Well first sorry for not reviewing the first match of the season but tbh I highly doubt anyone cared.
Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2
Ward 28′ Giroud 16′, Delaney OG 55′
This game was perhaps far more like what gunners fans were expecting at the start of this season. We played some nice stuff and there were a couple of particularly impressive performances from both Ozil and Cazorla.
Arsenal started brightly and created a coupe of opportunities to score before the breakthrough came. most notably a quick break away involving Ozil and Sanchez. A nice through ball from Ozil set Sanchez clean through into the box but he cut back instead of shooting and his shot was blocked and his rebound attempt was blocked off the line. The much maligned Olivier Giroud did though get the breakthrough. A cross from the left by Ozil was good but just behind Giroud, the big Frenchman did excellently to reach back and scissor kick into the bottom left corner of the goal. A brilliant finish to open the scoring. Arsenal then dominated the game for 10 minutes after the goal and Sanchez again missed another good chance close in on goal.
But then the sucker punch came. Crystal Palace scored with their first shot on target. It was though an excellent strike. Hit firm and accurately by Joel Ward right into the bottom right corner of Cech’s goal. No real mistake made other then not clearing the ball earlier in the move. Arsenal we’re level when really the game should have been out of sight. There was brief period were Palace came forward but the Gunners soon took control again. Coquelin was booked a few minutes from half time and was lucky not to sent off when he committed another foul a few minutes later and appeared to be walking a tight rope at half time.
Wenger made no changes at the break though and left Coquelin on. Palace almost went ahead just after the break when Wickham hit the post from a cross from the right whilst left free in the box. It was Arsenal who grabbed the next goal though. Bellerin stood a nice cross up to the back post which Sanchez produced a massive leap to get on the end of. His powerful downward header hit Delaney and the ball went into the roof of the net.
The joy though was very nearly short lived as Coquelin makes a bit of a clumsy challenge on McCarthy and a foul is given. Even Coquelin thinks he off but luckily the ref decides a final warning is in order and Wenger finally takes him off.
Arsenal dominated for most of the rest of the game and apart from a nervy last few moments didn’t really look too much like conceding a 2nd. The Ox could have made it 3 with the last touch of the game but hit hos shot straight at the keeper.
Overall a much better performance from the Gunners if still a bit rusty. Definately some work needed on the finishing and perhaps our lack of DM cover exposed. Ozil was the undoubted highlight. With 98% pass accuracy, 5 chances created, 1 assist and couple of sublime bits of skill he was very impressive. Cech again looked a bit shaky on a few crosses but generally was solid. Nothing he could do to stop the goal.
A good warm up for next weeks game against Liverpool a definate improvement from last week. Still plenty to work on though, and perhaps a nudge to Wenger to push to get a couple more players in before the end of the transfer window.
The Weapons Cache 