Martinelli gets the season going as Arsenal claims a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace
While all eyes were on Gabriel Jesus (25), it was another of Arsenal’s Brazilian contingent who should’ve handed the Gunners an early lead, but Martinelli spurned a gilt-edged chance from close range. However, Martinelli was on hand to atone for his error midway through the first half when a well-worked Arsenal corner was headed back across goal by Oleksandr Zinchenko (25), allowing the no.11 to nod home from six yards. Palace were almost certainly a slow burner in building into the game, but besides a couple of hairy moments in possession for Aaron Ramsdale (24), Palace offered precious little.
It took Palace until the 42nd minute to muster a shot on goal, but Odsonne Edouard’s (24) tame header was easily gathered by Ramsdale to preserve Arsenal’s HT lead. The Gunners’ stopper was becoming a growing influence on proceedings as he denied Eberechi Eze (24), who latched onto Wilfried Zaha’s (29) deft through-ball. Solid defensive rearguard action isn’t something you would usually associate with Arsenal, but despite the best efforts of a raucous Palace crowd, the visitors weren’t crumbling.
Palace had a six-game unbeaten home league run to preserve and ramped up the pressure on the Arsenal goal, but creating clear-cut chances was proving to be problematic for Patrick Vieira’s side. Considering none of Arsenal’s last 17 Premier League games had ended level prior to tonight, the prospects of a Palace equaliser were slim and so it proved as the Gunners wrapped up the victory five minutes from time. Marc Guéhi (22) turned Bukayo Saka’s (20) cross into his own goal to secure only Arsenal’s second victory over the Eagles in their last nine attempts.
Flashscore Man of the Match: William Saliba (Arsenal)
