A Gabriel Martinelli header and a deflected Bukayo Saka shot gave Arsenal a two-goal first-day victory over Crystal Palace, whom they had only beaten once in their previous eight attempts.
Also Read: Granit Xhaka’s controversial yellow card against Leeds is being investigated for a possible criminal conspiracy
Martinelli scored in the 20th minute after a clever corner routine saw Oleksandr Zinchenko peel away into space at the back post, with his header across the face of goal being turned in by the Brazilian.
Related
- Advertisement -
That more than made up for the forward squandering a golden opportunity to open the scoring in the third minute, when he skewed his effort wide from point-blank range.
Also Read: ‘Personally, I knew they would not finish in the top four, they lacked character’: Evra blasts Arsenal
It summed up the visitors’ dominance in the first half-hour, with Palace unable to break out of their own half. Palace however grew into the game as the half progressed, with Odsonne Edouard twice denied from close range.
Nevertheless, Palace were unable to find a leveller, and it was Saka’s deflected effort late in the game that decided the game. Arsenal currently leads the Premier League.