Arsenal produced yet another appallingly flaccid performance at Selhurst Park on Monday night, with hosts Crystal Palace running out deserved 3-0 winners.
The Gunners were hoping to build on their 3-0 midweek win against West Ham, but instead were no match for an energetic and vibrant Palace, with star men Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez disappointing throughout.
Ex-Tottenham winger Andros Townsend opened the scoring from close-range for the Eagles on 17 minutes, after the visitors’ backline was breached far too easily.
Despite having the lion’s share of possession, Arsenal toiled and struggled to create much in the game.
Just after the hour-mark, Yohan Cabaye doubled the hosts’ advantage, courtesy of a superb first-time looping finish.
Five minutes later, it was game set and match for Sam Allardyce’s side after Townsend went down far too easily under a needless challenge from Arsenal ‘keeper Emiliano Martinez.
The impressive Luka Milivojevic converted the resulting spot-kick to send the home fans wild.
A lacklustre Arsenal continued to dominant possession but failed to direct a single shot on target in the whole of the second half as the home fans sang “Arsene Wenger, we want you to stay”.
‘We want you to stay, we want you to stayyy, Arsene Wenger, we want you to stay!’
Happy days for Palace fans 😂
📽 @ElliotHawkins0 pic.twitter.com/xrk9ENokLL
— Copa90 (@Copa90) April 10, 2017
A section of the travelling support, on the other hand, belted out “Arsene Wenger, we want you to go” and “You’re not fit to wear the shirt.
Utterly embarrassing, yet perfectly understandable scenes.
Scenes. Ball goes out 10 ft from us, fans refuse to send it back to Hector, then shouting “you’re not fit to wear the shirt” right at them. pic.twitter.com/F7Qsn4owLS
— GoonersInUSA Podcast (@GoonersinUSA) April 10, 2017
The result sees Palace move a healthy six points clear of the drop-zone as Allardyce once again looks like dodging relegation.
As for Arsenal, they have now lost four away league games in a row for the first under Wenger, and find themselves seven points off the top four.
They’ve also conceded more goals than Middlesbrough this season, leaking three goals or more in four consecutive away matches for the first time since 1929.
As is, Arsenal could be mathematically unable to overcome Spurs on points as early as April 26th, so go ahead and scratch those St. Totteringham’s Day celebrations you had planned.
Is making a change at the very top now the Gunners’ only chance of salvaging a top four place this season?