Crystal Palace 2-3 Arsenal RESULT: Relive all the action from Selhurst Park as Alexis Sanchez's quickfire double earns the Gunners victory

We leave you with Matt Barlow's full match report from Selhurst Park. You can find it by clicking here.

No live football blog tomorrow - horror of horrors! - but Dan Ripley will be back on Saturday with all the 3pm Premier League kick-offs.

Until then, we leave you with the man of the night, Alexis Sanchez. Arsenal are going to miss him, if and when he does go.

Cheers folks.

For all the stats and facts from tonight's excellent game, check out Sportsmail's exclusive MATCH ZONE service by clicking here.

The Gunners are level with rivals Spurs, and are just one point behind Liverpool in fourth.

Palace's eight match unbeaten run is over - they stay only a point above the relegation zone.

James Tomkins escaped some suspect Arsenal marking to make it 3-2 late on - but Palace could not find the other goal they needed.

They get a few dangerous balls in from Zaha and Townsend - both massively impressive tonight - but no equalizer.

Three points, hard earned, for Arsenal.

Palace are stuck in the corner at their end currently. Can they find a late winner?

Palace have four goals in the league after the 90th minute this season - don't rule out a fifth.

Arsenal have the ball at the moment, and win a free kick.

Not over yet!

Schlupp's low ball from the left is well met by Sako, whose shot is deflected wide for a corner.

From this, James Tomkins ghosts in, hardly marked, to head in at the far post.

Grandstand finish here. Four minutes added time.

Wilshere has been excellent in his fourth successive PL start for Arsenal - his best run for four years.

Yeah, Xhaka cannot continue with what looks like a groin strain. AInsley Maitland-Niles takes his place.

Palace give Arsenal a taste of their own medicine, passing their way through the deep defence. Zaha plays a low cross, but it is cleared.

Sako then fires over from the edge of the area. Five to go.

Big Palace chance - deep cross from the right, Zaha dives for the header, but completely misses it, and it flies wide off his shoulder.

First mistake of the night from the Ivorian, but it could be a big one.

Hector Bellerin charges down the right, and with no options, goes for goal himself. Julian Speroni is tested but gathers on his second attempt.

Oooh no - Granit Xhaka has gone down and seems to have injured his groin trying to make a tackle - he slipped on the turf. He looks pained as he goes off.

Arsenal, so often, are their own worst enemies.

They give the ball away in the midfield, allowing Zaha to charge again. Chambers this time does very well, getting back with the cover tackle.

Palace meanwhile make their final change, Tim Fosu-Mensah replacing Martin Kelly.

Three and a half minutes between Sanchez's two goals - in that time, Arsenal went from under the cosh to seeing out a comfortable win.

Palace have been well and truly stung by that, they have offered nothing since.

Defensive switch by Arsene Wenger, Lacazette withdrawn for Francis Coquelin.

He is more than happy with this result in his 810th Premier League game in charge.

For more stats and facts, check out our exclusive MATCH ZONE service by clicking here.

Arsenal look like they could score more. Their supremacy is restored in this match.

Lacazette looks set to convert another volley from the left, but Tomkins cuts it out last minute.

1-4? No...

Kolasinac burst down the left, Ozil takes a shot, but his attempted dink goes horribly wrong and flies over.

Palace change: Loftus-Cheek off, Sako on.

Arsenal will miss him when he is gone... but forget about Sanchez, what a pass by Wilshere!

He picks it up in the centre circle, and pings a ball which Tom Brady would love to have thrown. Sanchez takes it down and pokes past Speroni.

The Chilean may not be signing a new contract, but that was like the Wilshere of old - surely he is worth a new deal?

Out of nothing!

Deep ball in from the right by Wilshere, Sanchez out-jumps Martin Kelly and knocks the header down.

Lacazette picks it up, but Sanchez demands the ball back, fashions space and slams the ball in.

Speroni was beaten at his near post but is hardly to blame - it was hit with such power, and the goalie was unsighted.

Arsenal able to settle for the first time this half, slow the play and get some passes going.

Remember, a win tonight puts them one pointy off the top floor. Fail to win and they lose ground.

That was Townsend's first goals since netting in Palace's 3-0 win over Arsenal lasts season.

Can they manage a similar result here?

Another Palace shot - this time Loftus-Cheek makes space, but doesn't catch it right and fires well over.

Arsenal have not got going in the second half.

Now Jeffrey Schlupp has a chance - the left back bursts into the box, but his shot hits the side netting.

First change is made by Palace - James McArthur replaces Yohan Cabaye. That may be injury related, we will wait and see.

Superb start to the second half by Palace - Loftus-Cheek bullies his way in from the left, but Cech stands tall and saves his shot.

All Palace's chances are coming down the left, where Calum Chambers is having a torrid game.

The response Roy wanted!

Wilfried Zaha leaves Calum Chambers for dead, not for the first time, and feeds a low ball across the box from the left.

This time, it is finished off - former Spurs player Andros Townsend drills into the bottom corner, Petr Cech with no chance.

Already the Arsenal pressure is on.

Raking ball across the pitch from left to right, Loftus-Cheek slow to react as Bellerin gets around him to meet the ball, but he miscontrols and Speroni pounces.

More attack v defence, or something more even?

Sent out with a flea in their ear by Roy Hodgson, perhaps. Palace offered very little in the opening 45.

Arsenal now back out too. Second half shortly.

As the stats show, it's another attack v defence drill between a top six Premier League side and a lower table team.

Carragher was right?

SAMI MOKBEL AT SELHURST PARK: Bit of a row between referee Michael Oliver and Wilfried Zaha after the half-time whistle. Unclear what it was over, but Oliver quickly flung out his yellow card.

Zaha was unhappy to have been penalised for a trip on Wilshere just before the break. Seems he has talked his way into the book.

Mesut Ozil chipped in a free kick on 24 minutes, and Palace completely failed to clear. Lacazette's shot was saved, allowing Mustafi to ruin a few first goalscorer bets.

For more stats and facts, visit our exclusive MATCH ZONE service by clicking here.

Opening 10 apart, it has been dominant from the away side.

They deserved the lead, and if Mesut Ozil had worn his shooting boots they could have had a few more.

Into added time in the first half. A minimum of 60 seconds to be played.

Zaha again attacks from the left, but he loses it and clips Wilshere's heels. Free kick.

Palace aren't taking advantage of their set pieces here. Cabaye swings in a deep free kick after Kolasinac fouls Townsend, but it is cleared before Schlupp slices an effort wide while off-balance.

Palace have not looked like scoring. Arsenal could have been out of sight.

It should, SHOULD, be 2-0.

Ozil is slipped in by Kolasinac from the left, he bursts through, one on one with Speroni - and tries to square it to Lacazette, overcooking the pass.

Eventually Xhaka hits a bobbling volley which Speroni can dive on. Arsenal are being profligate tonight.

Alex Lacazette is having a great game tonight.

He bamboozles three Palace defenders in the D, before pulling onto his right foot and shooting narrowly wide.

Lacazette hasn't scored in his last four games, but he looks likely to bag here.

As long as Wilfried Zaha is on the pitch, Palace will have an attacking threat.

He takes on the defenders, cuts in from the left, and fires a shot just wide of the left post.

Chances starting flow thick and fast.

Great save!

It looks certain that Ozil will put Arsenal two-up, as he is fed by a perfect through ball, six yards out. However, Speroni spreads himself wide, and flings out a wrist to deflect the shot away.

Now Arsenal have a free kick 25 yards out central... Sanchez hits it straight at the keeper.

Welcome back to the Prem, Calum Chambers.

He gets the game's first booking for a cynical tug on Zaha. Taking one for the team there.

What do Palace do here? They started well, but the last 15 minutes have been all Arsenal - they have made 234 passes to the hosts' 86.

We saw this last night with Newcastle - they can't get out of their won half. All they can do is baton down the hatches for now.

It has been coming.

Palace don't manage to clear after a free kick is chipped in by Mesut Ozil, Alex Lacazette picks it up wide left and curls a fizzing shot on target.

Speroni does his best, palming it out and away wide, but the Palace defence don't react as fast as Shkodran Mustafi, who slots in the rebound from a tight angle.

The 10 men behind the ball tactic from a smaller Premier League side is beginning to be displayed by Palace here. They are under the cosh.

When they break, Benteke is isolated up front and his ball into the box is snuffed out.

Lovely football, vintage Arsenal.

They nearly unlock the Palace defence with sharp first time passing, Ozil eventually cutting back to Xhaka, whose shot is blocked.

Ozil then flashes a testing ball across teh boz, before Wilshere shoots from distance - it almost bounces through Speroni.

Arsenal warming up very nicely.

Arsenal wake up after that near miss - both Wilshere and Sanchez have efforts blocked.

On the touchline, both Wenger and Hodgson bellow instructions. They are the two oldest Premier League managers, with a combined age of 138.

Close!

Cabaye sets his sights from 30 yards - under minimal Arsenal pressure - and sends a daisy-cutter inches wide of Cech's right hand post.

Palace on top here.

Palace are asking a lot of questions. Townsend and Zaha combine, the latter bursts into the area, and Bellerin has to shepherd it out for a corner.

Cech manages to punch the set piece away under pressure.

Thus far, the game could be described as cagey...

...or boring. No clear openings.

Granit Xhaka shoots from distance, but well over the top.

SAMI MOKBEL AT SELHURST PARK: So just over 24 hours after saying he prefers playing with a back-four, Arsene Wenger reverts to a back-three tonight. #mindgames

MATT BARLOW AT SELHURST PARK: Wenger started with a back-three. The 3-0 defeat at Selhurst Park in April, amid dissent from Arsenal supporters who turned on their own players, proved to be a catalyst for tactical change.

Wenger switched to a three-man defence and stuck with it for the next eight months with some success before reverting to a back-four at West Ham, a fortnight ago, admitting it had always been his preferred formation.

No hint of ultra-defensive deference to a top six team by Palace here - they break quickly after another Arsenal move breaks down, but eventually comes to nothing.

Andros Townsend already looking dangerous in and around the Gunners back three.

The early possession is being dominated by Arsenal - but they waste it as a long ball aimed at Alexis Sanchez flies out of play.

Quiet start on the pitch, noisy in the stands from the Palace fans.

Game on!

...kick-off moments away at a freezing Selhurst Park.

Palace team: Speroni, Kelly, Tomkins, Dann, Schlupp, Milivojevic, Cabaye, Loftus-Cheek, Townsend, Zaha, Benteke

Subs: Hennessey, Van Aanholt, Fosu-Mensah, McArthur, Puncheon, Riedewald, Sako

Arsenal team: Cech, Chambers, Mustafi, Koscielny, Bellerin, Xhaka, Wilshere, Kolasinac, Ozil, Alexis, Lacazette

Subs: Ospina, Walcott, Holding, Iwobi, Welbeck, Maitland-Niles, Coquelin

If you haven't made that cup of tea or turkey sandwich yet, now is the time to do so pre-kick off.

Jack Whitehall is at Selhurst Park tonight. The comedian is a big Arsenal fan.

Kick-off is 15 minutes away

For years it was the ultimate Premier League duel. After looking your own team's games on fixture release day, you would look for Arsenal v Manchester United - the renewal of the Wenger-Ferguson rivalry.

Tonight, Wenger equals Ferguson's record of 810 Premier League games as manager. But how else does he compare to his old foe?

Ben Nagle earlier had a look at how their records stack up. You can find it here.

Answer: August 14, 2016 - the opening day of last season, when Arsenal lost 4-3 at home to Liverpool.

He starts tonight for the Gunners.

With half an hour until kick-off...

Palace team: Speroni, Kelly, Tomkins, Dann, Schlupp, Milivojevic, Cabaye, Loftus-Cheek, Townsend, Zaha, Benteke

Arsenal team: Cech, Chambers, Mustafi, Koscielny, Bellerin, Xhaka, Wilshere, Kolasinac, Ozil, Alexis, Lacazette

Another quick stat for you to enjoy - Arsenal have conceded the least number of goals in Boxing Day (or nearest) fixtures of all current Premier League sides in the last 25 years.

Can they keep another one tonight? I hope so, I have Kolasinac in my MailOnline Fantasy Football team.

The biggest transfer news of the week has been Virgil Van Dijk's £75m move from Southampton to Liverpool - a world record for a defender.

However he could have been a Palace player for just £6m, according to ex-Eagles manager Neil Warnock.

He said on TalkSport: 'I went after the centre-half at Celtic, Van Dijk, and they wanted £6million.

'I said, ‘We have got to buy him, don't we?' The chief scout went to watch him and said, ‘He is not very quick, it's Scottish football'. That was before Southampton came in for him.'

Sliding doors and all that.

Christian Benteke finally broke his duck for the season in the win at Leicester - and promptly got himself a suspension for accumulated yellow cards.

He's back in the team tonight however, replacing James McArthur in Roy Hodgson's only alteration.

Three changes for Arsenal from that mad 3-3 draw with Liverpool which kicked off the festive period with such a bang - and the most notable is the presence of Calum Chambers.

The centre back - who spent last season on loan at Middlesbrough and has been on the fringes this campaign - replaces the injured Nacho Monreal.

Saed Kolasinac replaces Ainsley Maitland-Niles at left wing back, while Alex Iwobi also drops to the bench, Shkodran Mustafi coming in.

Line-ups for both sides revealed within 10 minutes.

Strong words from Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports last night, with the ex-Liverpool defender unimpressed by Newcastle's ultra-defensive tactics at home to Manchester City.

He said: 'Not just Newcastle but the Premier League in general, when they come up against the top six, certainly at home, it's becoming embarrassing.

'The Premier League now is becoming a bit of a joke league, with the top teams being so far ahead of the ones at the bottom. For those clubs, its almost like they are accepting they are going to lose the game, as long as it is only one or two-nil.

'The Premier League has been built on every team having a go, that's why everyone around the world wants to watch it. Will they keep watching if they keep seeing football like that?'

Will Palace have a go against Arsenal tonight? Do you agree with Carra? You can read what the Sportsmail reporters think here.

Sacrifice, headphones and Mars bars. Arsene Wenger's 809 Premier League matches in charge of Arsenal summed up in four words.

It has been a week of Christmas reminiscing for Wenger, reflecting on his years in charge of Arsenal - and just how much has changed at the club.

Speaking at his press conference earlier this week, he said: 'I just remember in our first game I banned all the chocolate that the players had before the game. When we drove to Blackburn on the coach, the players chanted, "We want our Mars bars", but now they have their music and headphones. It has changed, but overall it is more the decor that has changed.

'I would have said, "You're absolutely mad, no chance", if you told me I would be in charge for 810 games after that game.'

Palace are unbeaten in eight Premier League games - their best ever run in the competition.

Last season, Sam Allardyce's Eagles were rampant at Selhurst Park, with goals from Andros Townsend, Yohan Cabaye and Luka Milivojevic.

After the match, it seemed like the Wenger era was coming to an end. Instead, in the intervening months, it is Palace who have changed manager - twice.

This is, on paper, a tricky fixture for Arsenal, against a side who have troubled them in the past - however the stats seem to indicate a Gunners victory.

Arsenal have the second best point tally on Boxing Day (or closest game to) fixtures. They've also conceded the least goals, according to these stats from LeoVegas.

We await to see if Theo Walcott earns a spot in the starting XI - he has a prolific record in Boxing Day week fixtures, with six goals.

It wasn't a classic by any means, but the 2-0 win at Ewood Park on October 12, 1996 is one of the most historically significant in Arsenal's history.

Wenger kept the 3-5-2 favoured by predecessor Bruce Rioch, with Ian Wright scoring both goals, early in both halves.

Among the names in the starting line-up that day were Paul Merson, David Seaman, Lee Dixon, Patrick Vieira, Martin Keown and Tony Adams - all to become Gunners legends under their new French boss.

A win for Arsenal tonight takes them to within a point of fourth place. A win for Palace takes them to four points off the relegation zone. Plenty to play for at both ends of the table.

This is the 10th and final Premier League match in this - to use a word I despise - 'gameweek'. Here are the results from the other nine games, from Boxing Day and last night:

Thanks for tuning in to Sportsmail's live blog from tonight's sole Premier League game - the last vestiges of Boxing Day football. Don't worry, there's more action less than 48 hours from the final whistle.

Sit back, have a turkey sandwich, and we'll bring you the team news as soon as it drops.

12 October 1996 - Arsenal win 2-0 at Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League. Overseeing them for the first time, their new manager Arsene Wenger.

28 December 2017 - Wenger takes charge of his 810th Premier League game, equaling Sir Alex Ferguson's record. It has been quite an innings.

Can Arsenal mark it with a win at Selhurst Park, or will Palace spoil the party?