This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets…

At 32 years of age, Crystal Palace midfielder James McArthur is definitely entering the latter stage of his career.

There were times last season when he looked bang out of form and struggled to implement his usual tigerish nature in games – one fan said that a glaring miss against West Ham last term summed his season up amid a number of other harsh responses.

Incidentally, the former Wigan man retired from international duty with Scotland in October 2018, stating that he had found it “increasingly difficult” to manage a number of physical issues.

However, in the Eagles’ last outing against Arsenal, you would’ve thought that this seemingly declining footballer was a bright, nippy player several years his junior such was the energy of his display.

Some Palace fans on Twitter felt that a recent 4-0 capitulation against Tottenham was down to McArthur’s absence – one supporter dubbed him as the “engine room” amid a number of complimentary tweets.

Against the Gunners, he certainly lived up to such a claim.

The 5 foot 10 Scotsman appeared to cover every blade of the Emirates pitch, buzzing around to make five tackles – more than anyone else in the game managed.

McArthur also combined an industrial performance with moments of guile and craft, making two key passes, completing one dribble and taking one shot against the north Londoners.

One of his key passes also led to a goal. McArthur’s jinking run down the left flank after being released by Wilfried Zaha saw him then deliver a deft cross to the back post, taking David Luiz out of the game completely before Jordan Ayew nodded home an equaliser.

This kind of performance was more regular from the energetic Scotsman a few years ago, but with the clock ticking down on his career, he reminded supporters of just how important he still is to this Palace side – he was simply brilliant against Unai Emery’s team.