“Arsenal’s added time winners spoil Roy Hodgson’s farewell.”

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Crystal Palace (0) 1 v 3 (1) Arsenal

      62 Benteke, assist Townsend                 35 Pepe, assist Tierney, and 90+5

                                                                           90+1 Martinelli, assist Odegaard

Yellows: Schlupp, Benteke                              Elneny

Played Wednesday 19 May 2021at Selhurst Park in front of 6,500 returning fans.

Manager Mr Roy Hodgson, who announced he would be leaving Crystal Palace at the end of the season, was greeted by a guard of honour formed by players and warm applause from the returning home fans. That warmth and admiration for his 45 years in football management which took him to 16 Clubs in 8 countries was there at the end although 2 late goals in added time, which he would at one time have known as “injury or extra time”, by Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli and Nicolas Pepe took a little of the shine off the occasion for this unassuming but most sincere football man. For Pepe this was his 2nd he having opened the scoring for the Gunners which was equalized by the Eagles’ Christian Benteke.  

This was the last match in the Premier London Derbies (PLDs) series for this season, so we can give a preliminary look at our mini-league table:

Club                                    Win      Draw    Loss     Goal Difference    Points  

Chelsea                                  7             1         2                + 12                    22

Arsenal                                 6             3          1               + 8                       21

Tottenham Hotspur            3             4          3               + 3                       13

West Ham United                3             4          3               – 2                       13

Crystal Palace                       1             4          5               – 12                       7

Fulham                                   0             4          6               – 9                         4

Congratulations to Chelsea (again) and tough on Arsenal who did the double over them, and whose only defeat was away to also-rans Tottenham Hotspur. West Ham United took 4 points off Spurs but had a worse goal difference. Crystal Palace’s goal difference was the worst but their single win at sadly relegated Fulham kept them off the bottom.

Roy Hodgson could still have a say in the outcomes of the other Premier League (PL) Clubsfor European football in the final matches on Sunday 23 May 2021. A win by Crystal Palaceaway at Liverpool would keep Chelsea in the top 4 whatever their result at Aston Villa. West Ham United need only 1 point at home to Southampton for a well-deserved Europa League place. Tottenham Hotspur must win away at FA Cup Winners Leicester City or Arsenal would take 7th place and the new Europa Conference League if they beat Brighton and Hove Albion at home. A lot at stake so we shall be back next week.

Until then, “Keep Safe” and enjoy your football, perhaps watching! Andrew at PLDs.