Match ends, Crystal Palace 0, Arsenal 2.
Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace0ArsenalArsenal2
Mikel Arteta said his Arsenal side look "hungry" after getting their campaign off to the perfect start with victory over Crystal Palace in an entertaining 2022-23 Premier League curtain-raiser at Selhurst Park.
The Gunners maintained their impressive pre-season form with an energetic performance that was rewarded when Gabriel Martinelli nodded in a 20th-minute opener from new signing Oleksandr Zinchenko's headed assist.
It took Palace most of the first half to adapt to the visitors' tempo, but once they did Odsonne Edouard forced Aaron Ramsdale into a save after Joachim Andersen's header found him in the six-yard box.
Buoyed by a vibrant home crowd, the Eagles poured forward in search of a leveller but it was Arsenal who found the net again, Marc Guehi inadvertently heading Bukayo Saka's fierce cross into his own goal late on.
"I have had this feeling for the first few weeks since the boys started pre-season. They are ready, they look hungry, with that mentality that they really want to win," Arteta told Match of the Day.
"The team came here to play the way we wanted to play - we were dominant, we were a threat, we were really lively and sharp from the beginning. Then when we felt under pressure we coped with that with resilience."
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Gunners lay down a top-four marker
Between Arsenal's savvy transfer business, free-scoring pre-season form and being the focus of Amazon's latest All or Nothing series, there has been plenty to whet their fans' appetites this summer.
We may have to wait until the second series to learn whether Arteta piped Palace anthem 'Glad All Over' out during training before this one - as he did with 'You'll Never Walk Alone' before visiting Anfield last season - or whether it was the Spaniard's artwork that set the tone, but his side arrived with a relentless intensity that made Martinelli's opening goal feel inevitable.
The 21-year-old Brazilian had earlier missed a glorious chance after Gabriel Jesus waltzed through the Palace defence, skewing wide of the far post after his compatriot's effort was blocked, but he stooped to head in from a clever corner routine.
The Gunners lost their opening three league games last season, including another Friday night opener at Brentford, and ultimately narrowly missed out on a return to Champions League football.
But they have strengthened with the acquisitions of Jesus and Zinchenko from Manchester City and both already look set to have a big impact on Arteta's young squad.
Jesus, who scored seven goals in five pre-season games, caused Palace's back four problems with his relentless work-rate as well as his talent on the ball, and he laid on a chance for Martin Odegaard that the Gunners captain might have done better with.
It was another Arsenal debutant who really impressed, with 21-year-old centre back William Saliba - who has spent most of his three years at the club out on loan, producing a fine defensive display.
The Frenchman was part of a back four that had to show resilience amid the hosts' growing threat, before Guehi's own goal following a snappy Saka break made things more comfortable.
It was a result and performance that will have pleased Arteta, who recorded his 50th league win as Gunners boss, while simultaneously giving Arsenal's top-four rivals a glimpse of what they are up against this term.
Palace fail to turn pressure into points
Palace boss Patrick Vieira was concerned this game had arrived too early after a disrupted pre-season that saw some of his squad not being able to travel to Singapore and Australia, some players remaining on the treatment table, and the Frenchman still hoping to make more transfer additions.
He also said he was happy with the business the Eagles have done so far this window, although only Cheick Doucoure started after arriving from Lens, and Palace struggled to deal with an irrepressible Arsenal early on.
The hosts, who took four points off Arsenal last season, did improve and Ramsdale's save from Edouard's header before the break was followed after half-time when the goalkeeper also denied Eberechi Eze following Wilfried Zaha's pass in what kick-started a dominant spell for the Eagles.
Palace, who are looking to improve on their 12th-placed finish last season, were unable to capitalise on that pressure and were instead caught out on the break, but Vieira will want to wait until the end of the transfer window before giving a real assessment of where his side are.
Player of the match
SalibaWilliam Saliba
with an average of 8.28
Crystal Palace
Avg
- Squad number16Player nameAndersenAverage rating
5.83
- Squad number11Player nameZahaAverage rating
5.27
- Squad number10Player nameEzeAverage rating
5.24
- Squad number9Player nameJ AyewAverage rating
5.19
- Squad number13Player nameGuaitaAverage rating
5.18
- Squad number28Player nameDoucouréAverage rating
5.13
- Squad number6Player nameGuéhiAverage rating
5.10
- Squad number17Player nameClyneAverage rating
5.08
- Squad number3Player nameMitchellAverage rating
4.96
- Squad number22Player nameÉdouardAverage rating
4.95
- Squad number15Player nameSchluppAverage rating
4.95
- Squad number23Player nameEbioweiAverage rating
4.84
- Squad number14Player nameMatetaAverage rating
4.74
- Squad number4Player nameMilivojevicAverage rating
4.62
- Squad number19Player nameHughesAverage rating
4.55
Arsenal
Avg
Squad number12Player nameSalibaAverage rating8.28
- Squad number9Player nameGabriel JesusAverage rating
7.84
- Squad number11Player nameGabriel MartinelliAverage rating
7.77
- Squad number35Player nameZinchenkoAverage rating
7.65
- Squad number7Player nameSakaAverage rating
7.56
- Squad number1Player nameRamsdaleAverage rating
7.52
- Squad number6Player nameGabriel MagalhãesAverage rating
7.36
- Squad number3Player nameTierneyAverage rating
7.28
- Squad number8Player nameØdegaardAverage rating
7.15
- Squad number14Player nameNketiahAverage rating
6.98
- Squad number5Player nameParteyAverage rating
6.86
Squad number34Player nameXhakaAverage rating6.85
- Squad number4Player nameWhiteAverage rating
6.82
- Squad number23Player nameSambi LokongaAverage rating
6.38
Line-ups
Crystal Palace
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 13Guaita
- 17ClyneBooked at 64mins
- 16Andersen
- 6Guéhi
- 3Mitchell
- 28DoucouréSubstituted forMilivojevicat 75'minutes
- 15SchluppSubstituted forHughesat 86'minutes
- 9J Ayew
- 10EzeSubstituted forEbioweiat 86'minutes
- 11Zaha
- 22ÉdouardSubstituted forMatetaat 58'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Ward
- 4Milivojevic
- 14Mateta
- 19Hughes
- 21Johnstone
- 23Ebiowei
- 26Richards
- 44Riedewald
- 48Plange
Arsenal
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Ramsdale
- 4WhiteBooked at 60mins
- 12Saliba
- 6Gabriel
- 35ZinchenkoSubstituted forTierneyat 83'minutes
- 8ØdegaardSubstituted forSambi Lokongaat 90+3'minutes
- 5Partey
- 34XhakaBooked at 44mins
- 7Saka
- 9Gabriel JesusSubstituted forNketiahat 83'minutes
- 11Martinelli
Substitutes
- 3Tierney
- 14Nketiah
- 16Holding
- 17Cédric Soares
- 19Pépé
- 23Sambi Lokonga
- 24Nelson
- 25Elneny
- 30Turner
- Referee:
- Anthony Taylor
- Attendance:
- 25,286
Match Stats
Home TeamCrystal PalaceAway TeamArsenal
- Possession
- Home56%
- Away44%
- Shots
- Home10
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away2
- Corners
- Home3
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home16
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Crystal Palace 0, Arsenal 2.
Post update
Foul by Tyrick Mitchell (Crystal Palace).
Post update
Albert Sambi Lokonga (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Albert Sambi Lokonga replaces Martin Ødegaard.
Post update
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Marc Guéhi.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Eddie Nketiah.
Substitution
Substitution, Crystal Palace. Malcolm Ebiowei replaces Eberechi Eze.
Substitution
Substitution, Crystal Palace. Will Hughes replaces Jeffrey Schlupp.
Goal!
Own Goal by Marc Guéhi, Crystal Palace. Crystal Palace 0, Arsenal 2.
Post update
Attempt missed. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Thomas Partey.
Post update
Joachim Andersen (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal).
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Eddie Nketiah replaces Gabriel Jesus.
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Kieran Tierney replaces Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Wilfried Zaha with a cross.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jeffrey Schlupp (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Nathaniel Clyne.
Post update
Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Thomas Partey (Arsenal).
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Comments
Join the conversation
On Arsenal, some nervous moments and did retreat a few times but we had a bit better quality in the final third.
Jesus looks brilliant.
I can't believe Saliba is 21 the guy looks immense at the back.
A young talented squad with a vey good blend of players.
Saliba finally, Zinchenko , and yes, sweet Jesus - welcome to Arsenal.
Palace is a hard hard place to go to and win and I believe most top 6 teams will struggle and possibly drop points there
Great and very important victory for Arsenal. 1st game, 3 points, 2 goals, clean sheet, you can't ask for anything more.
Last season they would have capitulated under that pressure.
Saliba looks like he’s going to be helpful.
Zaha is a small cat.
Refereeing was good
Arsenal fans were very vocal and outvoiced the palace fans
Wilfred Zaha whines like a baby to referees more than any footballer alive....yes even Arjen Robben
Welcome back Premier League!!
Surprised Arteta didn't make a change at right back, White did OK against Zaha but playing him after getting a yellow was a big ask, and he wasn't getting much help.
Soft Yellow for Xhaka. If that deemed dive what about Eze's dive, Saka did not touch him. Zaha falling down like a puppet without strings. I thought VAR was supposed to wipe out the dives?