Crystal Palace 1-2 Arsenal: Delaney own goal condemns Palace

Ozil was at the heart of Arsenal’s attacking play at Selhurst Park and provided a pinpoint delivery for Olivier Giroud to open the scoring after 16 minutes with an acrobatic volley.

Wenger added: “It was a mental test to see how we would respond”. Cheikhou Kouyate and the Hammers’ summer signing Dimitri Payet’s goals were sufficient for them to seal a victory.

Arsenal will host Liverpool next week at the Emirates while Crystal Palace will face Aston Villa at home.

Palace however recovered well as Joel Ward slid in to block the first effort from Sanchez and then James McArthur cleared off the line when the rebound presented the Arsenal No 17 with another chance.

The Frenchman’s scissor kick put away a Mesut Ozil cross but the lead lasted 12 minutes before Joel Ward’s driven shot from outside the box drew Palace level.

And as well as helping Arsenal pick up their first three points of the campaign, Wenger also believes the goal will have boosted his striker’s confidence after rumours of the club moving for a new striker. “You thought we would be punished after that but we dug in and hung on in the last 10 minutes, and that too is important in the season”. What I want from him more is a few more goals this season. Not his best game overall. His downward header from Hector Bellerin’s cross was diverted into the net by Palace captain Delaney in the 55th minute.

Olivier Giroud took Arsenal’s first attempt but missed. The game looked destined for a draw when things did not go as per plans for the home side and they ended up conceding a goal in the second half through a Delaney own goal.

Eagles boss Alan Pardew lamented the decision by referee Lee Mason not to send off Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin for what could easily have been deemed fouls worthy of a second caution before the player was eventually substituted just after the hour. “That tackle before half time is not a sending off at that point but that’s his last chance, you know that”.

“The reward is disappointing”, Pardew said.

Coquelin played well but an official gave him a yellow card for arguing. The side from London will hope to get a key three points on the road to stay unbeaten on the season.