Arsenal Beat Crystal Palace 2-1 At Selhurst Park

“It was a very good performance, he was very important getting the ball out from the back in tight areas”.

Over the course of the 90 minutes against Palace, Mertesacker had a pass accuracy of 93%, won 75% of his headers, and made nine clearances and two blocks. I have looked at the statistics and we had 18 games last season when we scored four or more goals.

“He brings a drive forward”, said Wenger.

Yet ultimately the crisp build up play of Arsenal was too much.

Arsenal kept on asserting their dominance and finally got their reward in the 16th minute.

The Chilean global used his pace and power for the duration of the afternoon to mark himself as one of the key players in this Arsenal side. He would push, harry, kick and do whatever it takes to put that ball in the back of the net.

7′ – GOAL LINE CLEARANCE: Arsenal break quickly up the field and Giroud feeds Sanchez.

Likely Crystal Palace goal scorer or assist provided would be the strong and hardworking Bolasie.

However, the Gunners conceded an equaliser midway through the half after Joel Ward picked out the bottom corner with a shot from outside the box. The score was now tied at 1 apiece, per Harris.

“There were times we played well, unlucky with Connor Wickham hitting the post”. The Arsenal midfielder attempted a left-footed shot but missed.

Damien Delaney of Palace this week told the team’s website that Arsenal is definitely going to test the squad.

Arsenal regained the lead on 55 minutes when Sanchez’s header was deflected into the top corner of the net by Delaney as he reached to clear the ball.

Arsene Wenger decided to change up his system and reintroduce Alexis Sanchez to the starting XI in the hope of adding potency to his attack. Towards the end of the match Arsenal had to withstand considerable pressure from the home side, but handled it all as they held on for a vital victory.

Cazorla started the game in the middle of the pitch alongside Francis Coquelin, having been deployed out wide against West Ham. We are still not capable of maintaining it for the full 90 minutes but that will come.

“We knew that the first half wasn’t good enough and we upped it in the second“.

“This is a hard place for teams to come and win”.

“To get the points is already a bit of turning point because to lose would have been a big blow mentally”.

Crystal Palace have been beaten in each of their last five Premier League encounters with the Gunners. It has a 1-0-1 record for three points. It is in sixth because it has a lower goal difference (1) compared to Arsenal (-1).