A trio of debutantes provided key contributions for Arsenal as the Gunners opened the Premier League season with a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Friday.
Defender William Saliba earned Man of the Match honors as a commanding backline presence in his first league appearance for Arsenal, while positive performances from new signings Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus helped spark the away win on a night when the Gunners also debuted a new third jersey in a pale pink hue.
Jesus was lively from the start, and a tantalizing dribble through Palace defenders in the fourth minute nearly created a goal for Gabriel Martinelli, whose effort went just wide of goal.
Arsenal continued to press in the early stages, and was rewarded with a goal off of a corner kick in the 20th minute. Zinchenko headed Bukayo Saka’s far-post delivery back across goal, where Martinelli nodded past keeper Vicente Guiata for the 1-0 lead.
While the Gunners continued to look comfortable following the well-worked goal, the next best chance fell to the hosts – a header in the box from Odsonne Edouard that was denied by a quick reaction from Aaron Ramsdale.
Arsenal’s keeper was again called into action minutes into the second half, denying an Eberechi Eze one-on-one following a neat through-ball from Wilfried Zaha. Crystal Palace held the advantage in possession after the break, with the Gunners’ defense standing up to the opening-night test.
League appearance, earning Man of the Match honors in a 2-0 win
at Crystal Palace.
Saliba, 21, led the way with seven clearances, he claimed three of four duels, and completed 46 out of 49 passes (for a 94 percent completion rate), helping the Gunners to a first Premier League clean sheet in 10 games.
The away victory in the season opener was ultimately sealed by an Arsenal goal six minutes from time, with Saka’s cross from the right side of the box deflected home by defender Marc Guehi.
“It was very good because we start with a win and a clean sheet. It was a tough game, but we won at the end, so very good,” said Saliba in post-match comments to arsenal.com. “I’ve waited a long time, but we (did it) in my first ever game, and I am so happy.”
Arteta praised Saliba’s performance in his interview after the match. “To ask him to come here in his first Premier League game away from home against this physical team is a big task,” noted the Arsenal manager. “The way the boy played and the way he resolved every situation, he deserves a lot of credit, and I will pat his back because he was superb.”
Pleased with his team’s impressive start to the match, Arteta added that “the disappointing thing was that we didn’t score more goals because we had so many opportunities and we looked a real threat, but we cannot expect to do that here for 95 minutes, it’s not going to happen.
“Then we have moments where we have to show and dig in and be accountable in our job, especially when we are defending deep, and we did that fantastically well, so I’m really happy to get the clean sheet and the win,” said the Arsenal manager.
The Gunners’ initial month of the league campaign continues with the home opener against Leicester City on August 13, followed by a trip to newly-promoted Bournemouth one week later.