The big story: Arsenal beat Crystal Palace 2-0

Olivier Giroud’s overhead scorpion kick-style goal guided Arsenal to a comfortable 2-0 win over Crystal Palace and helped them move to third place in the Premier League.

Giroud gave Arsenal the lead in the 17th minute after meeting a cross from Alexis Sanchez. The Frenchman made contact with the ball with his left foot despite it being delivered behind him. The ball went over the keeper’s head before hitting the underside of the cross-bar before going in.

Alex Iwobi made it 2-0 after heading in in the 56th minute.

The win saw Arsenal move to within nine points of leaders Chelsea.

Other top stories:

  • Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger described Ollivier Giroud’s goal as a work of art. “He transformed that goal into art,” Wenger said. “That will be remembered as the Giroud goal that nobody will forget.”
  • Tottenham Hotspur thumped Watford 4-1 at Vicarage Road to make their way into the top four. Harry Kane and Delle Alli, Spurs’ lynchpins, scored two goals each.
  • Newly-appointed Crystal Palace manager Sam Allardyce has called for the Premier League fixture organisers to be sacked for setting a congested festive period draw.
  • The Indian women’s football team coach Sajid Dar said Nepal were favourites to win as the two teams face off in the SAFF Championship semi-final clash at the Kanchenjunga Stadium in Siliguri on Monday.
  • Ranjan Chowdhury was named the new coach of Mohammedan Sporting on Sunday. Chowdhury, is a former assistant coach of East Bengal and had been in charge of Calcutta Football League club Tollygunge Agragami earlier in the season.