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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain hit a second-half double as Arsenal returned to the top of the Barclays Premier League with a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium.
The 20-year-old England midfielder – fit again following five months out with a serious knee injury suffered on the first day of the season – finally ended Palace’s stubborn resistance when he chipped in a fine pass from Santi Cazorla just after the restart.
After Cameron Jerome’s diving header was saved by Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny, Oxlade-Chamberlain struck again to make sure of victory when he combined with Olivier Giroud before running clear to beat Julian Speroni after 73 minutes.
Arsenal now move two points above Manchester City, who host third-placed Chelsea on Monday night, while the Eagles remain in a dogfight for survival, just a point above 18th-placed West Ham.
