Graham Potter watches Arsenal thrash Crystal Palace as Roy Hodgson sack decision expected

Former Chelsea manager Graham Potter was at Emirates Stadium as Arsenal hit Crystal Palace for five to mount pressure on manager Roy Hodgson.

Those who made the short journey across the capital from South London showed their disdain late on as Gabriel Martinelli added a quick-fire brace to increase the scrutiny at Selhurst Park, after Leandro Trossard ended his goal drought. Palace were abject and barely threatened the Gunners goal and found themselves 2-0 down at the break thanks to Gabriel Magalhães and a Dean Henderson own-goal.

Crystal Palace fans erected banners and scarves in protest to the board and Hodgson after just one win in 11 matches, across all competitions. The 76-year-old stoically stood in his technical area looking at the away end as protests displaying messages such as 'Wasted potential on and off the pitch, weak decisions, taking us backwards,' were visible.

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Potter, who is the 7/1 favourite to be the next Palace manager, has been away from the dugout sacked by Chelsea in April 2023. The 48-year-old was in North London to watch Saturday's early kick-off which catapulted the Gunners to within two points of league leaders Liverpool, while Palace's goal difference was severely dented as they remain six points above the bottom three.

Palace chairman Steve Parish was also at the Emirates Stadium and has a decision to make with pressure mounting. The former Blues and Brighton & Hove Albion boss is favourite to succeed the veteran manager.

Steve Cooper, who was relieved of his duties as Nottingham Forest manager in December, has also been speculated to be a possible managerial