The end-of-season highlights reel was short, as the saying goes: Arsenal will be pleased with their team despite an easy loss and the celebrations of the coaching staff at the conclusion meant that the points mattered more than anything else. A revampedited side may not have reached football’s peak of last season, but it is too early to conclude. Mikel Arteta feels rediscovered the winning formula that they had lost in the spring with two wins.
With Takehiro Tomiyasu’s dismissal midway through the second half, it’ll be interesting to see opponents with a full back of senior strikers punished. Arsenal had taken an early lead after halftime thanks to Martin degaard’ goal, but they were later shown ten minutes to go when Jordan Ayew was fouled and sent off for ribs. Crystal Palace struggled to contain their depleted visitors by failing to score any more goals, leaving Arsenal feeling relieved at the end of the season.
“I loved it, absolutely loved the performance,” said Arteta, referring to his team’s late-game delivery of dirty play against 11 men and the fact that they had to play for half an hour with 10 men, which was not prepared for. The players were fantastic, but they didn’t give away much as they wanted.
Arsenal was in complete control and had a better chance of scoring if not for their own efforts. However, Tomiyasu’s decision to turn the ball over on the right flank after being booked by Coote left him with no apparent reason to dive during the possession period.
Arteta declined to comment as he was unclear about the booking. He also disagreed with Coote’s response to the earlier incident, suggesting that Tomiyasu had held on to his ball for only eight seconds.
Roy Hodgson expressed his concerns about the sequence that gave Arsenal the lead after half-time. Eddie Nketiah had missed two chances before Gabriel Martinelli scored with a quick free-kick, leaving him sharper than Sam Johnstone.
Another booking is made for Takehiro Tomiyasu (No 18), as shown in the picture with Kin Cheung/APC.
According to Hodgson, the video replays had a blockage and he was not successful in stopping the free-kick.
Nevertheless, Johnstone’s mistaken goal allowed Arsenal to take the lead, even though Nketiah had failed to keep pace with him. Bukayo Saka was impressive on the half-hour mark, but his finish hit the far post. Declan Rice, who had been playing superbly, quickly released him, only for a dinked shot from inside the six-yard box to clear the goalkeeper.
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At the beginning of the game, Palace seemed to be more determined than their efforts, with Eberechi Eze causing some early turnovers while Odsonne Édouard struggled and Wilfried Zaha’s departure and Michael Olise’ injury left Hodgson without much attacking options.
The bluntness of the opposition sparked a barrage of applause as the game kicked off, with Édouard scoring opulent headers and Tyrick Mitchell receiving headlines for his apparent lack of effort. Hodgson admitted that neither team had been good enough, but Arsenal made the most of their chances.