It's funny how a few weeks can change everything. A (perhaps rather fortunate) draw at Arsenal marks four games unbeaten for Crystal Palace and all-but-guarantees them safety from relegation, but rewind just three weeks ago and everything seemed doomed.
They hadn't won in 14 games before victory over Norwich last week and now Yannick Bolasie's late goal means the Eagles took their first points off the Gunners since coming back up to the top flight three years ago. It all makes that horrible three-month winless run that stretched from mid-December to the end of March seem a world away.
Alan Pardew's team seem to have re-found their spark and whatever was holding the team back during most of 2016 has gone. They are bullish, uncompromising and organised again; all the qualities that took them to fifth in the table at the turn of the year.
At the Emirates, they had to withstand prolonged periods of pressure and have definitely had better performances but they stayed in the game right until the end and grabbed a point. The Palace of early 2016 would probably have capitulated long before that.
The rediscovering of their mojo could not have come at a better time for Palace with an FA Cup semifinal against Watford just a week away and despite everything this year, 2016 could yet still turn out to be a memorable one for the Eagles.
Player ratings (1-10; 10=best; players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Wayne Hennessey, 8 -- Whisper it quietly, but the big Welshman has been superb for the last few games. Great in the air and solid on the ground, he was everything a keeper should be for Palace against Arsenal. Couldn't do anything about the goal.
DF Joel Ward, 7 -- Another player who had (rightly) come in for criticism in the past few months but looks to be rediscovering his form. A bit nervy at times but along with the rest of the back four worked hard to shut the Gunners out and also offered a bit going forward too.
DF Pape Souare, 8 -- Continues to baffle Palace fans by going from the sublime to the ridiculous (often mid-game) but the Senegalese left-back marshalled Alexis Sanchez well, which was not an easy task. He lost the Chilean once all game and was punished by conceding a goal but otherwise word very hard to minimise the home side's chances.
DF Scott Dann, 8 -- It was the sort of classy and commanding display from the Dann all Palace fans have come to know and expect from the centre-back. Could a last minute call up to Euro 2016 for England still be on the cards
MF Yohan Cabaye, 8 -- The Frenchman is definitely hitting his stride in the last few games and was there again with some fantastic blocks and interceptions. Has managed to sort out some wayward passing of late with 91 percent pass accuracy against Arsenal.
MF Mile Jedinak, 7 -- The usual sort of hard-working display Palace fans have come to expect from the Australia international, but not quite the imposing performance they've seen of late. Gave away the ball sloppily in midfield for Arsenal's goal.
MF Joe Ledley, 6 -- Plenty of hustle and bustle from the Welshman but spent more time giving the ball away than he did using it wisely. In his defence, it was the performance of a player who hasn't had a lot of pitch time of late.
MF Jason Puncheon, 7 -- Didn't quite have the impact he's had on the last two games but showed some nice footwork at times.
FW Yannick Bolasie, 7 -- To be honest Bolasie wasn't at his best for the first 80 minutes of the game but he rescued a point with a thunderbolt of a finish and looked like a changed man after that. Can definitely offer Palace more though.
FW Connor Wickham, 7 -- Worked hard for the hour or so that he was on the pitch in a thankless role. Should maybe have scored with a header from a Cabaye free kick in the first half.
Substitutes
MF Bakary Sako, 6 -- A half-time switch for Jedinak but failed to really stamp his mark on the game. Takes too long to get the ball under control and slows down play when Palace are looking to break at times.
FW Emmanuel Adebayor, 8 -- Changed the game when he was introduced after an hour and set up Bolasie's goal after carrying the ball up the pitch and drawing defenders away. An experienced performance.
MF Wilfried Zaha, N/R -- A late cameo and nearly set up the winner for Adebayor but the ball just ran away from him.