Arsenal v Crystal Palace player ratings: Saka 9, Martinelli 8; Schlupp 8, Ward 4

Gunners go eight points clear at top of Premier League after 4-1 win at Emirates Stadium

ARSENAL RATINGS: Aaron Ramsdale 6: Beaten by Zaha’s shot in the first half and was lucky to see the ball come off the post, onto his back and just wide. Picked out Saka with a brilliant pass in 88th minute. AFP

Ben White 9: Created Arsenal’s second goal with a well-disguised pass to Saka. One of Arsenal’s best players. PA

Rob Holding 8: Won almost every aerial ball he challenged for in first half. Dealt well with threat of Zaha. AP

Gabriel 8: Another game, another commanding performance from Gabriel in the centre of Arsenal's defence. He hardly put a foot wrong and kept Edouard quiet. Getty

Oleksandr Zinchenko 7: His aggressiveness put Olise off his game in the first half. Almost played as a fourth midfielder for Gunners. AP

Thomas Partey 7: Played a well-disguised pass to put Saka through on goal in the 13th minute. Offered good protection for Arsenal’s backline. AP

Granit Xhaka 8: Was having quiet game until he popped up to put Arsenal three up with a little chip in the 55th minute. Worked hard to help the Gunners win the midfield battle. Getty

Martin Odegaard 7: Went close with a left-footed shot in 18th minute. Should have got his name on the scoresheet with a shot that went agonisingly wide just before break. AP

Bukayo Saka 9: Good cross to find Martinelli for first goal. Showed awareness to stay onside and beat the keeper to put Arsenal two goals up before the break. Scored his second of the day with a first-time shot into the bottom corner. AFP

Gabriel Martinelli 8: Opened scoring with beautiful left-footed shot into the right-hand corner. Combined well with Gabriel Jesus in the second half. EPA

Leandro Trossard 7: Often frustrated in the first half but started the second well by putting Saka through on goal to score Arsenal’s third goal. AP

SUBS: Kieran Tierney (On for Zinchenko 65') 8: Assisted Saka’s second goal of the game with a simple cross to the edge of the penalty area. Used his pace to skip past Olise and deny him opportunity to run through on goal in 80th minute. Reuters

Gabriel Jesus (On for Trossard 65') 7: Looked very lively after coming and had two half chances to score his first goal since returning from injury. AP

Jorginho (On for White 83') N/A. Reuters Emile Smith Rowe (On for Martinelli 83') N.A

Jakub Kiwior (On for Gabriel 86') N/A. Getty

CRYSTAL PALACE RATINGS: Joe Whitworth 6: Made good save to deny Odegaard from the edge of the box in first half. Excellent decision to punch come off his line and punch away Saka cross and deny Xhaka a tap-in just after the restart. Getty

Joel Ward 4: Struggled badly against Martinelli in the first half, giving him time and space to open the scoring. AP

James Tomkins 5: Allowed Xhaka too much time to lay the ball off to Trossard, run past him and chip Whitworth for Arsenal’s third. Smartly shielded Jesus off the ball in the 78th minute. Getty

Marc Guehi 6: Made brave last-ditch sliding tackle to stop Saka from running through in goal in the 15th minute. Got caught ball watching as Trossard played the ball through to Saka for Arsenal’s third. AFP

Tyrick Mitchell 5: Failed to close down White quickly and allowed him enough space on ball to play a goal-creating pass to Saka. Arsenal's quick attackers left him bamboozled a number of times. PA

Luka Milivojevic 4: Struggled alongside Doucoure at the base of midfield as Arsenal dominated centre of park. AFP

Cheick Doucoure 4: Provided very little security for backline all through the game. AP

Michael Olise 4: Looked very lethargic in the first half. Should have gambled by making a run and tapping home Zaha’s cross-cum shot ball in 70th minute. AFP

Jeffrey Schlupp 8: Great pass to find Zaha for Palace's only real threat in the first half. Showed great Stamina to fight off Holding and score for Palace. AP

Wilfried Zaha 6: Almost gave Palace the lead with a shot that came off the crossbar in first half. Beaten far too easily by Saka in the build-up to Arsenal’s second goal. Tested Ramsdale with a shot from a tight angle after the restart. Reuters

Odsonne Edouard 5: The offside flag spared his blushes after he failed to beat Ramsdale when he was played through in goal. Kept quiet by Gabriel in Arsenal’s defence. Reuters

SUBS: Will Hughes (On for Milivojevic 65') 5: Worked hard but failed to offer much going forward. Reuters

Jordan Ayew (On for Edouard 65') 5: A willing runner but hardly had a sniff after coming on. Getty

Eberechi Eze (On for Olise 82') N/A. Getty Naouirou Ahamada (On for Schlupp 82') N/A.

Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to eight points after a 4-1 demolition of Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Gabriel Martinelli opened the scoring in the first half at the Emirates Stadium to put the leaders on course for a sixth successive league victory.

It was redemption for Martinelli, whose missed penalty condemned Arsenal to Europa League last 16 defeat in their shoot-out against Sporting Lisbon on Thursday.

Mikel Arteta's side needed just 45 minutes against struggling Palace to erase the bitter taste of that loss.

Bukayo Saka followed Martinelli's goal by doubling Arsenal's lead before half-time.

Granit Xhaka netted the third after the interval and Jeff Schlupp's reply was no consolation as the influential Saka's second capped Arsenal's stylish display.

Arsenal now have a substantial eight-point lead over second placed Manchester City, who took the weekend off from Premier League duty to thrash Burnley in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.

Player ratings from the match at the Emirates Stadium can be seen in the picture gallery above. To view the next image, click on the arrows or swipe if on a mobile device.