. They care and want to see a strong Crystal Palace team. At the moment they have seen a team outplayed today by a superior opponent and they are entitled to make their feelings felt.

“There are times when we look at it from our position with the team and myself what more could we do with the people we are trying to put onto the pitch to try and get results, it is not always that easy.

“As far as I am concerned the fans are entitled to the opinions they have. I am pretty certain now they will let the club know."

Do you feel some of that targeted at you? "Probably! The manager always take responsibility. It makes me feel sad and disappointed of course because I think we are doing the best job we can do.

“But I am a manager of a football club that is not in a good position at the moment. Everything that happens to managers in that position will happen to me."

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Leandro Trossard has been directly involved in 11 goals in 14 starts for Arsenal in all competitions at the Emirates, scoring four goals and providing seven assists.

He grabbed another goal today.

More from Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson, speaking to MOTD about fan protest at the end of the game: "They are entitled to their opinions. They are frustrated, disappointed and probably angry. We haven't been able to do as well as they would like, one understands that.

"Crystal Palace fans have dragged us through many difficult situations and helped us to survive at moments when survival looked difficulty. We can only hope we can do better and provide them with what they hope to see, which is win more games and move away from the relegation zone."

Frustrated not had more financial backing? "No, not particularly because I went into the job with my eyes open. I knew what my job was and knew it wasn't to come in with a big treasure chest. I knew it was going to be working with what we have here, trying to continue keeping that team and at least heading towards the middle of the table. That was complicated by the long-term injuries we have had but I am hoping when those injuries are not part of the equation we will do better."

Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson, speaking to MOTD: "The worst thing is that three of the goals all came from corner kicks, two from theirs and one from one of ours and they started a very quick counter and 3-0 down you are up against it.

"I decided to give some of the younger players a chance on the basis we played in midweek and some of the players had worked very hard, but 3-0 down against a rampant Arsenal it was asking for trouble and asking for the two quite simple goals at the end.

"The fact is two of our major attacking players are not here at the moment, Eze is just coming back from injury. Our attacking potential is a bit less at the moment than it would be normally but I don't think we created anywhere near enough chances.

"Arsenal were very good. Whatever we would have done and whatever team we put on the field we would still have been struggling to contain them as they do have so much talent and are very well drilled.

"It is a struggle. There's no doubt we have to keep looking over our shoulder and we are in a relegation battle, no question about that. I believe the team and club and the group of players we have are more than good enough to get us away from the relegation zone. Of course at the start of the season we had hoped we would build on the end of last season."

More from Mikel Arteta on being chasers in the Premier League title race: "It is what it is. I enjoy it more when we win every single game but we are in a good moment.

"We have the second half of the season to play for everything and we will go for it."

On whether Arsenal can compete with Manchester City and Liverpool: "We will try our best. We need to make sure our players feel trusted and have the confidence. If they are doubting that is not helpful. We love the players we have."

On substitutions in the second half: "Declan Rice was feeling a sensation in his hamstring so we didn't want to take any risks at 3-0.

"Gabriel had a tackle in the first half on his knee. I hope not [too serious] but we will see."

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta speaking to TNT Sports: "The positivity we had right from the beginning. I had a really good feeling in the last 10 days about the team and how they reacted. They are great players, we have a great team and today they really wanted it. I could feel that. It was a win with a clean sheet and we scored five goals which we really needed.

"We opened the game up the way we did [with the early goal] which is really helpful as it means the opponent has to be more aggressive which allows more spaces. We exploited that really well."

On set-pieces training: "We work on everything and we want to dominate every phase of play. We want to be the best team in the world so you have to be the best in everything. We can still do better so we will continue to work on everything that can make us better."

Still waiting to hear from Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson. We'll bring you his reaction when we get it.

SMS Message: Lots of people feeling sorry for Roy but he chose this. We tried to give him a hero's send-off in 2021 but didn't take it and had a failed stint at Watford instead. Roy has been in the game long enough to know you're only as good as your recent results. Fan frustration is justified but I only worry we will panic the board into another managerial mistake. from James, South London

Lots of people feeling sorry for Roy but he chose this. We tried to give him a hero's send-off in 2021 but didn't take it and had a failed stint at Watford instead. Roy has been in the game long enough to know you're only as good as your recent results. Fan frustration is justified but I only worry we will panic the board into another managerial mistake.

More from Bukayo Saka speaking to TNT Sports: "Most games it feels like we're going up against a low block. The Premier League is a really physical league.

"It's about me studying it, trying to find a solution - whether that's dribbling, finding space or passing it.

"It hasn't been easy but I'm still trying and we're still doing well as a team.

"We do a lot of work on set-pieces. It's the worst! Our set-piece coach tries to make it fun. We're doing well and what he's doing is working.

"We went out of the FA Cup mostly on a set-piece so we wanted to put it right today and get a clean sheet. We scored two so we're happy.

"Everyone knows we lost the last three games so this one was important for us and the fans to build some momentum.

"When you look at the league table, you want to be first. You don't want to be third, fourth of fifth. That's my feeling personally."

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, speaking to MOTD: "Very pleased, clean sheet and five goals, win the game and performance.

"I had a really good feeling after we left the stadium after Liverpool, the performance was there but the results were not.

"Today we were much more efficient in the opponents' box particularly than the last few games. Last few games we had moments playing better than today but this is about scoring goals.

"Set pieces are a big part of us, especially against teams that want to defend deeply. It is a good way to win games.

"The success of last season was the amount of players who scored more than 10 goals and we are going to have to do that again.

"We used moments of the game we knew could exploit really, really well. The subs did really well and had a big impact. Everyone was really focused.

"This is the second part of the season we want to tackle it with a lot of aggression and motivation.

"I would like to play three days after but it is what it is! We will keep preparing and we must continue to do better and improve as a team."

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Gabriel is just completely ignoring the fact his second goal was put down as an own goal.

He's not having any of it. Fair play.

Arsenal's Bukayo Saka speaking to TNT Sports: "It's really important. First thing was to win today but that early goal helped. It calmed us and we could control the game more. I thought Gabriel Martinelli was going to get a hat-trick at one point.

"Dubai was really nice for us to have that break. We weren't in the best form before that and it helped us refresh and work on the things we needed to.

"We all knew we could score goals. We believe in ourselves and you saw that today because we scored five and we're happy with our performance. I needed the [rest] to be honest. It was nice."

Can you fight all the way? "Yeah I actually believe it. The break came at the right time. We're all hungry to push strongly until the end of the season.

"Going out of the FA Cup really hurt me so I'm sure we'll use that to push in the Premier League and the Champions League next month."

SMS Message: With Graham Potter in the crowd today, Palace have the perfect cover to say that Roy has decided to step down. Gracious departure rather than the sack to end a distinguished career. from Scott, Notts

With Graham Potter in the crowd today, Palace have the perfect cover to say that Roy has decided to step down. Gracious departure rather than the sack to end a distinguished career.

Today’s win was Arsenal’s joint-biggest margin of victory in a Premier League London derby.

Since the start of 2020-21, Gabriel has scored 12 Premier League goals for Arsenal, at least three more than any other defender during this period.

Roy Hodgson has failed to win any of his six Premier League encounters with Mikel Arteta (D2 L4).

Crystal Palace have won just one of their last 18 away London derbies in the Premier League and are winless in nine (D4 L5).

More from Arsenal goalscorer Gabriel Martinelli: "It was so important. We know our qualities. It doesn't matter what people say on the outside, we believe in ourselves. We showed that today and what we can do.

"We knew we needed a game like that where we had a clean sheet and scored five games.

"We will try our best and keep going like that because we know our expectation."

Team-mate Gabriel adds: "We work a lot on set-pieces because we know the quality we have. Today I scored two so we keep that going."

Rachel T: Can’t help but feel for Roy Hodgson. He has achieved so much, but deserves a relaxing retirement.

Dennis: HUGE win for Arsenal and that might mark the end of Roy Hodgson tenure at Crystal Palace. I'll be very surprised if he's the manager at the end of Monday

Roy Hodgson has been brilliant for Crystal Palace, but it comes to a point eventually where you think, "When do I stop?"

If you are thinking of the team and the club itself and the next generation of managers coming through, who individualise the players they coach, you think maybe it is time for a change.

Take Graham Potter for example, who is in the stands there today, he could be a good option if Roy does leave.

I think this result today and the way Palace have ended the game has been pretty poor.