Less than twenty minutes for Arsenal to salvage something. Even a consolation. Who'd have thought we'd been speaking in those terms 71 minutes ago?

Palace fans are singing: Arsene Wenger, we want you to stay.

Andros Townsend is brought down by Emiliano Martinez in the box. Was he looking for it? It looks a pen.

It's a superb finish from Yohan Cabaye. This is going to take some doing for Arsenal to come back.

Hang on to your hats...

Image source, Reuters

It's almost a parody. Alexis Sanchez looks to get the game by the scruff of the neck, holding off the challenges, firing a spicy low pass out to Hector Bellerin. He cannot cross it, so back it comes to Mesut Ozil, who could shoot, or pick out a man, but plays it to a Palace shirt, and then when it comes back to him knocks it straight out of play.

Mohamed Elneny comes off for Aaron Ramsey in the Arsenal midfield, and Danny Welbeck makes way for Olivier Giroud up top.

He's scored in each of his past three matches at Selhurst Park, Giroud. The away fans sing his name.  

Image source, Reuters

That is so poor from Hector Bellerin - picked out by Alexis Sanchez at the far stick, he gently prods one towards goal. Mis-hit, under-powered, going nowhere. Looks like Aaron Ramsey is coming on.

Boom one! Granit Xhaka can put his foot through it but he shies away, plays it short and complex into Alexis Sanchez's feet instead. As with all the other moves they've tried to pull off in a similar vein, it breaks down. Theo Walcott is left lunging at an over-hit pass as play eventually returns down the right wing. 

It's not vintage Arsenal, this. Olivier Giroud is being readied.

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Steve Bould and Arsene Wenger taking turns to make empty-hand gestures on the bench. Pointing this way and that. No matter which way you look at it, their team is second best. 

Wilfried Zaha's been told to go out there and turn Nacho Monreal's evening into nightmare. He's chasing him down at every opportunity, roared on by the growing voice behind that Arsenal goal. 

Again, Granit Xhaka gives the ball away in midfield. Andros Townsend launches a dangerous cross in from stage left, Arsenal clear for a corner, and Jason Puncheon stabs one straight at Emiliano Martinez. Flying they are.

Palace are flying - what a start to the second half. 

Christian Benteke is there again to prod home the rebound from Andros Townsend's low strike but the forward is beyond enemy lines - offside. He knew it. Correct decision.

Arsenal just need to breathe at this stage. 

Image source, Reuters

Brilliant work from Wilfried Zaha down the left, he beats Nacho Monreal all ends up and delivers a fine cross to Christian Benteke in the Arsenal box. 

Back to goal, he holds off his man, shifts in to space and smashes one - but Hector Bellerin manages to recover and deflect wide.

Image source, Getty Images

No changes for either side at the break. 

Mesut Ozil with an early chance for a few flutters in the Palace box with a free-kick launched to the back stick - it looks decent but evades everyone. Possibly a bit too much on it, even for the tall men to attack.

Back under way!

Image source, PA

Craig Smith:  Arsenal need muscle in that back four and defensive midfield. Against bottom 10 teams get bullied off the ball too often. 

John Odande:  Arsenal losing to Man City would have been easy to take. Losing to Crystal Palace is bad for Wenger. All fans will turn on him.

Kyle: Predictable from Arsenal. Lots of the ball but not clinical enough. Plus every time Palace attack they look a threat.

Arsenal, who have won just two of their past seven league matches, will equal a club Premier League record of four consecutive away defeats if they lose tonight.

Nervous, Gunners fans?

Away! Palace's defenders have got their hoofing boots on. The home team have made 15 clearances in reply to Arsenal's questions, centre-backs Martin Kelly (5) and Mamadou Sakho (3) leading the way.

Image source, Opta