The Arsenal fans filed out of the stadium at the final whistle with a look of disbelief on their faces.
The Gunners are eight points clear at the top - yes, really, eight points - of the Premier League and are rapidly building an unassailable lead. Yes, Manchester City have a game in hand. And, yes, Arsenal have to go to the Etihad on April 26. But you would rather have the points on the board and Arsenal might be even further ahead by then.
This season has been such an unlikely story that it almost feels like Arsenal fans refuse to believe it might actually happen and are therefore afraid to even dream about it. But Arsenal have been superb this season in overcoming every challenge and hurdle.
This time, it was a London derby against a Crystal Palace side with a new face in the dugout, on the back of a gruelling European exit last Thursday after extra time and penalties. So, what happens? The player who missed the crucial spot kick in the shootout, Gabriel Martinelli, scores the opening goal. What a way to bounce back.
Bukayo Saka scored two, got an assist and did not even play at his best. He did not need to when Rob Holding filled in brilliantly at centre-half for the injured William Saliba while Martin Odegaard drove the game and Ben White was sensational from right-back.
Mikel Arteta has done a job bordering on the miraculous in constructing a team which is so consistent, so good to watch and just delivers every week. He has built an incredible spirit in the dressing room, changed the atmosphere within the stadium and all of the ingredients are there for a first title success in 19 years.
It was a near-impossible task for Crystal Palace. You do have to wonder whether it made sense to sack Patrick Vieira just two days before facing his old club and caretaker Paddy McCarthy certainly did not inspire an improvement.
Under previous owners, Palace were an advert of how not to run a football club. Administration, points deduction and struggling in the Championship. Therefore, it is hard to question the chairman, Steve Parish, but he must get the next decision right because this team is sinking fast.
Palace started quite brightly and Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale made a super save by pushing Wilfried Zaha’s low shot onto the post, but once Arteta’s men went ahead after 28 minutes, there was no way back. White fed Saka and his low cross was fired in by Martinelli at the back post. That combination of White, Saka and Odegaard down the right was the key to victory.
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It was 2-0 after 44 minutes. Saka started the attack, White then played in his fellow Englishman and his low shot beat Palace’s rookie keeper Joe Whitworth. Arsenal made it 3-0 and game over soon after half-time. Oleksandr Zinchenko found Granit Xhaka, Leandro Trossard’s clever assist then released Xhaka who forded home despite Joel Ward’s best efforts.
Palace gave themselves hope after Jeffrey Schlupp got one back as he scored from close range after Michael Olise’s corner. Zaha went close to another which would have made it interesting as Arsenal finally showed some nerves.
But they were quickly settled down by a fourth goal. Will Hughes’ poor clearance only reached Kieran Tierney, the Arsenal substitute’s low cross found Saka who swept home. Arsenal go into the international break with a huge lead, their European exit long forgotten, and they will surely take some stopping.
