Four goals within the first 25 minutes condemned Crystal Palace to a heavy 4-1 defeat away to Arsenal.

Defender Nacho Monreal began the goal glut when he headed in from a corner, before Alex Iwobi finished off the Spanish full back’s cutback cross for the Gunners’ second.

It went from bad to worse as Laurent Koscielny scored from another set-piece and Alexandre Lacazette completed an intricate Arsenal move.

Despite an improved second-half, the game had already been settled.

Here’s how News Shopper rated Crystal Palace’s players…

Wayne Hennessey – 5 – An awful afternoon for both him and his defence. Some of it down to poor marking and other times it was quality Arsenal play. Some good saves though.

Timothy Fosu-Mensah – 6 – Actively disrupted Arsenal’s attacks on occasion but his opposite number Alex Iwobi was too much, particularly in the first 45.

Martin Kelly – 5 – Lacazette was a handful, as expected, and couldn’t do much against a powerful Gunners attack at times. Both him and Tomkins could have done better for the corners.

James Tomkins – 5 – Similar comments to Kelly, particularly during the Lacazette goal. Simply did not have a good afternoon in defence.

Patrick van Aanholt – 6 – Like everyone else, terrible first 45 minutes. All around, not just him. Improved second when he got forward with Fosu-Mensah and caused trouble.

James McArthur – 5 – Little to say about the first half. Looked wasted going further wide so forced to tuck in when Arsenal broke away from Palace.

Luka Milivojevic 6 – Both him and Cabaye were eventually decimated by Wilshere and company after repelling them. Better second half and a great goal.

Yohan Cabaye – 6 – Did well to try and pull the strings from midfield, made some decent interceptions, but still overawed. Unfortunate to go off stretchered.

Bakary Sako – 6 – One of Palace’s better players going forward but snatched at some of his chances in the first half. Became more of a headache in the second, still a little wasteful.

Wilfried Zaha – 6 – Was Palace’s best attacking threat, unsurprisingly, as he played both secondary striker and creator-in-chief. Couldn’t arrest the slide though.

Christian Benteke – 5 – Isolated figure up front and could not do much other than try and bring others into play. Had very few chances to work with.

SUBS

Jairo Riedewald – N/A