Arsenal swept aside a managerless Crystal Palace side 4-1 at the Emirates on Sunday to enter the final international break of the 2022-23 season with an eight-point lead in the Premier League with 10 games to play.

Bukayo Saka netted a brace before joining up with Gareth Southgate's England, with Gabriel Martinelli and Granit Xhaka also scoring, helping to close the goal difference to Manchester City to just two, despite conceding from a Crystal Palace corner at the other end.

Despite a few early Palace chances, the Gunners responded well to Thursday night’s Europa League penalty shoot-out defeat against Sporting Lisbon, controlling the ball and relentlessly pushing the Eagles back and continuously feeding Saka and Martinelli the ball in one-versus-one situations.

And Arsenal’s domination afforded them the opportunity to make some substitutions to manage the starters.

During the run-in, it will be important for Mikel Arteta to manage the squad, without any more European fixtures, juggling fitness, injuries and game time for both starters and fringe players who will likely be called upon in the remaining games.

Ben White had an excellent game, controlling Arsenal’s attacks from deep, finding Saka either in between or in behind Palace full-back Tyrick Mitchell time and time again, playing a pivotal role in the opening two goals, as well as marshalling Wilfried Zaha throughout. 

Each week there seems to be a different stand-out player for the Gunners with each of the regular starters stepping up at different moments to keep the run going. 

Arsenal’s second-leg penalty defeat to Sporting Lisbon proved costly on the injury front, though, with William Saliba picking up a back injury that will keep him out for ‘several weeks’, and saw him miss the Palace game.

Takehiro Tomiyasu also picked up a ‘significant’ knee injury that will see him miss the remainder of the season.

All of Arsenal’s eggs are in the Premier League basket from now until the end of May due to their Europa League exit, leaving Arsenal with 10 cup finals and an eight-point lead to hold, although chasers Manchester City now have a game in hand, as well as a two-legged Champions League quarter-final and FA Cup semi-final to contest for now.

The Gunners will be hoping for a clean bill of health after the international break ahead of a massive final two months, with lowly Leeds visiting on Saturday week (April 1, 3pm).