CRYSTAL PALACE 0 - 2 ARSENAL
Arteta '46 (pen), Giroud '85
KICK-OFF: Saturday 26 October 2013 at 12:45pm (BST)
(GAMEWEEK 9) at Selhurst Park, London.
By Nisar Khan
LONDON - Arteta's penalty and Giroud's header provided Arsenal's victory over Crystal Palace in spite of the Eagles' first half defiance and the debatable sending off to Mikel Arteta.
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| Turning Point: Arteta's penalty turned the game back in Arsenal's favor after Palace began to pick up pace. (Image Courtesy/Copyright/Ownership: GETTY IMAGES) |
SEE ALSO: Complete Coverage from Champions League Matchday 3
Arsenal got things underway and began the game with accurate passing. The sunny, windy conditions and dry pitch were looking to have slowed down Arsenal's passing, but they were still looking fluid and very confident on the ball with an early landslide in possession.
With the first chance of the match, Olivier Giroud's header went over the bar following a cross from Bacary Sagna. Arsenal continued to control the game with plenty of possession in the attacking half.
The Eagles' defense were staying put, but they have little possession on were already looking on the backfoot early on. Their (very) short spells in possession were being constantly hindered by Arsenal.
Mathieu Flamini picked up an early groin injury and was therefore replaced by Serge Gnabry.
The first ten minutes or so of the game were, in essence, Arsenal fluidly passing the ball around but Giroud with the only chance of the game that left Speroni's goal unfazed. There was a feeling that Arsenal were closing in on a goal.
Bacary Sagna created another chance when he squared it across the box but it was blocked by a defender, and possibly could have been a hand ball. What followed was Crystal Palace's first promising play as they had a chance with a header in front of goal that went over the bar.
The visitors looked dangerous in the first time that they caught Palace on the counter-attack, as Ozil came running into the box. The German could have shot but went to pass it across the goal, allowing the Palace players to hesitantly clear. It lead to the first corner of the game in the 17th minute that came to nothing.
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| Resillient: Palace kept a clean sheet in the first half. |
When the game was in full swing in the 23rd minute, it seemed to follow the same correlation. Arsenal passing, but not able to get through Palace.
Former Arsenal man Marouane Chamakh came closest for Palace to that moment as his sweet strike forced Szczęsny's first save.
The hosts were soon adapting themselves to the game, with a great spell of passing before Guediora's shot fell into the hands of Szczęsny. The fans got vocal and Palace continued to work with optimism.
Arsenal send out a strong reminder to their opponents that they posed a goal threat, as Cazorla's shot just went wide. Had Giroud had a touch on it, it would have been a goal.
There was a spell of back-and-forth between the teams, moderately of course, as Palace responded with a free-kick that resulted in a corner. Dikgacoi came close as Szczęsny was unable to meet the corner.
Marouane Chamakh came close again, but he mistimed the jump for his header with the cross going for a goal kick. The tempo had increased with five minutes remaining in the half.
Olivier Giroud had a chance with a half-volley, but he could not get balanced enough to test Speroni, who made a comfortable save.
The half-time whistle blew with it remaining goalless. In spite of a dominant early spell from the Gunners, the hosts got into it slowly and really tested Arsenal. A deserved break with all to play for in the second half.
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| While Arsenal had the most possession, Palace were looking good. (Image Courtesy: PremierLeague.com) |
It was the worst possible start for Crystal Palace in the second half. When Arsenal were about to cross the ball in, Guediora fouled Gnabry resulting in a penalty - clear call.
Mikel Arteta stepped up and scored for Arsenal, with the keeper diving to the left but unable to reach Arteta's shot. All of Palace's work in the first half had been undone within moments.
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| GIF: Guediora fouls Gnabry, and Arteta scores the penalty. |
Gnabry almost made it two for Arsenal when Ozil's pass into the box caused trouble, but the ball just out-spun past the goal - to the relief of Palace fans and players.
An hour into the game and Arsenal were still leading, but Palace were still trying. The goal remained the difference as the game still had a lot to give, and Palace may have been losing but their resolve was not yet dampened.
Then, the odds were back on to Palace.
Goalscorer Mikel Arteta was sent off for a foul on Marouane Chamakh that possibly denied a goalscoring opportunity. Turning point?
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| GIF: Arteta was sent off for this foul |
Having been substituted on early in the game, Serge Gnabry was substituted off with twenty minutes remaining. Wilshere was introduced as Wenger looked to get a tighter hold on the game and defend the lead.
Szczęsny made two incredible saved within one minute to maintain Arsenal's lead. The first came onto the bar and the second was denying a volley. Incredible.
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| GIF: Szczesny thwarts Palace's closest chances |
Crystal Palace began to pick up possession too, Arsenal were needing to get their men behind the ball.
A great run from Nacho Monreal almost put the game to bed as he couldn't find anyone in the box so manipulated himself through the defenders. His shot however was thwarted by the keeper.
Down to 10 men, Arsenal continued to work, and eventually a goal from Giroud would have the three points sealed.
Ramsey held the ball up and awaited Giroud's entrance, putting up a light cross for Giroud to head home and double Arsenal's lead.
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| GIF: Giroud scores Arsenal's second |
Crystal Palace still wouldn't give up, as they had a half-chance back at the other end.
The time ticked down, with Arsenal cruising to the victory after another class performance. While it may have been frustrating for the first half, they sorted themselves out in the second.
And the full time whistle blew, with Arsenal the victors.
THE BREAKDOWN
Breaking down the game with analysis and the main headlines
FLAMINI: Injury Could be Bad News for Arsenal
Mathieu Flamini's absence in the game was clear when he was subbed off. However, Arsenal managed to get the win. How will they fare if Flamini's injury is severe meaning he will miss the next big games?
FIRST HALF OVERVIEW: Arsenal Dominance Unable to Foil Eagles
Arsenal started the first half on a flyer. Crystal Palace had no answer to their play, except denying the goal. That would give them some leverage.
PROGRESSION: Palace Go From Being Dominated to Worrying ArsenalThe final fifteen minutes of the first half is when we saw a very different Crystal Palace. They really put Arsenal on the backfoot on a few occasions.
FINISHING: Lack of Finishing Quality Leaves First Half GoallessArsenals chances and Crystal Palace's chances came, and went. There was no decent finishing quality on display in the first 45.
PENALTY: Crystal Palace's First Half Hard Work Undone Instantaneously
Crystal Palace did a lot to keep on even ground with Arsenal. But it just took one foul to put that away.
ARTETA: Red Card Is Not the Turning PointIt was possible that Arsenal may have been exposed when Arteta was sent off. The second Arsenal player to score and be sent off in the same game makes the difference with his penalty, not his sending off.
GIROUD: Goal Finishes Off Palace
Giroud's goal just showed his quality and more importantly guaranteed the three points.
ARSENAL: Class Gunners Performance Down to 10 Men
Arsenal were a class team throughout. They were able to overcome frustration the game and could have easily just been broken down. But they played to the last minute, likewise with Palace.
CRYSTAL PALACE: Big Takeaways From Positive Game
They may have not got the result, but it was a positive performance from Crystal Palace. Fantastic effort, but the red card just damaged them. Plenty to work on, but plenty to take away.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Who was the best player in the game?
Wojech Szczesny
A great performance in between the sticks for Arsenal's keeper. Two great saves in the defining moments when he tipped it onto the bar and stopped a volley give him the edge.
TALKING POINTS
The main talking points of the game. The questions that we could go on and on about, but the questions that we let you talk about. Sound off in response to some of the questions below using the comments section at the bottom of the page or Tweet Us with the hashtag #TSMChat.
THE FINAL SAY
The game in a summary with analysis.
The time ticked down, with Arsenal cruising to the victory after another class performance. While it may have been frustrating for the first half, they sorted themselves out in the second.
And the full time whistle blew, with Arsenal the victors.
THE BREAKDOWN
Breaking down the game with analysis and the main headlines
FLAMINI: Injury Could be Bad News for Arsenal
Mathieu Flamini's absence in the game was clear when he was subbed off. However, Arsenal managed to get the win. How will they fare if Flamini's injury is severe meaning he will miss the next big games?
FIRST HALF OVERVIEW: Arsenal Dominance Unable to Foil Eagles
Arsenal started the first half on a flyer. Crystal Palace had no answer to their play, except denying the goal. That would give them some leverage.
PROGRESSION: Palace Go From Being Dominated to Worrying ArsenalThe final fifteen minutes of the first half is when we saw a very different Crystal Palace. They really put Arsenal on the backfoot on a few occasions.
FINISHING: Lack of Finishing Quality Leaves First Half GoallessArsenals chances and Crystal Palace's chances came, and went. There was no decent finishing quality on display in the first 45.
PENALTY: Crystal Palace's First Half Hard Work Undone Instantaneously
Crystal Palace did a lot to keep on even ground with Arsenal. But it just took one foul to put that away.
ARTETA: Red Card Is Not the Turning PointIt was possible that Arsenal may have been exposed when Arteta was sent off. The second Arsenal player to score and be sent off in the same game makes the difference with his penalty, not his sending off.
GIROUD: Goal Finishes Off Palace
Giroud's goal just showed his quality and more importantly guaranteed the three points.
ARSENAL: Class Gunners Performance Down to 10 Men
Arsenal were a class team throughout. They were able to overcome frustration the game and could have easily just been broken down. But they played to the last minute, likewise with Palace.
CRYSTAL PALACE: Big Takeaways From Positive Game
They may have not got the result, but it was a positive performance from Crystal Palace. Fantastic effort, but the red card just damaged them. Plenty to work on, but plenty to take away.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Who was the best player in the game?
Wojech Szczesny
A great performance in between the sticks for Arsenal's keeper. Two great saves in the defining moments when he tipped it onto the bar and stopped a volley give him the edge.
The main talking points of the game. The questions that we could go on and on about, but the questions that we let you talk about. Sound off in response to some of the questions below using the comments section at the bottom of the page or Tweet Us with the hashtag #TSMChat.
- Should Mikel Arteta have been sent off?
Goalscorer Mikel Arteta received a red card for a foul on Chamakh. Arteta was the last defender when he fouled Chamakh, but Chamakh still had a lot of yards to cover before he posed a real threat. Did he really deny a goalscoring opportunity? Should he have been sent off?
The game in a summary with analysis.
Arsenal come out all guns ablaze in the first half hour. However, Crystal Palace don't give in and go into the first half with a positive clean sheet. But the penalty turns it around in a wasteful foul allowing Arsenal to take the advantage. In spite of this, Crystal Palace defiantly play to the end yet don't get the result.
Arsenal's win guaranteed ending another weekend topping the table.
For a manager-less Palace, it was a decent performance but the errors were clear on what to work on.
Its a needed win for Arsenal who now face a very tough footballing schedule in the coming weeks.
Arsenal see of a defiant Crystal Palace. Arteta's penalty and Giroud's header pay divident in the game that puts them on top once again. For Palace, its a much different story for the manager-less team.
Arsenal see of a defiant Crystal Palace. Arteta's penalty and Giroud's header pay divident in the game that puts them on top once again. For Palace, its a much different story for the manager-less team.
By Nisar Khan - Read more articles from this author
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