Ex-midfield general Patrick Vieira still a commanding presence on Arsenal sideline

Vieira acknowledged his welcome with a brief raise of a hand and controlled his emotions by sitting motionless in his dugout for the first couple of minutes

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates after scoring Arsenal’s opener in their Premier League clash with Crystal Palace at the Emirates. Picture: Adam Davy/PA

Crystal Palace had the upper hand on and off the pitch in their last London derby as they humiliated Tottenham with three unanswered goals and their fans celebrated the first major victory for their new manager, long and heartily. “He’s won more than you, he’s won more than you, Patrick Vieira, he’s won more than you.”

Accurate and pretty catchy, but the always excellently vocal south London supporters had some opposition at Arsenal on Monday night — if only for a while.