Wenger refused to speak about his own future after goals from Andros Townsend, Yohan Cabaye and a penalty from Luka Milivojevic did the damage.
It was Arsenal’s heaviest Premier League defeat of the season and their worst since losing 4-0 at Southampton in December 2015. It was their fourth successive away defeat in the league – the worst run ever under Wenger.
It left them seven points outside the Champions League qualification places, with just eight games of a crumbling season left.
Wenger, who has yet to sign the two-year deal that is on the table for him, said: “I wouldn’t say that the players downed tools.
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Mesut Ozil distraught after Arsenal loss at Crystal Palace
Mon, April 10, 2017Click through the gallery for the snaps of Mesut Ozil after Arsenal's defeat at Crystal Palace
Click to reveal the snaps of Mesut Ozil after Arsenal's defeat at Crystal Palace
“Honestly, I’m so disappointed tonight. It has been such a long time since we lost a game in the way we did last night, that’s very disappointing.
“It would be inconvenient for me to speak about me. It was more painful for us to lose this game in the way we lost it. The top four is very difficult now.”
Angry Arsenal fans, some of who have been protesting and calling for the Frenchman to go for weeks, once again called for Wenger to go and jeered at their hapless players, singing, “You’re not fit to wear the shirt”.
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He said: “I want the fans to support the team. They are extremely disapointed and I can understand that, we all are. It is understandable. We played with a desire to win the game tonight with an offensive team. We knew what would face us. But they were sharper than us.”
Palace manager Sam Allardyce, whose team have now won five of their last six games to lift them six places above the relegation zone said: “Tactically the players were aware of how to beat Arsenal. The first thing was to defend and frustrate them, keep them playing sideways, then use the space behind the full-backs. Arsenal have been weak defensively.
“We won a lot of possession and created lots of chances. Yohan Cabaye’s goal, what a finish and that was down to pressing them. This was not a shock for me because we played Chelsea and won. We did that again and did it better. We all know Arsenal are going through their worst spell for years, but the only way to take advantage is by playing well.”