Arsenal celebrations spoke volumes after digging deep to land Crystal Palace win
Mikel Arteta was made to suffer but ten-man Arsenal showed the fight required to grind out a precious win at Selhurst Park.
Gunners captain Martin Odegaard struck the decisive penalty after 53 minutes and that might have paved the way for a more comfortable win. But Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu was sent off following a second - and very harsh - yellow card after 67 minutes to leave the visitors hanging on by the end.
Arsenal boss Arteta understandably went crazy in his technical area at the officials after referee David Coote sent off Tomiyasu just seven minutes after booking him for time wasting. Tomiyasu, who was also unlucky with the first one, was then judged to have tripped Jordan Ayew but TV replays suggested it was the wrong call and yet VAR could not intervene as it was a second yellow.
That invited Crystal Palace onto Arsenal in search of an equaliser and the visitors had to dig deep for a win which certainly felt like much harder work than last season’s fixture at Selhurst Park. Arsenal won at Palace in their season opener last August and that almost set the tone for their title challenge as they looked classy and comfortable.
This time it felt laboured and difficult with Arteta still searching for solutions and his best starting line-up despite making it two wins out of two. But Arteta will take a lot of encouragement from the way they did dig deep, showed a great mentality and also new signing Declan Rice was outstanding again as he bossed midfield.
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Undoubtedly they have been hit by Jurrien Timber’s long term knee injury but it rather feels like Arteta is doing his best to overcomplicate things with his complex tactics and formations when last season it felt simple. Furthermore, Kai Havertz looks something of a puzzle because he is just not clicking in this Arsenal line-up and you cannot afford to carry players on nights like these when Palace battle, scrap and make it tough for opponents.
Arsenal celebrate at the final whistle at Selhurst Park (AP)How big a win was this for Arsenal? Have your say in the comments section
Arsenal were the better side in the first half as twice Eddie Nketiah went through only to fail to apply the finishing touch. The first chance came after Nketiah beat the offside trap, held off Joachim Andersen and his shot beat keeper Sam Johnstone but hit the outside of the far post.
Nketiah then had another glorious gilt edged chance. Rice was imperious all night and he slipped in Nketiah and the Arsenal striker lifted the ball over Johnstone but his chip also sailed over the crossbar.
You began to wonder where the breakthrough would come because of Arsenal’s lack of creativity up against Palace’s stubborn resistance. But eventually the decisive moment came just after the restart. Odegaard’s quick free kick played in Nketiah, the Arsenal striker was upended by Palace keeper Johnstone for what was an obvious penalty.
Odegaard took it with great confidence to send Johnstone the wrong way and finally Arsenal had a breakthrough. But just when you thought Arsenal might see it through in comfortable fashion, Tomiyasu got himself in double trouble.
But as hard as Palace tried, Arteta shored things up at the back with a string of substitutions and the visitors held firm for what felt like a big win at the final whistle.
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