Pressure rises on Arsene Wenger as Crystal Palace shock Arsenal

Crystal Palace 3 -Arsenal 0: Arsene Wenger and the Arsenal hierarchy insist no final decision has been taken about the manager’s future. More performances like this, however, and the manager’s position will become untenable.

A spineless, directionless, display ended in a humiliating, fourth successive away defeat that prompted chants of ‘you’re not fit to wear the shirt’ from the visiting supporters. Still seven points behind Manchester City who occupy fourth place, the chances of Arsenal missing out on the top four for the first time since Wenger arrived in north London are rising with every passing game.

Sam Allardyce said: “We all know Arsenal are in a poor spell of results. Every player feels the frailties of that. But the only way you can take advantage of that is to work hard and shut them down.”