Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to five points on Saturday thanks to a 2-0 win at Crystal Palace.
Mikel Arteta gave the Gunners lead from the penalty spot at the start of the second half before he was sent off for a foul on Adlene Guedioura.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, the visitors wrapped up the victory late on thanks to a header from Olivier Giroud.
Read Sports Mole's minute-by-minute report below to find out how the action unfolded.
11.46amHello there and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of this afternoon's Premier League encounter between Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park. Something of a David vs. Goliath match today...
11.48amWe should have some team news in for you shortly. Meanwhile, it's a day of celebration across English football as the Football Association marks its 150th birthday. There will be plenty going on throughout the day to commemorate the game's founding fathers.
11.50amPALACE: Speroni; Ward, Delaney, Gabbidon, Moxey; Jedinak, Dikgacoi, Bannan, Thomas, Guedioura; Chamakh
11.51amPALACE SUBS: Price, Mariappa, O'Keefe, Puncheon, Kebe, Bolasie, Gayle
11.54amWith Keith Millen in temporary charge following the departure of manager Ian Holloway in midweek, Palace have made six changes to the side that lost 4-1 at Fulham on Monday night. Among those who have been given starting places are Damien Delaney, Kagisho Dikgacoi, Barry Bannan and former Arsenal forward Marouane Chamakh.
11.56amARSENAL: Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Arteta, Flamini, Ramsey; Ozil, Cazorla, Giroud
11.57amARSENAL SUBS: Fabianski, Vermaelen, Monreal, Rosicky, Wilshere, Gnabry, Bendtner
11.58amJust the two changes for Arsenal as Mathieu Flamini and Santi Cazorla return. Jack Wilshere starts on the bench.
12pm
The team are here! The #Arsenal bus arrives at Selhurst Park for #CPFCvAFC. pic.twitter.com/ZCoFAsGRbb
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) October 26, 2013
12.03pmSo, today's match sees two teams who are currently experiencing vastly different fortunes come up against each other. Palace start the day second from bottom in the Premier League table, while Arsenal are two points clear at the top.
12.05pmIf things couldn't get worse for Palace, they have Keith Millen in temporary charge today following Ian Holloway's decision to leave the club on Wednesday. Of all the teams you would want to play when in such a vulnerable position...
12.08pmPalace are where they are in the table because they have lost seven of their opening eight matches of the season. However, they have one win to their name thanks to a 3-1 victory over Sunderland at the end of August.
12.11pmIn contrast, Arsenal have been sensational so far this season. The Gunners have picked up six wins from their opening eight matches and can move five points clear at the top of the table if they triumph again today. For those who are interested, you can see what the table currently looks like here.
12.14pmThat said, Arsene Wenger's side come into today's match on the back of a humbling 2-1 defeat at home to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League in midweek. Will that have dented their confidence, or is it more likely to spur them on against today's opponents?
12.16pmSpeaking of last results, Palace's defeat at Fulham on Monday was memorable for Pajtim Kasami's incredible equaliser. If you haven't seen it, check out the video below. Excuse the foreign commentary:
12.20pmWhat kind of Palace side should we expect today then? Keith Millen has not be afraid to wield the axe by making six changes, but morale seems so low for the Eagles that you have to say it would take something of a miracle for them to get anything out of this match. Still, stranger things have happened...
12.23pmRECENT FORM:
PALACE: WLLLLL
ARSENAL: WWWDWL
12.25pmMore bad news for Palace is that they have not beaten Arsenal in the last seven matches between the sides.
12.28pmHEAD TO HEAD: Arsenal have certainly enjoyed themselves down the years, winning 19 of their 30 matches against the Eagles. Meanwhile, Palace have picked up two victories and there have been nine draws.
12.32pmThe last time that the teams met was in February 2005 - a match that Arsenal won 5-1. However, Palace earned a 1-1 draw in the corresponding fixture at Selhurst Park three months earlier.
12.35pmAround 10 minutes to go until this one gets underway. For those interested in the weather it's a nice sunny day in South London.
12.38pm
Arsenal boss Wenger: "I expect commitment from Palace & great support from the crowd. If you're not up for the fight, stay at home" #CRYARS
— Premier League (@premierleague) October 26, 2013
12.40pmThe players are lining up in the tunnel. Not long to go now.
1 minThe pre-match rituals have been completed and it will be Arsenal to kick us off this afternoon. Here we go!
3 minIt's been all Arsenal in the opening few minutes, and they're looking dangerous. The passing has been slick and snappy. Giroud has the visitors' first proper effort as he heads over from Sagna's cross.
5 minWhile Arsenal have looked strong in possession, Palace have been anything but. The home side have won the ball on a couple of occasions, only to give it away instantly. They need to cut that out or they will be punished soon.
7 minSUBSTITUTION: Not the best news for Arsenal as Mathieu Flamini goes off in place of Serge Gnabry. The French midfielder looked to be struggling with a bit of a groin strain.
9 minTo demonstrate Arsenal's dominance so far, they've enjoyed 85% of the possession. Palace are struggling to live with the Gunners at the moment. However, the visitors have only managed one attempt on goal so far.
13 minFor all of Arsenal's possession, they continue to be shut out by Palace. Meanwhile, the hosts have their first chance as Bannan heads well over. That's livened up the crowd a bit.
16 minThis is more like it from Palace. They started using the ball much better, pushing a few men forward. It's as if they've only just woken up and realised that they're in a Premier League football match. Luckily for them the scores are still level.
18 minCHANCE! That could have been the opening goal for Arsenal but for some decent defending from Gabbidon. Ozil surged into the Palace area before trying to find Giroud with the cutback, only to see his pass cut out by the centre-back.
20 minFor all of their team's troubles, the Palace fans are in fine voice. They're creating a great atmosphere inside Selhurst Park right now. On the pitch, Sagna sees his cross cut out by Dikgacoi following a mistake from Moxey.
22 minNot the best refereeing from Chris Foy there. Ramsey was fouled by Jedinak but play really should have been allowed to continue. Arsenal still seeing the lion's share of the ball at the moment.
24 minFormer Arsenal winger Thomas has an ambitious crack at goal from 25 yards that goes harmlessly past Szczesny's post.
27 minSAVE! A good bit of pressure from Palace ends with Chamakh forcing the save from Szczesny. The Gunners failed to clear their lines following a free kick before the Moroccan's low strike was well held by the goalkeeper.
30 minSAVE! The hosts are getting stuck in a bit now. Palace do well to retrieve the ball around the edge of the Arsenal box, leading to Guedioura's tame effort forcing another stop from Szczesny.
32 minCHANCE! Where has this spell of pressure by Palace come from? Bannan is the latest player to have a crack at goal, trying to curl the ball into the far corner from the edge of the area, but it goes a good couple of yards wide.
34 minCHANCE! Cazorla now comes within inches of giving Arsenal the lead! The Spaniard shows good skill in the box to work himself some space before fizzing a low drive narrowly past the post.
36 minFrom looking like it would be a one-sided contest, this match is now quite the battle. Palace look like a different team at the moment: committed, rejuvenated and dangerous. Arsenal know they are in a proper match.
37 minCHANCE! Close again for the home side as Dikgacoi heads wide from Bannan's corner after Szczesny had flapped at the ball. That could have been a costly error by the Polish goalkeeper.
40 minFive minutes until the half-time whistle and this match is very much in the balance.
43 minThe Palace fans continue to sing their hearts out in the stands. Meanwhile, Chamkah is suddenly giving his former teammates a load of problems in the final third. The striker was a walking punchline when he left the Gunners over the summer, but he's looking up for it today.
45 minOne minute added time.
45+1 minHALF TIME: PALACE 0-0 ARSENAL
1.34pmChris Foy blows the half-time whistle and it is goalless between Crystal Palace and Arsenal. The visitors looked dominant early on, but Palace soon woke up and made a real go of it during that opening 45 minutes.
1.38pmPalace caretaker coach Keith Millen will be pleased with the fight that his players showed in that first half. His counterpart Arsene Wenger will also be pleased with some of the possession football from Arsenal, though he is likely to be disappointed with his his players failed to truly worked Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni.
1.42pm
8 - Despite having just 29% possession in the first-half, Crystal Palace (8) had twice as many shots (inc. blocked) as Arsenal (4). Keys.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 26, 2013
46 minThe players are out for the second half and it will be Palace to get us back underway.
46 minPENALTY TO ARSENAL! You will not see a clearer penalty all season. Guedioura wipes out Gnabry and the Gunners have the chance to take the lead.
47 minGOAL! PALACE 0-1 ARSENAL (ARTETA, PENALTY)
47 minNo messing around from Mikel Arteta as the Spaniard fires the penalty past Speroni. What a start to the second half for the Gunners. In contrast, it's a nightmare for Palace.
50 minCHANCE! Nearly a second for Arsenal as Giroud threads the ball through to Gnabry, but the youngster can only flick his shot wide of the post with Delaney snapping at his heels.
53 minCHANCE! Giroud really should have scored there to double his side's lead! The Frenchman got on the end of Sagna's wonderful cross, only to somehow head wide from about six yards. What a miss.
55 minSimilar to the start of the first half, Arsenal are dominating the opening few minutes of the second. The visitors are passing the ball around splendidly in order to stretch Palace.
56 minGood play there from Palace as Guedioura picks out Moxey, but the full-back's cross is gathered by Szczesny.
57 minSUBSTITUTION: A forced change for Palace here as Jerome Thomas comes off for Yannick Bolasie. Thomas looked to be struggling with a slight knock.
60 minAn hour played and Palace are suddenly putting Arsenal under a bit of pressure. Credit to the home side, they haven't let going behind affect them too much.
64 minRED CARD! ARTETA (ARSENAL)
64 minArsenal are down to 10 men as their goalscorer Mikel Arteta is sent off for bringing down Chamakh. The midfielder was the last man, but there was plenty of space between them and the goal. Interesting decision from Chris Foy. What will it do for the match?!
67 minThere's a lot of focus on Chris Foy at the moment after he refuses to give Palace a free kick in an advanced position following a foul by Gnabry on Bolasie.
69 minSUBSTITUTION: Arsenal make another change as Jack Wilshere is introduced in place of Serge Gnabry.
71 minSUBSTITUTION: Now it's a change for Palace as Adlene Guedioura comes off for Jimmy Kebe.
74 minCHANCES! How close to an equaliser for Palace! Ward sees his thunderous effort come back off the woodwork following a fingertip save from Szczesny before Jedinak's rocket of a shot is kept out by the Arsenal goalkeeper. Szczesny to the rescue for the visitors.
77 minSUBSTITUTION: Here comes a final change for Palace, with Dwight Gayle replacing Barry Bannan. It's all or nothing for the hosts now as we enter the final 10 minutes.
80 minIf there were any questions over the commitment of the Palace players this week you wouldn't have guessed it because they've been superb today. However, they've only got 10 minutes to get something out of this game.
82 minCHANCE! Great play from Ozil as he picks up possession out side, but his tantalising cross fails to find Giroud.
84 min
PHOTO Arteta becomes the 2nd @Arsenal player to score & be sent off in same #BPL match (Ian Wright, 1996, the other) pic.twitter.com/HaFkSz16Un
— Premier League (@premierleague) October 26, 2013
86 minPalace are pushing hard for an equaliser now. Arsenal aren't really seeing too much of the ball while the hosts surge forward. It's going to be a frantic finish. Hold tight.
87 minGOAL! PALACE 0-2 ARSENAL (GIROUD)
87 minPut that one down to the curse of the commentator. Arsenal get a second goal through Olivier Giroud and that is surely game over. Ramsey did well to hold the ball up down the left side before dinking in a perfectly-weighted cross for Giroud to head in.
90 minFour minutes added time.
90+2 minArsenal are just passing it about now as they look to run down the clock.
90+4 minFULL TIME: PALACE 0-2 ARSENAL
2.38pmThe full-time whistle goes and Arsenal have extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table thanks to a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace. Mikel Arteta scored the first from the penalty spot before he was sent off for a foul on Adlene Guedioura, while the win was sealed late on through Olivier Giroud's header.
2.40pmThanks for joining us, but don't forget that you can follow live text coverage of all today's matches in the Premier League right here on Sports Mole. So, take your pick from the four fixtures on offer and enjoy the rest of your afternoon. Thanks again and goodbye!
