Arsenal downed Crystal Palace 1-0 at the Emirates on the strength of a first half goal from Ebere Eze against his former club. The win takes the Gunners four points clear at the top of the table, six points ahead
of Manchester City and seven points ahead of Liverpool. Bournemouth are in second and Sunderland are in third. Just as everyone predicted.
It wasn’t the most aesthetically pleasing match in North London, much like the 1-0 loss to Liverpool earlier in the season. Crystal Palace are no fluke. They’re a strong side — really well organized and tough to break down. They made life tough for Arsenal, but the Gunners did the same (0.9 xG – 0.4 xG). Palace came into the match leading the Premier League in xG created, big chances, and shots. Arsenal held them to one shot on target. It was a wimpy header that David Raya easily caught. Sadly, that snaps the Gunners’ several hour streak of not allowing a shot on target in the Premier League. Oh well.
With George Graham in attendance at the Emirates, it just had to be a one-nil. And because this is Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, it had to be a set piece goal. Late in the second half, Yeremy Pino lazily and cheaply tripped Bukayo Saka on the edge of the attacking third. Declan Rice took the free kick. Gabriel Magalhaes won the initial header. Ebere Eze’s leaping karate kick volley buried the rebound.
That was all the best defense in the world needed. Crystal Palace had their fair share of promising looking attacking moves, but time and again, they were snuffed out before the ball reached the Arsenal box. Someone would be in space on the ball and all of a sudden the space would be gone. The passing lanes closed. The defender winning the duel. It’s remarkable. Arsenal have played 13 matches this season. They’ve conceded three goals.
Leandro Trossard had a strong game on the wing, one of his better performances this season. Viktor Gyokeres never stops running, even after 90 minutes of banging bodies with defenders. Martin Zubimendi rebounded well from his worst 30-minute spell of the season to open the match to have an excellent second half. Jurrien Timber is a monster. Cristhian Mosquera was solid in relief. Arsenal are just, like, solid all over, man.
Arsenal will have some concern over knocks picked up during the match. William Saliba had to come off at halftime. Declan Rice came off late in the second half after needing treatment. Gabriel Martinelli was reportedly a little shaken up at the final whistle holding his hamstring. There was some scuttlebutt before the match about Bukayo Saka’s fitness too, and he came off midway through the second half, earlier than usual.
The Gunners host Brighton midweek in the Carabao Cup. Expect significant rotation for that match given all the knocks and injuries. Next up in the Premier League is a trip to Burnley, then Sunderland the weekend after that. They travel to Slavia Praha in between in the Champions League. Then it’s the international break. You can toss the cup match out the window, for all I care. Be as healthy and ready as they can be for the two PL matches and the CL. Make it to the international break to heal up and get guys back.
