Football: Joy, gloom for Arteta as Arsenal pull clear

LONDON - Mikel Arteta scored and was then sent off as Arsenal edged Crystal Palace 2-0 at Selhurst Park on Saturday to establish a five-point lead at the Premier League summit.

The Spaniard put the visitors ahead with a 47th-minute penalty, but he was contentiously shown a straight red card with 25 minutes remaining for a last-man foul on former Arsenal man Marouane Chamakh.

Second-bottom Palace, who parted company with manager Ian Holloway on Wednesday, came close to snatching an equaliser, but Arsenal made sure of victory late on when Olivier Giroud headed home from Aaron Ramsey's dinked cross.

"We showed a lot of resilience and patience and good organisation against a team who were really up for it," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told BT Sport.

"I honestly believe (Arteta's dismissal) was the wrong decision. Why? Because it has to be a clear goalscoring opportunity. It was very far from goal, he was not the last man, and even the foul was, to me, accidental."

After an even first period, Arsenal made the breakthrough early in the second half, with Arteta sweeping the ball inside the left-hand post from 12 yards after Adlene Guedioura upended substitute Serge Gnabry.

Gnabry and Giroud both threatened to extend Arsenal's lead, but Palace were handed a lifeline in the 65th minute when Arteta was sent off for bringing down Chamakh despite the offence occurring around 45 yards from goal.

Palace pressed forward, and Arsenal were indebted to goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny for producing two jaw-dropping saves within the space of a minute to thwart Joel Ward and Mile Jedinak.

With three minutes remaining, Ramsey crossed for Giroud to head past Julian Speroni and confirm Arsenal's return to winning ways following their midweek defeat by Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.

Third-placed Liverpool can trim Arsenal's lead back to two points if they win at home to West Bromwich Albion later on Saturday, which is the 150th anniversary of the Football Association.

Defending champions Manchester United will hope to make up ground on the leading sides when they welcome former player Mark Hughes's Stoke City to Old Trafford.

Everton visit Aston Villa and Norwich City host Cardiff City, while Southampton, who began the weekend in sixth place, tackle Fulham at St Mary's in the late game.