Match report – Participant scores – Arteta response – Video
For the sixth time in 2024, Arsenal scored 5 objectives away from dwelling, thumping Crystal Palace final evening. It was a recreation I feel we deserved to win, however the scoreline doesn’t actually inform the total story.
It started very nicely, with an early aim from Gabriel Jesus. A Bukayo Saka cross from the precise got here to him on the again publish, Gabriel Magalhaes performed the a part of blocker, and his compatriot slotted dwelling on the close to publish to place us 1-0 up within the sixth minute. However Palace have been inflicting us issues. Jean-Philippe Mateta gave William Saliba loads to consider, and never lengthy after a poor David Raya cross brought on us issues, the house facet have been stage.
It was a properly labored aim, however it felt a bit too straightforward for Imsaila Sarr to run straight via our midfield, and I don’t suppose Saliba did sufficient defensively. The end was good, and the timing of it – simply 5 minutes after we’d gone forward – gave Palace encouragement. The quickfire nature of the opening levels was evident once we went forward once more within the fifteenth minute. Once more it was Jesus, a very wonderful end after Thomas Partey laid the ball off well from a Gabriel Martinelli nook.
It’s wonderful what confidence can do for a participant. It’s inconceivable to say if with out the opposite objectives he’d have taken that probability first time with such aplomb, however it actually felt just like the type of aim that an in-form participant scores. It’s maybe a bit too early to confer with Jesus’s final recreation and a half as ‘kind’ per se, however compared to what we’ve seen from him of late, it was evening and day … and nice to see.
A mistake from Saliba handed Palace one other probability to equalise, however Mateta’s contact earlier than the shot wasn’t nice and Raya made a very good save. Then we misplaced Bukayo Saka to damage, he felt his hamstring and needed to come off, so regardless of the lead it felt precarious. We introduced Leandro Trossard on and switched Martinelli to the precise the place I feel he had a very efficient recreation. He was concerned within the third aim, offering a cross which Jesus headed onto the publish with the keeper rooted to the spot, however Kai Havertz was alert, and his sensible motion gave him the best tap-in he’ll get all season.
Palace continued to have possibilities. Simply earlier than the break Lerma headed straight at Raya once I suppose he ought to have examined the keeper much more than he did, and really early within the second half, Sarr’s header from shut vary was nicely saved by the Spaniard. Not lengthy after, a Mateta shot from distance compelled Raya into making a save once more, and never for the primary time this season he needed to make a double save as Sarr adopted up. Had a kind of gone in so quickly after half-time, I feel the power would have clearly been loads completely different round Selhurst Park.
Once more, we remained too open via the centre however Mikel Arteta rectified that with the introduction of Declan Rice for Havertz, whereas Riccardo Calafiori got here on for the spectacular once more Myles Lewis-Skelly. It made a distinction, and on the hour mark the sport was made secure when Martinelli poked dwelling from shut vary for 4-1. The possibility got here after a incredible cross from Gabriel to Trossard made an opportunity for Jesus to attain what would have been his second hat-trick in per week, however Henderson saved together with his legs. Within the ensuing chaos, it was a Rice shot which Martinelli prodded dwelling, and the midfielder acquired in on the goalscoring motion late on, ending very well after a Calafiori cross discovered him simply contained in the Palace field.
It wasn’t all plain crusing, as Raya’s significance demonstrated, however it was good to see Arsenal extra scientific in entrance of aim. I additionally suppose it was a pleasant reminder that this crew can rating objectives. A number of the protection after Fulham and Everton was a bit overblown for me. Was it massively irritating? After all, and whereas all of us need a bit extra, there may be firepower within the crew – even with out Saka for many of it yesterday.
The sight of him leaving on crutches was not nice, let’s be trustworthy. It was an inauspicious means for his 250th Arsenal look to play out, however hopefully it’s simply an abundance of warning. It does look as if he’s going to overlook just a few video games although, this was the identical hamstring he had an issue with earlier within the season, and given the schedule the timing is much from very best. His damage was compounded by the lack of Raheem Sterling who picked up an issue in coaching this week, and if both or each are extra severe than we expect, it’s going to in all probability improve the strain – or the necessity – to be lively within the January market.
Afterwards, Mikel Arteta was happy together with his crew’s work, however acknowledged the significance of his goalkeeper within the end result, saying:
We have been scientific right this moment, as a result of in lots of issues we have been higher than the opposite recreation, however that is soccer. We have been so scientific right this moment, we have been so good at scoring other ways, in numerous phases like we need to do, and we didn’t concede extra as nicely as a result of David made two unbelievable saves.
I’m very joyful that we gained, we would have liked that win, particularly after the 2 attracts however typically, wanting on the 10 video games, no defeats within the final seven. We’ve gained 5 and gotten two attracts, and we’ve deserved to win all of them so it’s good.
With just a few days ‘off’ now, it was an vital end result towards a crew which have been in first rate type of late. The truth that Jesus has 5 objectives in per week is a growth not too many noticed coming, however it’s very welcome – particularly if we’ve acquired a pair extra accidents to cope with. For a ahead to undergo the type of barren spell he has endured, it should actually be a weight each time you step onto the pitch, so hopefully this week can spark him again into constant life. We’re going to want him.
What else? The ref anxious me a bit at instances. When have you ever ever seen a goalkeeper get a warning for ‘time-wasting’ within the 18th minute earlier than? Maybe I’m scarred by different selections this season, however it felt like he was laying the groundwork for one more Arsenal pink card for one thing trivial. When he booked Timber for taking too lengthy over a throw-in (he was 100% influenced by the house followers there), I actually began to fret, however we didn’t give him one other probability to go to his pocket.
I additionally thought the late problem on Calafiori was a possible pink card, however as we all know PGMOL have determined violent conduct just isn’t one thing they concern themselves with after they can ship gamers off for tapping the ball a pair inches whereas some hoofer boots them from behind. There was one other stunning problem within the Brighton/West Ham recreation yesterday that was solely a yellow, and I’m drained repeating myself on this – however when somebody will get badly damage, PGMOL gained’t settle for any accountability for his or her half in making a tradition the place some gamers really feel emboldened to go in too arduous. Then they’ll use their friends within the media to gaslight us over trivia no person cares about.
Anyway, I’ll get down off my soapbox now. Arsenal gained and gained nicely, and that offers us a pleasant few days earlier than we host Ipswich on the twenty seventh earlier than the insanity of the January schedule kicks in quickly after. For now although, we are able to chill out and benefit from the win.
We’re gonna have an Arsecast Additional for you in a short while too. We’ve put out the decision for questions on BlueSky @gunnerblog.bsky.social and @arseblog.com with the hashtag #arsecastextra – or when you’re an Arseblog Member on Patreon, go away your query within the #arsecast-extra-questions channel on our Discord server.
Pod needs to be out round midday. For now, have a very good one.
