Crystal Palace captain Joel Ward admitted frustration after defeat at home to Arsenal on Monday night.

The fullback felt they pushed Arsenal all the way.

Ward told Sky Sports: “I think there is [a sense of frustration]. I think we certainly deserved something out of the game, the way we played as a unit today.

“We went toe to toe with them and it was just one moment that maybe caught us off-guard. It was just one of those ones – sometimes you get them, sometimes you don't, and obviously it went against us."

On the quick free-kick which led to the award of Arsenal's penalty, Ward noted: “You have to make sure you are alert and you're switched on. I think it just caught us a little bit off-guard, but that comes from everyone. Everyone has to come alive when the ball goes dead.

“We went toe to toe with them. They were trying to take their time at times and play the game and slow things down, and I think that was because of the pressure we were putting them under. That was even before they went down to 10 men.

“It is disappointing but we take it on the chin. We know if we play the way we did tonight, going toe to toe with one of the best sides in football right now, we have a great foundation to build on."