Arsenal spent a staggering 22 billion Ksh in the last transfer window. And what have Odegaard, Lokonga, White, and the others showed against Crystal Palace, a team with only one victory, which played without it’s best player Wilfred Zaha? They showed nothing, nothing at all. Lokonga lost the ball which led to the second goal and White just stood there watching how Edouard scores in front of Gunners faithful. Odegaard was nowhere to be seen, so in the end, Arteta and his sporting director Edu have not been saved by new signings, but by the guy they won’t renew – Alexandre Lacazette. The Frenchman scored the equalizer in injury time and saved his team from another unpleasant defeat: Arsenal – Crystal Palace 2-2.This is the first time the current Arsenal captain has scored a Premier League goal for a team managed by a former Arsenal captain against a team managed by a former Arsenal captain.— Richard Jolly (@RichJolly) October 18, 2021 Again, Arsenal showed inconsistency and allowed relegation strugglers Crystal Palace, led by the former Gunner captain Patrick Vieira to overturn the result and nearly win the game. Crystal Palace were unbeaten in their last three Premier League away games against Arsenal and tonight they kept that record.Arteta made a good decision to insert Nicolas Pepe into the starting line up at the expence of Sambi Lokonga. The Ivorian played good in the first half, and was in fact only Arsenal player who’s attacks really meant something. In fact, it was his cross which led to the opening goal, when Guaita tipped his ball which fell on the foot of Aubameyang, who finished perfectly. A pale Smith Rowe had a weak shot into the hands of Guaita and that was basically all we have seen from the Gunners in the first half. For some unknown reason, they just stopped after 15 minutes, moved back and allowed Palace to take control. From that moment, the Eagles tried to equalize and nearly done so, but Ramsdale made a fantastic save after Gallagher’s shot in injury time.5/6 – Five of Alexandre Lacazette’s last six Premier League goals for Arsenal at the Emirates stadium have come in London derbies, including each of his last four. Leveller. #ARSCRY pic.twitter.com/daOwpMBTEK— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 18, 2021 Mikel Arteta probably said a lot to his players during the half time, but the players just didn’t listen, because they allowed Palace to continue where they left of, and it ended badly, when Partey lost the ball at midfield and allowed Christian Benteke to smash the ball into the net for the equalizer. Odegaard, who showed absolutely nothing was replaced by Lacazette, who immediately had a great chance, but Guaita again made the save. And then Palace striked after a counter attack. New boy from Celtic Edouard smashed the ball under the bar in front of Ben White.Arsenal finally started to press, and out of that initiative came the only real chance, but Tierney’s fierce shot hit the woodwork. Crystal Palace kept their discipline and poise and managed to hang on until the very end, when the experienced Lacazette found the net and brought Emirates stadium to eruption.
PREMIER LEAGUE – ROUND 8SaturdayWatford – Liverpool 0-5 (0-2)/Sane 6, Firminho 37,52,90+1, Salah 54/Aston Villa – Wolverhampton 2-3 (0-0)/Ings 48, McGinn 68 – Saiss 80, Coady 85, Neves 90+5/Norwich – Brighton 0-0 Man. City – Burnley 1-0 (1-0)/Silva 12, De Bruyne 70/Southampton – Leeds 1-0 (0-0)/Broja 53/Leicester – Man. Utd 4-2 (1-1)/Tielemans 31, Soyuncu 78, Vardy 83, Daka 90+1 – Greenwood 19/Brentford – Chelsea 0-1 (0-1)/Chillwel 45/SundayEverton – West Ham 0-1 (0-0)/Ogbonna 74/Newcastle – Tottenham 2-3 (1-3)/Wilson 2 – Ndombele 17, Kane 22, Son 45+3, Dyer 89 (og)/MondayArsenal – Crystal Palace 2-2 (1-0)/Aubameyang 8, Lacazette 90+5 – Benteke 50, Edouard 73/