Crystal Palace boss Paddy McCarthy provides Joachim Andersen injury update after 4-1 Arsenal defeat

Crystal Palace were blown away by Arsenal in their first game after the sacking of Patrick Vieira who had won 22 of his 74 games in charge of the south London club.

The Eagles did score their first goal in five games when Jeffrey Schlupp scored from close range- but Arsenal had already scored three by then, with Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Granit Xhaka all finding the back of the net.

Saka doubled his tally and restored Arsenal’s three goal advantage after Schlupp had scored and Palace will now have to re-group and go again after the international break.

Stand-in manager Paddy McCarthy suffered his first blow of the game even before a ball was kicked-with injury to Danish defender Joachim Andersen, the Palace bosss confirmed it was a calf problem that meant he had to quickly reshuffle his team at the Emirates.

He told reporters after the game: “He felt his calf in the warm-up. We had to make a late change, which unsettled us somewhat.

“But I thought Tomks [James Tomkins] came in and did well. We just had to get on with it.”

Arsenal have now widened the gap between them and second placed Manchester City to eight ahead of the international break but Pep Guardiola’s team have played a game less with the Gunners looking to win their first league title since 2004, coincidentally that was the year of the Invincibles-the only team aside Preston North End to go through a top flight season without a defeat in English football history.

For the Eagles, this is another blow to the gut- but games against Leicester City and Leeds United after the international break will determine if they continue their 10-year journey in the Premier League.