Crystal Palace 0-1 Arsenal: Player ratings as Gunners hold on for win despite Tomiyasu red card
Martin Odegaard’s penalty was enough for ten-player Arsenal to hold on for victory at Crystal Palace on Monday night.
Gunners captain Odegaard stepped up to convert from the spot when Sam Johnstone brought down Eddie Nketiah after a frustrating first half for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Takehiro Tomiyasu picked up two bookings in eight second-half minutes to hand Palace a player advantage for a large chunk of the second half, but no equaliser came as Arsenal secured their second league win in as many games.
Early Gunners pressure saw Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka hit blocked efforts in quick succession, while Palace nearly created an opening when Jordan Ayew’s cross brought a weak punch from Aaron Ramsdale. Eberechi Eze slipped on the edge of the area, allowing Ben White to clear the danger.
It was White again who made a vital intervention when Jeffrey Schlupp released Odsonne Edouard, getting a meaty block on the shot before Ramsdale cleaned up.
Palace’s sturdy defending frustrated the Gunners for the most part but busy striker Nketiah came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half after Saka dispossessed Schlupp. However, his effort on the stretch bounced back off the far post.
William Saliba had to show excellent recovery skills after a poor touch almost let in Ayew, sprawling across with a sliding tackle tackle that drew incredulous appeals from the home crowd.
A smart ball over the top from Declan Rice – impressive all evening – again set Nketiah behind the Palace defence but his finish was off target, chipping over the bar before Odegaard brought a save from home goalkeeper Johnstone with a sharp drive from distance.
The well-drilled hosts kept the game goalless by half-time, though all the best chances fell to the visitors.
An early second-half move saw Tyrick Mitchell fire an enticing ball across the face of goal, but first blood eventually went Arsenal’s way in the 53rd minute when Johnstone was penalised for clattering into Nketiah from a smartly-worked free kick.
A check found no attacking foul against Thomas Partey and Odegaard stepped up to roll the ball into the bottom-left corner.
However, while Arsenal tried to find the second to wrap the game out, their priorities soon shifted to securing all three points when Tomiyasu was sent off for a second bookable offence.
The Japan international was cautioned in the 60th minute and was gone only seven minutes later for a tug on Ayew’s shirt.
That dismissal gave Palace an obvious advantage for the final 20 minutes and the Selhurst Park crowd bayed for blood when Eze went down in the box under Partey’s challenge, with referee David Coote ignoring the appeals.
A late chance presented itself to Mitchell but his slashed effort didn’t trouble Ramsdale as some late blocks ensured Arsenal left Croydon with three points. The wins sees them join Brighton and Manchester City in picking up victories in their opening two games, while Palace are down in mid-table at this early stage of the season.
Crystal Palace player ratings (4-2-3-1)
Johnstone brought down Nketiah / Mike Hewitt/GettyImages
GK: Sam Johnstone – 4/10 – Not the smartest move to dive at Nketiah’s feet when all the striker wanted was contact.
RB: Joel Ward – 6/10 – Contributed to Palace’s solidity at the back without offering much in attack as the hosts were penned in.
CB: Joachim Andersen – 7/10 – Whipped out some brilliant diagonal passes which were incredibly pleasing on the eye.
CB: Marc Guehi – 7/10 – Another impressive display, recovering the ball frequently while sticking close to Nketiah. Was sometimes given the slip.
LB: Tyrick Mitchell – 6/10 – Enjoyed a competitive battle with Saka, even if he probably came out the loser. Lashed over Palace’s last opportunity.
CM: Cheick Doucoure – 6/10 – Struggled to assert himself against Arsenal’s domineering midfielders and went into the book for one late challenge too many.
CM: Jefferson Lerma – 6/10 – Created a couple of chances and used the ball simply.
RW: Jordan Ayew – 7/10 – Hard-working down the right and his street smarts helped get Tomiyasu dismissed. His side couldn’t take advantage, however.
AM: Eberechi Eze – 6/10 – Couple of appeals for penalties went unheard. Saw more of the ball when Tomiyasu was dismissed.
LW: Jeffrey Schlupp – 7/10 – Stretched play with smart passes. Looked bright without conjuring up enough end product.
ST: Odsonne Edouard – 5/10 – Had a few decent openings but snatched at some opportunities.
Substitutes
Naouirou Ahamada (74′ for Schlupp) – 6/10
Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (83′ for Ward) – N/A
Subs not used: John-Kymani Gordon, Jairo Riedewald, Chris Richards, James Tomkins, Nathaniel Clyne, Remi Matthews.
Manager
Roy Hodgson – 6/10 – Palace were set up well defensively but will be disappointed not to have drawn level after the red card. Hodgson just didn’t have enough to turn to on his bench.
Arsenal player ratings (4-3-3)
Odegaard netted the winner / Mike Hewitt/GettyImages
GK: Aaron Ramsdale – 6/10 – Looked a little shaky on occasion. Maybe David Raya’s presence on the bench had an effect?
RB: Thomas Partey – 6/10 – Again deployed at right-back and went close with a few long shots, drawing a batted save from Johnstone. Arsenal definitely miss White out wide, however.
CB: Ben White – 6/10 – As mentioned, his absence at right-back made Arsenal a little clunky playing out.
CB: William Saliba – 6/10 – A few rusty touches but also had the physical attributes to make up for any errors.
LB: Takehiro Tomiyasu – 4/10 – Might feel hard done by to pick up two bookings in quick succession for time-wasting and a very soft shirt pull. Had defended solidly up until that point.
CM: Martin Odegaard – 8/10 – Powerful shot showed his keen eye for goal before calmly dispatching the penalty in the second half.
CM: Declan Rice – 8/10 – The dominant figure in the midfield battle all evening.
CM: Kai Havertz – 6/10 – One of the quieter Arsenal players in the first half after creating a chance for Martinelli early on.
RW: Bukayo Saka – 7/10 – Electric early on, forcing a few corners and looking threatening. Moved into a wing-back role late on.
ST: Eddie Nketiah – 7/10 – Accurate finishing in the first half would have had the Gunners a few goals up. Smart movement brought about the penalty which Odegaard converted.
LW: Gabriel Martinelli – 6/10 – Not at his weaving and jinking best, struggling to shake off Ayew and Ward.
Substitutes
Gabriel Magalhaes (70′ for Martinelli) – 6/10
Jorginho (79′ for Nketiah) – N/A
Oleksandr Zinchenko (90′ for Saka) – N/A
Jakub Kiwior (90′ for Odegaard) – N/A
Subs not used: Leandro Trossard, Reiss Nelson, Emile Smith Rowe, Fabio Vieira, David Raya.
Manager
Mikel Arteta – 7/10 – Would have wanted a bigger advantage by the time Tomiyasu was sent off but it wasn’t to be. Managed to steady the ship enough to seal three big points.
Player of the match – Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)
Source: 90mins
