Published: 3 February, 2014
by PAUL COWLING at the Emirates

Premier League
ARSENAL 2, CRYSTAL PALACE 0

TWO goals from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain took Arsenal back to the top of the Premier League following this hard-fought win against Crystal Palace.

The Gunners have now scored 31 goals from midfield in the league this season, and these latest two came from the exciting England prospect, who had not scored a goal since the opener in the national team's 2-2 draw with Brazil in the Maracana last June. 

After the match, Arsene Wenger was delighted with Oxlade-Chamberlain's two-goal salvo from a more central midfield role. 

Injuries to Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey, coupled with Mathieu Flamini's three-game suspension had meant Wenger was short of bodies in front of the back four – hence the Ox taking centre stage against Palace.

"I always believe Oxlade-Chamberlain can play wide and central. He has proved me right today with the quality of his performance." said Wenger.

Arsenal had dominated a frustrating first half, but failed to find a way through the Palace bus.

"We needed to get three points today," said Wenger. "It was difficult to create space, and we needed to be patient and intelligent."

That intelligence duly arrived just after the restart, when Santi Cazorla planted a delightful, defence-splitting pass for Oxlade-Chamberlain to run on to. The 'Ox' controlled the ball with his first touch, and with his second, drove the ball wide of Julian Speroni's goal to make it 1-0 Arsenal.

Two misplaced passes were almost Arsenal's undoing a minute later as Palace's response was swift. But the Gunners were grateful to keeper Wojciech Szczesny, who got down well to Cameron Jerome's header on 48 minutes.

Arsenal's 1-0 lead looked likely to be a nervous and narrow one in the closing stages. But Oxlade-Chamberlain made sure of the three points in the 73rd minute when he played a delightful one-two with Olivier Giroud, before drilling a shot into the net for 2-0 Arsenal.

Arsenal were now coasting and heading back to the top of the league, ahead of the Monday night showdown between their two title rivals – Manchester City and Chelsea.

"I shall be watching the match with interest," said Wenger.

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Arteta, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil (Gibbs), Podolski (Rosicky 71), Giroud (Bendtner). Subs: Fabianski, Jenkinson, Gnabry, Zelalem.
Attendance: 60,005

ARSENAL COMMENT by Paul Cowling

JIM White got the yellow tie out on Friday night as he shouted the passing minutes down to the 11pm deadline of the transfer window. 

The Gunners delivered big time from Spain back in August with the marquee signing of Mesut Özil. 

But on this January night, would there be any excited fans at the Emirates? There was not.

In fact, there was nothing from any club of any note. All I could see was Yeovil getting their own yellow ticker across the bottom of the screen to announce they had been loaned a photocopier from Barnsley.

Then, suddenly, up pops Wenger and a giant yellow shouty graphic to announce Arsenal had pipped the rest of the football world to the loan signature of a injured middle-aged Swedish beach footballer .This literally was Arsenal's 'loan signing'. The only one, when they could have done with a striker and maybe a central defender.

For a few quid more Wenger could have got the support striker Julian Draxler that the fans and the club's title challenge crave. 

Draxler might be out injured until March, but Kim Källström is out for even longer (with a stress fracture of his back) – Six weeks and counting!

When asked about Källström's signing, Wenger was insistent the Swede would still play his part for the Gunners: "It crossed my mind not to complete the deal at 5pm on Friday. But I decided to do it because we might need players for March and April.

"We are focused on this second part of the season and we have a strong squad."

Will it be a gamble by Wenger, that the club didn't get Draxler? Or at least sign him now in time for next season?

Arsenal fans have to make do with what they've got now, and hope that Giroud stays fit, and Wilshere and Ramsey make a speedy return. 

Maybe in August, if Arsenal are still without a trophy, Jim White and especially Arsenal fans will have something better to shout about.

This wasn't the window of opportunity that Arsenal fans wanted. They are hanging on in there, but they will have to fight on three vital fronts with the same players as they started the season – that is until the beach-playing footballer is finally fit for purpose.