Yannick Bolasie really turned the game around on Saturday.

Not only did the Congolese winger demonstrate the side of his play that he’s famed for – strength, pace, unpredictability, trickery and directness – but it’s obvious how his game has come on leaps and bounds in the past six or seven months.

I couldn’t tell you whether it’s to do with managerial instruction, coaching advice or simply better understanding of his abilities, but Bolasie is far closer to becoming a complete player.

He whipped intelligent, destructive crosses into the six yard box over and over again against the Gunners, and when he does decide to cut inside for a shot his accuracy and technique seems more honed and carefully considered than ever before.

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Sure, he’ll bang the odd shot clear into the upper tier, but for the most part Bolasie will now either provide an opportunity for a striker or test the keeper.

He seemed to bring the best out of Pape Souaré too. So far, while adapting to the Premier League, the Senegalese left back looks far more comfortable overlapping than holding his position in a disciplined defensive role (see the clumsy penalty for evidence).

With Bolasie’s flamboyance ahead of him it gave Souaré the belief and opportunity to get into those attacking positions.

Sadly, the introduction of Bolasie (alongside Glenn Murray and the uncomfortable-looking Shola Ameobi) underlined the Eagles’ second half advantage, but also came too late to change the team’s fortunes.

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Palace had been dominant and impressive for much of the second half, even having more possession than Arsenal overall – a statistic that would have been a laughable fantasy a few weeks ago, before the north London side began playing in this deep-lying, counter-attacking style away from home.

In fact, Arsenal’s defence made 81 clearances against Palace – more than any other team in a Premier League game this season.

A big positive to be taken from the game was that Palace didn’t look quite so toothless or uninspired in the final third as they have done at other times this season when allowed more possession and time on the ball.

Against sides like Aston Villa, Everton and Sunderland at Selhurst Park the Eagles have held on to the ball, been punished on the break and failed to find ways to cause the away side much bother.

On Saturday, Palace did well to forge out various good opportunities throughout, such as Dwight Gayle’s strong header just over the bar, Jason Puncheon’s free kick and various crosses and shots blocked by Per Mertesacker et al. Not to mention Murray’s header off the upright in the dying seconds.

With extremely tricky games away against West Ham and Southampton up next for Alan Pardew‘s side, a point would have been lovely – if unlikely.

However, we’ve already won at St. Mary’s this season. And after pushing Arsenal as close as this, neither of those games are quite as formidable as they once would have been.