BBC SPORT
If Arsenal were short of confidence after three straight defeats, then Crystal Palace turned out to be pretty much the perfect opponents to get them back on track.
The Eagles were so weak and passive that I never thought for one second they would trouble Mikel Arteta’s side. The Eagles offered next to nothing, and got the battering their performance deserved.
Arsenal, in contrast, looked refreshed and full of energy after their winter break and their set-piece routines got them off to the perfect start.
They ended up easy winners but having said all that, and seen them score five goals, I still haven’t changed my mind about what the Gunners are missing.
They are only two points behind leaders Liverpool despite having a horrible run in the past month, but I still think they need a quality centre-forward to go to that next level, and go on and win the Premier League.
