Match ends, Crystal Palace 0, Arsenal 1.
Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace0ArsenalArsenal1
A penalty from captain Martin Odegaard gave 10-man Arsenal a battling Premier League victory at Crystal Palace.
Eddie Nketiah was brought down by Sam Johnstone after Gabriel Martinelli's quickly taken free-kick, with Odegaard sending the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot.
At that stage Mikel Arteta's side looked comfortable, but they were left hanging on after left-back Takehiro Tomiyasu was shown a red card for two bookings.
The first yellow was for taking too long over a throw-in and the second was harshly awarded for a minor foul on Jordan Ayew in midfield.
Palace put on late pressure, with Tyrick Mitchell drilling over in injury time, but the Gunners, who hit the post through Nketiah in the first half, deserved their victory.
Arsenal join Brighton and Manchester City on six points from two games, while Palace failed to build on their opening-day win at Sheffield United.
- We might have to play with a stop watch - Arteta
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- What did you make of Arsenal's display? Send us your views here
Tomiyasu the talking point
Arsenal have a bit of a problem at full-back. Summer signing Jurrien Timber suffered a knee injury last week that could keep him out for most of the season and Oleksandr Zinchenko has just returned from a calf injury and started on the bench.
Tomiyasu, who is a right-back by trade, started on the left and Thomas Partey, a midfielder, played at right-back when Palace had the ball, moving into his usual position when his side had possession.
Japan international Tomiyasu will miss the next game now after his controversial red card. He was shown a yellow card for taking too long over a throw-in - although it was Kai Havertz who had wasted most of the time before leaving the ball for his team-mate.
And then he was dismissed for a nothing foul on Ayew about 50 yards away from any dangerous area.
That was Arsenal's first Premier League red card since 2021-22.
The Gunners were the better team for most of the game, and almost led when Nketiah poked a shot off the post and then chipped an effort onto the roof of the net.
Roy Hodgson's Palace defended stoutly for 99% of the game but their one blip effectively cost them the game.
They were taking their time to organise their defensive shape from an Arsenal free-kick when Martinelli caught them out with a ball to Nketiah, who was felled by Johnstone. Odegaard, whose last penalty was for Vitesse in 2019, made no mistake from the spot.
Declan Rice had another solid game in the centre of midfield following his £100m move from West Ham, but Havertz is still trying to find his proper role in the team.
Six of Palace's 14 chances came in the final five minutes with Odsonne Edouard having an effort saved and Mitchell lashing over after Aaron Ramsdale parried the ball.
Player of the match
ØdegaardMartin Ødegaard
with an average of 7.82
Crystal Palace
Avg
- Squad number10Player nameEzeAverage rating
5.74
- Squad number6Player nameGuéhiAverage rating
5.48
- Squad number2Player nameWardAverage rating
5.35
- Squad number16Player nameAndersenAverage rating
5.32
- Squad number1Player nameJohnstoneAverage rating
5.31
- Squad number8Player nameLermaAverage rating
5.29
- Squad number3Player nameMitchellAverage rating
5.24
- Squad number22Player nameÉdouardAverage rating
5.08
- Squad number9Player nameJ AyewAverage rating
5.07
- Squad number28Player nameDoucouréAverage rating
5.05
- Squad number15Player nameSchluppAverage rating
5.01
- Squad number49Player nameRak-SakyiAverage rating
4.80
- Squad number29Player nameAhamadaAverage rating
4.71
Arsenal
Avg
- Squad number8Player nameØdegaardAverage rating
7.82
- Squad number2Player nameSalibaAverage rating
7.81
- Squad number41Player nameRiceAverage rating
7.60
- Squad number7Player nameSakaAverage rating
7.59
- Squad number1Player nameRamsdaleAverage rating
7.56
- Squad number14Player nameNketiahAverage rating
7.26
- Squad number6Player nameGabriel MagalhãesAverage rating
7.25
- Squad number4Player nameWhiteAverage rating
7.23
- Squad number5Player nameParteyAverage rating
7.21
- Squad number11Player nameGabriel MartinelliAverage rating
7.16
- Squad number20Player nameJorginhoAverage rating
6.73
- Squad number35Player nameZinchenkoAverage rating
6.70
- Squad number15Player nameKiwiorAverage rating
6.61
- Squad number18Player nameTomiyasuAverage rating
6.36
- Squad number29Player nameHavertzAverage rating
6.32
Line-ups
Crystal Palace
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Johnstone
- 2WardSubstituted forRak-Sakyiat 83'minutes
- 16Andersen
- 6Guéhi
- 3Mitchell
- 28DoucouréBooked at 90mins
- 8Lerma
- 9J AyewBooked at 27mins
- 10Eze
- 15SchluppSubstituted forAhamadaat 74'minutes
- 22Édouard
Substitutes
- 5Tomkins
- 17Clyne
- 26Richards
- 29Ahamada
- 31Matthews
- 37Gordon
- 44Riedewald
- 49Rak-Sakyi
Arsenal
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Ramsdale
- 5Partey
- 4White
- 2Saliba
- 18TomiyasuBooked at 67mins
- 8ØdegaardSubstituted forZinchenkoat 89'minutes
- 41Rice
- 29HavertzBooked at 90mins
- 7SakaSubstituted forKiwiorat 89'minutes
- 14NketiahSubstituted forJorginhoat 79'minutes
- 11MartinelliSubstituted forGabrielat 70'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Gabriel
- 10Smith Rowe
- 15Kiwior
- 19Trossard
- 20Jorginho
- 21Fábio Vieira
- 22Raya
- 24Nelson
- 35Zinchenko
- Referee:
- David Coote
- Attendance:
- 24,189
Match Stats
Home TeamCrystal PalaceAway TeamArsenal
- Possession
- Home47%
- Away53%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away3
- Corners
- Home1
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Crystal Palace 0, Arsenal 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Tyrick Mitchell (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from the left side of the box is too high.
Post update
Attempt saved. Odsonne Édouard (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jefferson Lerma with a headed pass.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Cheick Doucouré (Crystal Palace) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jesurun Rak-Sakyi with a headed pass.
Booking
Kai Havertz (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Kai Havertz (Arsenal).
Post update
Joachim Andersen (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Offside, Arsenal. Jorginho tries a through ball, but Oleksandr Zinchenko is caught offside.
Booking
Cheick Doucouré (Crystal Palace) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Kai Havertz (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Cheick Doucouré (Crystal Palace).
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Oleksandr Zinchenko replaces Martin Ødegaard.
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Jakub Kiwior replaces Bukayo Saka.
Post update
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Naouirou Ahamada (Crystal Palace).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is blocked. Assisted by Tyrick Mitchell.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jordan Ayew.
Post update
Attempt missed. Odsonne Édouard (Crystal Palace) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Tyrick Mitchell with a cross.
Post update
Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Thomas Partey.
Comments
Join the conversation
what constituted a foul. It was shambolic.
If that’s a 2nd yellow for Tommy, Ayer’s foul on Saka warranted the firing squad.
They are the worst 2 yellow cards and sending off I have ever seen.
Should that referee do a Prem game again - I don’t think so, and I hate criticising officials.
Hodgson has his players playing as a tight knit group.
Well played boys - All put in a proper shift
COYG
That's two matches in a row Arsenal have won despite the officials
Joke of a red card
The red was soft 1st as Tomi only had the ball for 8 seconds at the throw I'm then the second yellow, Ayew made a meal of.
Good to see us playing with about 8 defenders on the pitch towards the end.
Anyways maximum points and on to the next one.
He made it difficult for Arsenal. 10 men defended well.
That red card is a disgrace.