New season, new Arsenal, new beginning!Mikel Arteta’s side has clinched a deserved 2-0 away victory at Crystal Palace on Friday night in the maiden match of the new Premier League season.Gabriel Martinelli’s early winner proved to be enough for the win against Patrick Vieira’s team, while Saka (with a little help from Guehi) sealed the deal a couple of minutes before the end. Unlike the previous encounter of those two, which ended in a 3-0 landslide Eagles’ victory, Palace’s players seemed a bit distracted tonight at Selhurst Park, especially in the offence.The first #PL goalscorer of 22/23: @gabimartinelli#CRYARS pic.twitter.com/jaxQPpJ5Vr— Premier League (@premierleague) August 5, 2022 Despite that, Vieira’s boys provided themselves with sufficient chances to change the outcome, but deplorable finishing kept all three points in Arsenal’s pockets.Official: William Saliba, on his competitive Arsenal debut, has been awarded Man of the Match for his performance vs. Crystal Palace tonight. [Sky] #afc pic.twitter.com/NzEjbkaWg0— afcstuff (@afcstuff) August 5, 2022 Martinelli opened the scoring in the new Premier League season with a lovely header, following a set-pieces masterpiece. Zinchenko was left unmarked on the far post after the corner from the right, and the former City full-back hit it firmly with his head, sending the ball to the heart of the box, where Martinelli found it easy to put his side in front.Crystal Palace 0 – 1 Arsenal (20mins)Goal – MARTINELLI pic.twitter.com/6KJa4YPhOa— Chelsea Fan (@Chelsea77534464) August 5, 2022 The hosts needed twice as much time for a riposte, but the similarity between the Eagles’ sitter and the chance from which the North Londoners scored seemed striking. A long ball to the far side, header pass to a striker, but, unlike Martinelli, Palace’s forward Edouard couldn’t find the back of Ramsdale’s net.Packed Selhurst Park didn’t see much action between those two moments, with Edouard missing the second opportunity seconds before the half-time whistle.Vieira’s boys were quick and vigorous from the starting block after the break, putting pressure on Ramsdale almost instantly.Eze embarrassed himself on the brink of 50 minutes as he had all the time in the world to put the ball behind the Gunners’ custodian, but his finishing was as lousy as it gets.Saka scores his 1st goal of season (technically an OG) 🤣 #CRYARS #Arsenal #PL pic.twitter.com/n5m9ogmy4D— BR Goals Official ⑦ (@BR__Goals) August 5, 2022 The rest of the match saw Arsenal lying deep in the back, struggling a bit to defend yet keeping a clean sheet regardless of Palace’s efforts. And then – when we all thought Palace would try to get a late equaliser – the Gunners struck again. A bit slow visitors’ counterattack saw Saka on the right wing, who fired not too accurately, but the ball deflected from Palace defender Guehi, and it was a shocking 2-0.PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 1FridayCrystal Palace – Arsenal 0-2 (0-1)/Martinelli 20, Guehi 85/Saturday14.30: (11.0) Fulham (6.00) Liverpool (1.30)17.00: (1.40) Tottenham (4.90) Southampton (9.00)17.00: (1.70) Newcastle (3.80) Nott.Forest (5.70)17.00: (2.35) Leeds (3.25) Wolverhampton (3.40)17.00: (3.90) Bournemouth (3.40) Aston Villa (2.10)19.30: (5.70) Everton (3.80) Chelsea (1.70)Sunday16.00: (2.05) Leicester (3.60) Brentford (3.80)16.00: (1.57) Man.Utd. (4.00) Brighton (7.00)18.30: (9.50) West Ham (5.50) Man.City (1.35)***odds are subject to change
