Knives out for Wenger after Palace revolt

LONDON - Arsene Wenger is facing renewed calls to resign after furious fans turning on his Arsenal flops during their humiliating 3-0 loss at Crystal Palace on Monday.

The Gunners hit a new low on a chastening evening in south London as struggling Palace condemned them to their worst Premier League defeat of the season.

Wenger's side has lost four straight away league games for the first time in his 21-year reign.

Goals from Andros Townsend, Yohan Cabaye and Luka Milivojevic gave Palace its first home win over Arsenal since 1979 and left Wenger in turmoil after his team's fifth loss in eight league games.

Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez can't stop Crystal Palace midfielder Yohan Cabaye's strike from hitting the net during their English Premier League match at Selhurst Park, London, on Monday. Palace won 3-0. Matthew Childs / Reuters

With the clamor growing week by week for Wenger to quit, the toxic atmosphere around the north London club boiled over as fans refused to give the ball back to Gunners rightback Hector Bellerin when it flew into the away-supporters' section in the second half.

Instead, fans berated Bellerin with chants of "You're not fit to wear the shirt", with the Spaniard consoled by teammate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain when he was jeered again at the final whistle.

Wenger and his squad were targeted for more abuse when they made their way from the dressing room to the team bus.

Arsenal's shocking surrender leaves it in sixth place, seven points behind Manchester City in the fourth and final Champions League qualifying spot.

With Wenger's record of leading Arsenal into Europe's premier club competition for 19 consecutive years in severe danger, the beleaguered Frenchman acknowledged he has to find a way to quell the mutinous mood engulfing the club.

"I want the fans to support the team, but I can understand they are extremely frustrated, like we all are," Wenger said.

"We came with the desire to win the game, but in the decisive moments of the game Palace were sharper.

"To see us lose in that way is disappointing. It's part of my job to build the confidence. We have a week to do it. It's our job, we will try to do it."

Faced with the prospect of missing out on the Champions League for the first time since 1997, Wenger has refused to confirm if he will sign an extension when his contract runs out at the end of the season.

The uncertainty over his future has been a major distraction for a team lacking the fighting spirit required to cope with adversity.

Wenger conceded Arsenal's chances of making the Champions League via a top-four finish look bleak, but once again he would not to be drawn on his future.

"I think it (finishing in the top four) will be very difficult, certainly," he said.

"I don't want to speak about me tonight. I'm not in the mood.

"At the moment I pay more respect to the fact we had a disappointing result."

Looking shell-shocked and without the defiance he usually musters in such situations, Wenger must have been devastated by the way stars Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Theo Walcott went missing against the Eagles.

Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright, who won the 1998 league title under Wenger's stewardship, claimed his former boss has lost the support of his players.

And Wenger admitted Palace had shown more passion.

"They were sharper and more decisive than us," he said. "In the second half they came out strong and scored again.

"After that it was more difficult. I don't say the players gave up. For a long time we were unbeaten away but since we lost a few we don't have the confidence. You could sense it had an impact on us after the second goal."

The win moved Palace six points clear of the relegation zone.

Eagles boss Sam Allardyce, who has built his career on helping small clubs punch above their weight, hailed a fine 10 days that included a win at leader Chelsea.

"One or two more results and we should be safe, but it's a massive night and a huge week for us," he said.

Agence France-Presse