Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 3 – No dream finish for Roy Hodgson at Selhurst Park

Gabriel Martinelli and Nicolas Pepe both scored in added time, as Crystal Palace fell to defeat in Roy Hodgson’s final home game in charge of the South Londoners.

While the evening was about showing appreciation to Hodgson – with confirmation yesterday that he was stepping down as Eagles boss at the end of the season – there was still a football game that took place at Selhurst Park.

The first chance of the match fell to James Tomkins, who forced a smart save from Bernd Leno when he met an Andros Townsend corner.

Arsenal were in no mood to allow the carnival-like atmosphere inside the stadium to throw them off their game – Bakayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Nicolas Pepe caused trouble for the Palace defence early on.

Christian Benteke had the next chance to open the scoring but he failed to keep his header underneath the bar from a Townsend cross.

Jeffrey Schlupp was next to test Leno – striking a sweet volley from 25 yards which forced the German goalkeeper into a sensational stop.

But the Eagles would live to rue their missed chances when Pepe put the visitors ahead in the 35th minute.

Saka cut down the left-hand side and crossed for the waiting Pepe, who duly swept a shot past the helpless Vicente Guaita from right in front of goal.

Palace had their chances in the early stages of the second half – Benteke and Schlupp both went close, but neither could find the equaliser.

The home side finally drew level in the 62nd minute through Benteke.

From a free-kick, Townsend whipped in another pinpoint ball to the back post. Benteke peeled away from Calum Chambers and planted a header out of Leno’s reach, sending Selhurst Park into raptures.

As Palace pushed forward for the winner, Arsenal punished the Eagles in added time.

Martin Odegaard sent a hopeful cross into the box, which evaded every red and blue shirt. to fall for Martinell to tap home.

Arsenal added a third through Pepe in the fifth minute of stoppage time.