Palace Pay Penalty After Running Arsenal Close

The visit of the Gunners to Selhurst Park was perhaps a daunting one after their last campaign but the Eagles were not brushed aside in what was a tight contest throughout.

MATCH INFORMATION

• 8pm – 21 August 2023
• Crystal Palace 0-1 Arsenal
• Selhurst Park, Holmesdale Road, London SE25 6PU

PLAYER RATINGS

UNUSED SUBSTITUTES – 5 James TOMKINS, 17 Nathaniel CLYNE, 26 Chris Richards, 37 John-Kymani GORDON, 31 Remi MATTHEWS, 44 Jairo RIEDEWALD

OPPOSITION LINE-UP

UNUSED SUBSTITUTES – 10 Emile SMITH-ROWE, 19 Leandro TROSSARD, 21 Fabio VIEIRA, 22 David RAYA, 24 Reiss NELSON

TEB VERDICT

After a valiant fight the Eagles suffered a narrow defeat at home to Arsenal in the first home game of the new campaign, but there was plenty to take from the performance that will stand them in good stead for long season ahead. Life after Wilfried Zaha has begun and when you could argue that this tight affair would have been perfect for the former Palace man, we are seeing a brave new world on the pitch in South London.

There was plenty to see from Jefferson Lerma on his home debut with notable performances from Marc Guehi, Eberechi Eze, Jordan Ayew and a promising showing up front from Odsonne Edouard. On another day, Palace would have found an equaliser, either from the spot or from their own endeavours, but it was not to be on this occasion.  

BOB’S POINT OF VIEW

Bob White was a coach at Palace under the tenure of Steve Coppell and Alan Smith and will be sharing his point of view each week in our review article.

“A game ultimately decided by a penalty rightly given to the visitors and a potential Eze spot kick that we have sometimes seen given. It brought back memories of the Manchester City home game last season which was also decided by one error leading to a decisive penalty award.

From the outset, I thought our support was excellent and helped create an atmosphere that drove our players on right until the final whistle.

There was no faulting the commitment of the team, Hodgson has us set up well producing a very decent performance against a team whose aspirations are to challenge for the title.

The only ingredient lacking for Palace was that final bit of quality inside the opposition penalty box.

Our patient build-up play created opportunities especially from wide areas but a lack of clinical finishing cost us a share of the points which we deserved. This was perfectly summer up with the Edouard miss deep into the game.

With Mateta seemingly on his way out, there is an obvious need at the very least for a striker to come in and cover at goalkeeper. Any other additions would be very welcome.

My man of the match goes to Marc Guehi – a class act and a player I hope we can on to for a few seasons more. A mention also in despatches to Jordan Ayew.”

POST GAME QUOTES

ROY HODGSON

“I thought we gave a very good account of ourselves the team discipline was good, and we worked very hard. When we had the chance to get in when they went down to ten men we did so, of course we pay the price for the goal and the quick free kick.

We complained that our player was blocked off and couldn’t be there to mark Nketiah, but the referee and VAR thought different. I don’t know what you do about blocking, you have to rely on the referee that they see a block there.” 

MIKEL ARTETA

“I love to win like this, the way we played the first half against a team which is so difficult in open play, but we dominated the game and we conceded nothing.

After scoring the goal there was more space, but we had to play with ten men and we didn’t concede with ten men so I am happy with the team in how they responded in the game.

I am sure how much we want it, we see how they come and held the team. The way they came at us, they were magnificent they changed the dynamic of the game.”

MATCH STATISTICS

POSITION IN THE TABLE (at the final whistle)

UPCOMING FIXTURES

26/08/23 Brentford (a) – Premier League 3pm

29/08/23 Plymouth Argyle (a) – EFL Cup 7.45pm

03/09/23 Wolverhampton Wanderers (h) – Premier League 2pm