(REUTERS) - Crystal Palace put a dent in Arsenal's Champions League qualification hopes after strikers Christian Benteke and Wilfried Zaha made the most of defensive errors in a 3-2 win at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday (April 21).
The visitors took a shock early lead inside 20 minutes when captain Luka Milivojevic's freekick found an unmarked Benteke, who headed it past Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno for his first league goal since April last year.
Arsenal boss Unai Emery responded with the introduction of Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Alex Iwobi at the start of the second half but it was Mesut Ozil who scored the equaliser after a sweeping move.
The German playmaker combined with Iwobi and striker Alexandre Lacazette before scooping the ball past Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita.
But Arsenal paid for a lapse in concentration at the back as Zaha took advantage of Shkodran Mustafi's error in judgement to grab the lead for the visitors, before Palace added a third with a headed goal from James McArthur.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reduced the deficit for the hosts with his 19th league goal of the campaign to set up a pulsating final 10 minutes but Palace held on to end Arsenal's 16-match unbeaten run at home in the league.
The result ensured Palace's Premier League status for another season as they moved to 12th spot in the standings with 42 points.
"It's nice to get over the 40-point marker and to have safety mathematically confirmed," Palace manager Roy Hodgson said.
"Our defensive shape was fantastic. We remained compact and narrow. We made it difficult to find spaces behind us. I then thought on the counter-attack we were remarkably dangerous." Hodgson was particularly impressed by Benteke's return to the scoresheet after 19 league games and now expects the Belgian striker to finish the season with a flourish.
"Christian Benteke must be very confident after today's performance," the manager added.
"It wasn't the fact he scored and set one up, he worked tirelessly and did a job offensively and defensively. He and Wilfried Zaha will feel they really did a job for the team.
"For Christian who's had a rough time with injuries and not scoring the amount of goals he wants maybe with the final few games he will score a few more." Arsenal remain fourth but fail to take advantage of defeats for Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United earlier this weekend.
Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Crystal Palace - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - April 21, 2019 Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette in action with Crystal Palace's Scott Dann Action Ima
Palace punish sloppy Arsenal in 3-2 win at the Emirates
Crystal Palace put a dent in Arsenal's Champions League qualification hopes after strikers Christian Benteke and Wilfried Zaha made the most of defensive errors in a 3-2 win at the Emirates
Palace punish sloppy Arsenal in 3-2 win at the Emirates
Crystal Palace put a dent in Arsenal's Champions League qualification hopes after strikers Christian Benteke and Wilfried Zaha made the most of defensive errors in a 3-2 win at the Emirates
Football: Palace punish sloppy Arsenal in 3-2 win at the Emirates
Football: Palace punish sloppy Arsenal in 3-2 win at the Emirates (REUTERS) - Crystal Palace put a dent in Arsenal's Champions League qualification hopes after strikers Christian Benteke and Wilfried Zaha made the most of defensive errors in a 3-2 win at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday (April 21).
Palace punish sloppy Arsenal in 3-2 win at the Emirates
'Monday night football' comes to the Emirates Stadium tonight as Arsenal , in search of their 10th successive league home win 2015 Arsenal Aston Villa 4-0. 2014 Arsenal Hull City 3 - 2 aet. C Palace 2 - 3 Arsenal - Match Report & Highlights Crystal Palace 2 - 3 Arsenal : Alexis Sanchez scores twice for Gunners. By James Walker-Roberts.
Palace punish sloppy Arsenal in 3-2 win at the Emirates
April 21 (Reuters) - Crystal Palace put a dent in Arsenal's Champions League qualification hopes after strikers Christian Benteke and Wilfried Zaha made the most of defensive errors in a 3-2 win
Sport Palace punish sloppy Arsenal in 3-2 win at the Emirates
Palace punish sloppy Arsenal in 3-2 win at the Emirates
Palace punish sloppy Arsenal in 3-2 win at the Emirates qualification hopes after strikers Christian Benteke and Wilfried Zaha made the most of defensive errors in a 3-2 win at the Emirates
Palace punish sloppy Arsenal in 3-2 win at the Emirates
Palace punish sloppy Arsenal in 3-2 win at the Emirates | Crystal Palace put a dent in Arsenal's Champions League qualification hopes after strikers Christian Benteke and Wilfried Zaha made the most of defens
> Palace punish sloppy Arsenal in 3-2 win at the scoring their second goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace, at Emirates Stadium, in London, Britain, on April
Palace punish sloppy Arsenal in 3-2 win at the Emirates
(Reuters) - ARSENAL 2 CRYSTAL PALACE 3. Crystal Palace put a dent in Arsenal's Champions League qualification hopes after strikers Christian Benteke and Wilfried Zaha made the most of defensive errors in a 3-2 win at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Palace punish sloppy Arsenal in 3-2 win at the Emirates
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