Goals from Olivier Giroud and a Damien Delaney own-goal give Gunners 2-1 win
Arsenal picked up their first win of the season at Selhurst Park this afternoon thanks to goals from Olivier Giroud and an own-goal from Damien Delaney.
The Gunners went into the game after opening day defeat to West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium, whilst Palace have come off a 3-1 win against newly-promoted Norwich City.
An Arsene Wenger Arsenal side have never lost their first two games of a Premier League campaign, and after 16-minutes, they were set to continue that streak when Olivier Giroud acrobatically put the visitors ahead.
After a superb cross from Mesut Ozil, Giroud produced a stunning bicycle kick to give Arsenal the early advantage.
The goal was coming as Arsenal ramped up the pressure on The Eagles, but they could only breakdown the Palace defence once in the early stages.
Just before the half-hour mark, the hosts were back in the game when defender Joel Ward fired a low-shot past Petr Cech from outside the box.
Questions were raised over Laurent Koscielny‘s defensive work, as he appeared to turn his back to Ward before the right-back drove the ball into the bottom of the net.
The two sides went in level at half-time.
Ten-minutes into the second-half, Arsenal restored their lead when an Alexis Sanchez header was turned in by Delaney, who was helpless to prevent it going into his own net.
The win gets Arsenal underway for the new season, whilst Palace also remain on three points.
Match Reaction
Olivier Giroud told Sky Sports: “I said before the game we really needed these three points to bounce back after the performance at home when we lost against West Ham.
“We could have scored more goals in doing a better choice with the last pass but we are really happy to get the three points.
“You always get criticised when you lose, especially at home. We said at the beginning of the championship that we want to win the league so we will join the title race.
“When you say that you have to face expectations. It was a bad performance (last week) but even though we lost last week the most important in football is to bounce back the week after and keep your faith in your game, which is what we tried to do and succeeded to do today.”
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger: “I felt it wasn’t fortunate. I would like to see that again but in the end the pressure created by the crowd meant I took him off. When you are 2-1 up and he is playing quite well that’s difficult. It’s a sensitive decision.
“I’m very pleased with the three points. If we had gone two games and zero points it would be absolutely difficult and we knew this would be a tricky one.
“Last week we had a bit of a stroll and thought we would win the game. Today we played real Premier League football from the first minute to the last.
“With the ambitions we have made you have to have full commitment and we had that today.”
Alan Pardew tells Sky Sports: “I said to Lee Mason ‘listen. That tackle before half time is not a sending off at that point but that’s his last chance, you know that’.
“He then makes the foul and he’s (should be) off at that point. Arsene Wenger knew that and took him off.
“It’s a decision Lee Mason needs to be braver on.”
“The game changed on two incidents. We hit the post at 1-1 and you have to argue they are lucky to have 11 players. Everyone knew in the stadium he should have gone.
“The game was very even, they play a different style. They were good, much better than against Arsenal. Sharper in the mind and we stlll feel aggrieved we haven’t come out with anything.
“I thought the three new boys were our best players and we know the others are great. That is a good sign. Arsenal were a hurt animal but the early period was bad for us, we made a lot of mistakes.”
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt
