Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal ended their 3 game strong losing streak with a convincing 5-0 win at Home versus a struggling Crystal Palace.
The Arsenal boss opted to start Leandro Trossard on the left wing, the Belgian’s place in the first XI meaning Gabriel Martinelli took a spot on the bench from the start. Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko also returned following the week’s rest in Dubai.
Arsenal would have been hoping for a fast start and an early goal, and that’s exactly what they got when Declan Rice swung in the first corner of the game on eleven minutes. The Englishman’s delivery was delivered with strong pace and accuracy and Gabriel was there to head in to give the Gunners a much needed early advantage.
Arsenal remained in control of the game following the goal however Palace did well at equally restraining the home side as the game continued at a relatively low pace and away side did have an effort on target that was comfortably saved by David Raya. However, the second goal would soon come in the latter stages of the first half as another corner was swung in, this time by Bukayo Saka. And it was another ping-point delivery as Gabriel was there again to get his head onto the ball to double the lead despite the best efforts of Dean Henderson. The goal was later credited as an own goal by the Palace goalkeeper.
The second half started in a similar way, with Arsenal remaining in control but Palace still looking dangerous at times in attack, especially whenever Eberechi Eze had the ball at his feet. However, midway through the half Arsenal would get the crucial third goal they were looking for when a Palace corner was claimed well by Raya, the Arsenal keeper then threw the ball superbly out to Gabriel Jesus who carried the ball into the Palace defensive third, the Brazilian squared to Trossard who showed strong composure before smashing the ball into the corner. The Belgian has struggled of late and that goal will hopefully do his confidence the world of good.
The scoreline continued at 3-0 throughout the majority of the second half as Arsenal looked to kill the game off. Emile Smith Rowe was brought on at the 65th minute to a huge cheer from the Arsenal faithful. Gabriel Martinelli was also brought on, another player who has been out of form lately and in desperate need of a goal.
And a goal was what the young winger got as he got played through by fellow substitute Eddie Nketiah and Martinelli made no mistake with a cool finish into the far corner for 4-0. And just a minute later deep into stoppage time the goal was almost perfectly re-created as Jorginho played a fantastic pass over the Palace defence. Martinelli calmly slotted his effort into the same corner with perfect precision to round off the afternoon for Arsenal in style.
The Gunners next match is away at Nottingham Forest. At a stadium where they have struggled to find joy in recent visits.
Player Ratings:
David Raya: 8 – Dealt with every cross or shot well and did brilliantly to start the counter attack for Trossard’s goal
Ben White: 6 – Did ok up against Eze when the Palace man drifted out wide but struggled to properly impact the game
William Saliba: 7 – Solid as ever
Gabriel: 9 – Goal, clean sheet and an overall fantastic performance from Arsenal’s Brazilian rock at the back
Oleksandr Zinchenko: 8 – Came back into the XI and was great in possession throughout, solid in defence too
Declan Rice: 7 – Did well including an assist before being brought off with a suspected minor hamstring problem
Martin Odegaard: 7 – Always kept Arsenal ticking on the ball
Kai Havertz: 6 – Like White, far from bad but didn’t quite have much of a significant impact on the game
Bukayo Saka: 7 – Not as involved as usual but picked up another assist
Gabriel Jesus: 7 – Same as Saka. Not his greatest afternoon but got an assist and had some nice touches
Leandro Trossard: 7 – Got a goal which should hopefully boost a player who’s been clearly low on confidence lately
Gabriel Martinelli: 8 – Two great finishes which hopefully will ignite the Brazilian’s season