Crystal Palace’s interim manager Keith Millen was full of pride after his charges turned in a battling performance against the Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Millen, standing in for Ian Holloway who resigned on Thursday, said his men turned in a display that was all about pride in themselves, and putting right some of the wrongs of last Monday’s defeat against Fulham.

Second-half goals from Mikel Arteta and Olivier Giroud consigned Palace to a 2-0 defeat, but Millen admitted to enjoying every minute of it.

Millen said: “Today was all about getting a response from the players, and we got that and I think the fans appreciated it.

“I was very proud to lead the players out, but it was more about them having pride in themselves.

“I honestly thought, at 1-0, we would get something out of the game. We spoke at half-time about starting the second half strongly, but unfortunately it did not happen, but I am very proud of the players, and I have told them such.”

Millen certainly put his stamp on the team with six changes made to the side beaten on Monday.

He said: “Some of the players appeared tired and needed to freshen things up, and we thought Marouane Chamakh against his old team would work.

“I have found that in the Premier League, you need to keep things moving and the changes were more about tiredness than a drop in form.”

If Palace have not found a new manager by next weekend, Millen said he would be happy to continue, although he did not want the job permanently, not yet.

“I believe the man who comes in needs to have the right level of experience at this level, and I don’t know if I am that man yet.

“For the time being, though, I am happy to keep charge because I enjoy the job so much, the team is terrific and they work so hard.”