GUNNERS LOSE THEIR GRIP

No hugs, no celebrations... and no goals at Emirates

AT least Arsenal did their best to avoid hugging.

In fact, there was never any chance of a goal celebration for the Gunners at the Emirates as they could not find any inspiration to break down Crystal Palace’s stubborn resistance.

It was not back to the bad old days before their post-christmas mini revival, but it did still feel very flat and underlined just how fragile form and confidence can be in this bizarre Premier League season.

With no fans to get behind either side, no crowd to lift players, you realise just how sanitised these games can be and it is little wonder hardly any team has strung together a decent run of results.

Palace actually went closer to winning than their hosts as James Tomkins hit the crossbar and Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno made a super save to deny Christian Benteke.

Arsenal started very slowly and the lack of intensity was alarming, as they were sloppy with their passing and really missed Kieran Tierney, who pulled out at the last minute with a muscle problem.

Tierney is so often the player who sets the tone for the Gunners, his fiery determination can lift performances and his stand-in, Ainsley Maitland-niles, looked very rusty having played so little recently.

Maitland-niles even put one ball out for a corner as he misplaced a pass back from just within his own half. It summed up their rather lackadaisical approach and gave Roy Hodgson’s men encouragement.

Finally, Arsenal began to threaten as first Pierre-emerick Aubameyang cut in from the left and saw his fierce shot beaten away by Vicente Guaita, and the Eagles keeper also thwarted a decent effort by Bukayo Saka. Arsenal have relied so heavily in their recent revival on youngsters and Emile Smith-rowe was at least busy as he tried to make things happen for Mikel Arteta’s side.

Smith-rowe, 20, is reminiscent of a young Paul Merson with his blond hair, socks rolled down, and forward runs with the ball stuck to his foot like a magnet.

But it was Palace who came closest in the first half as Arsenal were punished for what seemed like the umpteenth time Granit Xhaka had given away a free-kick.

Eberechi Eze – lucky to even be playing after his apparent Covid breach last weekend by going to former-club QPR’S Cup tie with Fulham without FA permission – put over the free-kick and Tomkins rose at the back, but his header hit the crossbar.

Shortly afterwards, Palace went even closer as Tyrick

Mitchell broke down the left, put over a cross which found Benteke in the middle, and his header forced a brilliant save by Leno in the 42nd minute.

Arsenal did get better after half time, stepping it up as Maitland-niles even improved with a shot to test Guaita before Gunners boss Arteta made a double change.

Thomas Partey and Nicolas Pepe came on to try and give the home side a spark, but they just looked toothless in attack with Aubameyang still struggling for form.

Palace carried more threat on the counter attack, Wilfried Zaha always looking for an angle as he took continual heavy punishment, David Luiz even getting booked for a crude tackle from behind.

But eventually a disappointing match finished in a bland, frustrating stalemate, and you could see the worry lines return to Arteta’s face.