Arsenal set a new English top-flight record during their 5-1 thrashing of Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday.
For the second time in the space of four days, Arsenal beat their south London foes, following up their midweek Carabao Cup quarter-final victory with an emphatic Premier League triumph. It was a much-needed win for the Gunners, who had drawn their previous two league outings.
Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in the Carabao Cup win, bagged an early brace at Selhurst Park, with Kai Havertz also scoring before the half-time whistle. Ismaila Sarr briefly equalised for Crystal Palace in the first half, but Arsenal put their hosts to the sword after the restart, with Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice adding their names to the scoresheet.
According to Opta, Arsenal’s ruthless victory helped them set a new English record, becoming the first top-division side to score five or more goals in six separate away games across a single calendar year in all competitions.
Two of Arsenal’s other five-goal victories came within four days of one another earlier this season. Mikel Arteta’s side beat Sporting CP 5-1 in the Champions League before their 5-2 victory against West Ham United in the Premier League.
February and March were also fruitful for the Gunners, who beat West Ham and Sheffield United 6-0 on the road, while also putting five unanswered goals past Burnley at Turf Moor.
Saturday’s victory over Palace was the final away game of 2024 for Arsenal, who finish the year by welcoming Ipswich Town to the Emirates Stadium on 27 December. The Gunners’ first away trip of 2025 comes against Brentford on New Year’s Day.
The win at Selhurst Park wasn’t without its drawbacks, however, with Bukayo Saka sustaining a worrying hamstring injury during the first half of the clash.
