Crystal Palace 0-1 Arsenal: Martin Odegaard penalty sees 10-man Gunners squeeze past Eagles in Premier League
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Updated 21/08/2023 at 22:27 GMT+1
Arsenal didn’t have it all their own way on a difficult night in south London as they edged past Crystal Palace in the Premier League. Goalless at the break, the Gunners earned a spot-kick early in the second half, which was duly dispatched by skipper Martin Odegaard. Mikel Arteta’s side had to play with 10 men from the 67th minute onwards as Palace hunted down a leveller, but they clung on.
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Martin Odegaard’s second-half penalty was enough to give 10-man Arsenal victory over Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
Palace made it difficult for the Gunners at Selhurst Park, but ultimately didn’t have the quality to find an equaliser.
Arsenal looked good at times in the first half, Eddie Nketiah hitting the post and lifting over the top when in on goal.
But Palace defended well and looked a threat when able to counter, especially when winning the ball high up the pitch.
After the break, the game took on a similar pattern, but then on 51 minutes, a quick free-kick sent Nketiah into the box, Sam Johnstone charged out, dived and knocked him over with the ball gone, and the referee pointed to the spot.
Odegaard duly passed the ball into the corner, and though Arsenal made it hard for themselves after Takehiro Tomiyasu was shown a second yellow card on 67 minutes, they saw it out.
Arsenal, Brighton and Manchester City are the only teams with two wins from their first two games of the Premier League season.
TALKING POINT
Do Arsenal have the goals for title challenge? This was a good win for Arsenal, whose players celebrated like they’d performed one of the great rearguards. And if they believe it, so much the better for them, because they play with a confidence, intensity and belief that is perpetuated by feelings of that ilk.
However, it’s still a stretch to see them winning the league, because they still lack a reliable scorer. They do have options, with various players able to come off the bench and affect the game, but though Declan Rice’s signing immediately makes them harder to beat, whether they have quite enough in attack, where Bukayo Saka is their only elite player, Martin Odegaard too if we’re counting midfielders, makes it harder for them to win enough games when not playing well.
However, it’s still a stretch to see them winning the league, because they still lack a reliable scorer. They do have options, with various players able to come off the bench and affect the game, but though Declan Rice’s signing immediately makes them harder to beat, whether they have quite enough in attack, where Bukayo Saka is their only elite player, Martin Odegaard too if we’re counting midfielders, makes it harder for them to win enough games when not playing well.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal): No-one really stood out but Nketiah hit the post, missed another good chance, and won the penalty.
PLAYER RATINGS
Crystal Palace: Johnstone 5, Ward 6, Andersen 7, Guehi 7, Mitchell 6, Lerma 6, Doucoure 7, Ayew 7, Eze 6, Schlupp 6, Edouard 7
Subs: Ahamada 6, Rak-Sakyi 6.
Arsenal: Ramsdale 6, Partey 6, White 6, Saliba 7, Tomiyasu 5, Rice 6, Odegaard 6, Havertz 5, Nketiah 7
Arsenal: Ramsdale 6, Partey 6, White 6, Saliba 7, Tomiyasu 5, Rice 6, Odegaard 6, Havertz 5, Nketiah 7
Subs: Jorginho 6, Kiwior 6, Gabriel 7.
KEY STAT
Bukayo Saka has now played 82 consecutive Premier League games, equalling a record set by Paul Merson between February 1995 and February 1997.
KEY MOMENTS
2’ - A CLEVER BALL AROUND THE CORNER FROM SAKA.
And Nketiah's flick-on eventually winds up with Havertz, whose first touch is lovely and sets him on a skip to the box. He finds Matinelli on the left, whose shot is blocked, likewise Saka's. That's a big warning for Palace.
29’ - SAKA TURNS ONE INTO NKETIAH!
He on the edge, right-hand side, and he feels Andersen behind him, turning him like water and oozing into the box, opening body, holding him off, lsiding a shot across Johnstone ... and onto the post! Brilliant play.
36’ - HERE COME ARSENAL AGAIN!
Saka waits, out on the right, then slides a square pass into Rice's stride, the ball immediately slotted in behind for Nketiah ... who lifts his shot over Johnstone and over the bar.
51’ - PENALTY TO ARSENAL!
Martinelli sends the free-kick straight down the side of the wall - what are the defenders doing? - Nketiah nudges it away from Johnstone, and though he's never catching up with the ball, when the keeper takes him down - when he makes sure the keeper takes him down - the ref points to the spot. Johnstone didn't need to do that, Nketiah was going nowhere
54’ - GOAL!
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace (Odegaard pen) Odegaard ambles up, pauses, and as Johnstone dives right, passes left.
67’ - WHO DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING?!
A ball down the line sees Ayew draw Tomiyasu in, spin him ... and Tomiyasu pulls his shirt, stopping the counter. The contact is minor but it's enough, and he'll learn a lesson from that because of his first booking.
And Nketiah's flick-on eventually winds up with Havertz, whose first touch is lovely and sets him on a skip to the box. He finds Matinelli on the left, whose shot is blocked, likewise Saka's. That's a big warning for Palace.
29’ - SAKA TURNS ONE INTO NKETIAH!
He on the edge, right-hand side, and he feels Andersen behind him, turning him like water and oozing into the box, opening body, holding him off, lsiding a shot across Johnstone ... and onto the post! Brilliant play.
36’ - HERE COME ARSENAL AGAIN!
Saka waits, out on the right, then slides a square pass into Rice's stride, the ball immediately slotted in behind for Nketiah ... who lifts his shot over Johnstone and over the bar.
51’ - PENALTY TO ARSENAL!
Martinelli sends the free-kick straight down the side of the wall - what are the defenders doing? - Nketiah nudges it away from Johnstone, and though he's never catching up with the ball, when the keeper takes him down - when he makes sure the keeper takes him down - the ref points to the spot. Johnstone didn't need to do that, Nketiah was going nowhere
54’ - GOAL!
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace (Odegaard pen) Odegaard ambles up, pauses, and as Johnstone dives right, passes left.
67’ - WHO DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING?!
A ball down the line sees Ayew draw Tomiyasu in, spin him ... and Tomiyasu pulls his shirt, stopping the counter. The contact is minor but it's enough, and he'll learn a lesson from that because of his first booking.
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