Gary Lineker: Good evening and welcome to Match of the Day for our thoughts on the eleventh round of the Premier League season! I will be your host after each round of games and Alan Shearer and Alan Hansen will assist me as we provide fresh post-match analysis. We will be focusing on a game or two we pick from the seven clubs we have highlighted this season - usually that will be the contender derbies.
Alan Hansen: We will also show you some interview specials with the managers right after the games, as well as occasional player profiles.
Alan Shearer: And finally, but not at last place, you will be updated with the latest news on injuries, dressing room events or even rumours surrounding your favourite clubs.
Gary Lineker: So are you ready? What really happened in the latest round of world's best league? Here we go...
Gary Lineker: The match we picked up today saw struggling Arsenal visit newly promoted Crystal Palace in a desperate bid to pick up first league win since August. The signs were visible this wasn't on the cards though as Jedinak gave Palace an early lead. Captain Vermaelen quickly equalized for the Gunners but walked the path from hero to zero in less than ten minutes as his own goal put the hosts ahead again. This wasn't enough misery for Arsenal though because Palace came at them in the second half, too, and extended their lead beyond reach in just a couple of minutes as Williams and Chamakh (of all people) scored. It will remain a mystery how bad this afternoon would have been for the visitors if Moxey hadn't picked a second yellow just after the hour mark. Even facing ten men wasn't enough for Arsenal to realize any comeback though and they barely got one more goal back thanks to Ozil.
Alan Hansen: Arsenal were heavily criticized for lacking sharpness in front of goal recently although this game showed there is much more to be desired in defense, too. I thought they were all over the place and every time Palace went forward they looked like scoring. I really think the red card spared one of the worst results the Gunners have suffered for a long, long time.
Alan Shearer: Mesut Ozil was the only Arsenal player who wanted to do something positive on that pitch. He created a goal and scored another himself. Sadly his performance wasn't backed by anybody else. Sagna, Koscielny and Monreal were awful in defense.
Gary Lineker: Let's see what the Arsenal manager had to say after the game!
Reporter: Arsenal supporters made their frustration known by tweeting how they thought your team must have changed shirts with the hosts before the game. What happened with the beautiful football we're used to associate with your team, Mr. Wenger?
Arsene Wenger: We are at a hard place and that's been going for some time now. I respect the opinion of the fans and understand their frustration. I can assure them we are working towards what they want to see.
Reporter: It doesn't seem like there is improvement though. Your attack is still misfiring but defense is looking pretty bad, too.
Arsene Wenger: You don't think that's what I'm asking the players to do, right? Come out and let in four goals... We will have a serious chat on the training ground and make sure everybody understands where they are and what shirt they are pulling on in the next game.
Gary Lineker: I don't know about the club but he is certainly at a hard place right now. As patient as the board has been with Wenger, I don't think that mutual respect and gratitude will save him if Champions League position becomes under threat.
Alan Hansen: The way Arsenal are playing right now top four is completely out of the question. They need to stabilize in the middle of the table first as they look like relegation bound team at the minute.
Gary Lineker: What do you have for us in the news and rumours section today, Alan?
Alan Shearer: Wenger is now under serious pressure while Rodgers got a slight breath after the fortunate win over Fulham. Manchester City will be relieved winger Navas was passed fit after picking up a knock. Darren Fletcher is facing suspension after being sent off for Manchester United. There weren't any fresh injuries for any of the title contenders.
That is all from this edition of Match of the Day! Watch out for the newspaper columns of our regular pundits to find out their take of the games!
