Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson was pleased with his side’s response to going a goal down, following a slow start against Arsenal.
The Eagles conceded early in the game thanks to a strike from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang but showed character to get back in the game with Jordan Ayew scoring the equaliser.
Hodgson said: “Considering the fact that Arsenal started the game so well…we put that right in the 15 minutes before half-time, we got a lot closer to them and made life a lot more difficult got them and that continued into the second half.“
”As a result I think that over the total entity of the game, we can be very pleased with a point. A point we thoroughly deserved.
“I’m full of praise for this team who have once again been able to go out there and in very difficult circumstances, produce a performance against one of the country’s top clubs.”
Crystal Palace v Arsenal, Premier League, Selhurst Park, 11 January 2020
Palace were handed an advantage when VAR upgraded a yellow card for Aubameyang to a red, following a tough tackle on Max Meyer.
“I knew at the time it was a bad challenge,” said Hodgson. It’s the type of challenge that sometimes forwards make.
“But when I saw it after the game from the video, which presumably the people at Stockley Park have seen, it’s no doubt that it’s a red card. I’m a little bit surprised that we had to wait so long for that decision to be taken.
“The position of his ankle as the challenge comes in was not pleasant to see. I’d be very surprised if there wasn’t some ligament damage there. He was very upbeat after the game.”
Crystal Palace v Arsenal, Premier League, Selhurst Park, 11 January 2020
Hodgson also praised Jairo Riedewald, who is filling in at left-back with ease, following a prolonged spell out of the team.
“I am delighted for that lad. We’ve always known there’s a very good footballer there, but we’ve not found a place for him in the team with the way we play. Now we’ve found a home for him and with every game he gets better.
“But I’m also delighted for him because he’s been a model professional for the last two and a half seasons,” he said.
PICTURES BY KEITH GILLARD
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