Perhaps the following should be presented without comment: Arsenal are timing their run towards the Europa Conference League to perfection. They have won four consecutive Premier League games for the first time since October 2018 and will not mind that this defeat of Crystal Palace, who deserved to honour the retiring Roy Hodgson with a win, came via their only three shots on target.

Mikel Arteta’s team had hardly threatened in the second half when, in added time, Gabriel Martinelli ghosted onto a cross from his fellow substitute Martin Ødegaard and converted scruffily. Nicolas Pépé, whose superb opener had been cancelled out by Christian Benteke, still had time to score an equally outstanding third and set up a final day that now feels alive with possibility.

Related: West Brom v West Ham, Crystal Palace 1-3 Arsenal: Premier League – live!

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