ARSENAL maintained their 100 per cent start to the season with a gritty 1-0 win at Crystal Palace.
The Gunners were forced to wait until the 53rd minute for the breakthrough at Selhurst Park.
Martin Odegaard broke the deadlock for Arsenal at Crystal Palace
Following a fast free kick from Gabriel Martinelli, Eddie Nketiah was pulled down by Sam Johnstone, and Martin Odegaard scored from the spot.
Takehiro Tomiyasu received two soft yellow cards in the span of seven minutes midway through the second half, reducing Arsenal to 10 men, but the Gunners managed to hang on for a crucial and fought-for three points.
Here’s how we rated Mikel Arteta’s men at Selhurst Park…
Aaron Ramsdale – 6
Still got the nod ahead of new loanee David Raya who took his place on the bench and watched the Englishman kept busy in the opening exchanges with a couple of routine saves and a fair share of touches with his feet.
But he was not really threatened by the Palace attackers, even when he lost Tomiyasu in front of him.
Aaron Ramsdale and his defenders kept a crucial clean sheet
Thomas Partey – 7
Deployed at right-back again – moving infield when Arsenal had the ball to form a pairing with Declan Rice in front of a back three.
Passing a little sloppy early on then squandered a good chance with his head but grew into the game and produced a sublime ball down the channel for Bukayo Saka to get into the Palace box.
Nervy moment when Eberechi Eze went down when he left a trailing leg but not enough for a penalty – and the Ghanian got away with waving an imaginary card.
Thomas Partey and Declan Rice linked up to identify a problematic contact lens
Ben White – 7
Kept his place as the right centre-back with Gabriel on the bench and demonstrated his classy ability in both directions.
Very rarely gets flustered and always looks in total control – tonight was no different with Odsonne Edouard not getting a sniff out of the ex-Brighton man.
William Saliba – 6
The main man and leader at the heart of this Arsenal defence and his positioning was perfect to thwart a promising Palace attack.
Then a rare mistake threatened to allow Jordan Ayew in but he made a fantastic sliding recovery tackle and the penalty appeals were ignored.
Defended resolutely with White and sub Gabriel following the red card as Palace pressed for an equaliser, roared on by their passionate supporters – but Saliba and Co stood firm.
William Saliba made a superb recovery tackle on Jordan Ayew
Takehiro Tomiyasu – 4
As for the versatile Japanese defender, a steady enough display at left-back and then sliding into left centre-back at times for the first 60 minutes.
But then it unravelled quicky… he was then booked for taking eight seconds over a throw-in on the hour mark and seven minutes later given his marching orders for a second yellow when Ayew went down – there was no pull on the shirt and that seemed a little harsh in truth but another left-back option unavailable next time out.
Takehiro Tomiyasu saw red for two quickfire yellow cards
Declan Rice – 8
On the pitch, his most notable action in the first half was brilliant sliding in Eddie Nketiah for a glorious chance – off it, he needed medical help to get a contact lens sorted out.
A superb performance in the middle of the park, running the show for large parts from a slightly deeper position but making lots of well-timed runs forward.
Rice bossed the midfield and played very well throughout
Rice owns 54 passes to the right address, the accuracy rate reaches 90%. Former West Ham United star has a total of 68 touches of the ball, 3 accurate long passes, 2 wins in duels… and is the ‘Man of The Match’
Martin Odegaard – 7
Kept things ticking over and carried the ball effortlessly through midfield and stung Sam Johnstone’s palm just before the break with a rasping effort from range.
Stepped up from 12 yards and confidently rolled the penalty into the bottom corner with ease, cool finish indeed.
A potential boobytrap successfully navigated – led by their terrific captain for 89 minutes.
Odegaard slotted his penalty into the bottom corner
Kai Havertz – 7
Made a bright start in the left No8 role, pushing on to try and support Nketiah.
Still finding his feet and his role in this Gunners side, though, and not massively involved, although did flash a nice volley just wide.
Moved into the centre-forward role when Nketiah went off and picked up a yellow for kicking the ball away in injury time.
Bukayo Saka – 5
Tyrick Mitchell knew he was in for a battle from the first whistle with one of the Prem’s top stars – but he was not at his electric best.
Looked a potential threat throughout but did not get the chance to break the deadlock with the England man taken off penalties following misses against West Ham and Barcelona.
Moved across to his original left wing-back position in the closing stages as the Gunners held on with ten men but in the end replaced.
Eddie Nketiah – 7
Looked to have followed up his goal against Forest with a sublime solo run but struck the base of the post – desperately unlucky.
And then really should have buried another glorious chance but dinked over needlessly from six yards.
Showed good pace and intent to win the spot-kick as Johnstone brought him down – had everything in this cracking centre-forward game except a goal.
Eddie Nketiah saw some huge chances go begging
Sam Johnstone took down Nketiah for the penalty
Gabriel Martinelli – 6
Had they not hesitated for a little too long, they might have been able to give Arsenal the ideal start inside of two minutes.
His second significant contribution in the first half came when the Brazilian was unusually quiet and he sent a brilliantly hit volley off target.
However, it was his quick thinking that caused him to take a quick free-kick for Nketiah to win the penalty, and it seemed to energize him—at least until he became irate at being the one sacrificed after the red card.
