Nancy Turner
Aug 21, 2023 - 11:05

Arsenal Beats Crystal Palace with 10 Men, Hangs on after Odegaard's Penalty

Arsenal secures a 1-0 win against Crystal Palace with a penalty and strong defense, keeping pace with Manchester City.

In a thrilling match in the English Premier League, Arsenal emerged victorious with a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace. The Gunners relied on Martin Odegaard's 54th-minute penalty and a resilient defensive effort, even when they were reduced to 10 men late in the game.

The turning point came in the 67th minute when Takehiro Tomiyasu was sent off after receiving a second yellow card. This forced Arsenal to adopt a more defensive approach to secure their second consecutive win of the season.

The only goal of the match came from a penalty, with Odegaard confidently converting it. Sam Johnstone, the Palace goalkeeper, had brought down Eddie Nketiah after a quick free kick, leading to the penalty. It was unusual for Odegaard to take the spot kick, as Bukayo Saka usually handles penalty duties, but he entrusted the responsibility to the captain.

With this win, Arsenal is keeping pace with their likely title rival, Manchester City, who also have back-to-back wins. The first victory was a hard-fought 2-1 triumph at home against Nottingham Forest.

Crystal Palace struggled to create significant attacking opportunities throughout the match. However, the game took a turn when Tomiyasu received his second yellow card. Many felt that the decision was harsh, and Tomiyasu himself seemed surprised by it.

To protect their lead, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta made tactical substitutions, bringing on more defenders in the final 20 minutes. Center backs William Saliba and substitute Gabriel played crucial roles in helping Arsenal hold onto their narrow lead.

In the first half, Nketiah had two excellent chances to score, but he failed to convert them. Both opportunities came from well-executed passes by Saka and Declan Rice.

Prior to this match, Crystal Palace had won their opening game against Sheffield United with a 1-0 scoreline.

Apart from Manchester City and Arsenal, Brighton is the only other team to have secured six points from their first two games, making for an exciting start to the Premier League season.