GUNNERS BEGIN WITH A WIN AT PALACE

Arsenal began their 2022-23 season with a confidence boosting win at Crystal Palace.

Gooners all around the world would be buzzing after the 2-0 win at Selhurst Park, a venue that saw Arsenal crumbled to a 3-0 defeat in April which contributed to their failure in securing a Champions League spot.

Gabreil Jesus, Oleg Zinchenko and William Saliba made their competitive debuts for Mikel Arteta’s side and the trio contributed significantly towards the win.

Jesus was a nuisance to the Palace defence throughout the match and would have registered an assist if Gabriel Martinelli had put a chance created by him into the back of the net early in the match.

However it was Zinchenko instead who assisted Martinelli in opening the score after his header from a corner was headed home by the Brazilian from close range in the 20th minute.

Saliba performed solidly in defence, reading the game astutely and made timely tackles that belied his 21 years of age. More significanty it was a clean game for him as he did not conceded a single foul.

Patrick Vieira’s boys managed to get into the game and created a number of chances that could have gone in and put his former side under more pressure.

However Aaron Ramsdale was in his element by denying Odsonne Édouard in the first half and later in the second, Eberechi Eze when both seemed destined to score for Palace.

The Gunners put the result beyond with five minutes remaining after a fine run by Bukayo Saka on the right which ended with him shooting the ball across the goal and the unfortunate Marc Guéhi headed the ball past his goalkeeper, Vicente Guaita in his attempt to stop it.

It was only the first match of the season but it is good to start it off with a win. If Arteta’s boys can maintain the winning consistency then Gooners will be in for a big ride this season.

TIME TO BE OPTIMISTIC

Tomorrow morning in Malaysia (Friday night in the UK) the wait for the new English Premier League season will be over as Arsenal travel to South London to take on Crystal Palace.

The Gunners have been having a good pre-season, winning all five official matches including a 4-0 win over Chelsea and trashing Sevilla 6-0 in the Emirates Cup.

New signing Gabriel Jesus has been on fire since switching from the light blue of Manchester to the red and white of North London, scoring seven times in the process including a hat-trick against Sevilla.

The results have put many Gooners in a buoyant mood, many would be thinking that this season could see their team going back into challenging for the league title or the very least qualifying forthe Champions’ League.

History wise it could be difficult for Mikel Arteta’s side as they have not done well at Selhusrt Park in recent seasons. Last season they was at the wrong end of a 3-0 result which contributed to their failure in qualifying for the Champions’ League.

One also could not help but to think about the Friday opening fixture to last season when Arsenal travelled to West London against newly promoted side, Brentford which they lost 2-0 and triggering the worst start to the season for The Gunners for quite some time.

However, one could say recent acquisitions by Arteta seemed to have gelled well in their matches so far including Oleg Zinchenko who rejoined his City team-mate, Jesus in North London.

Another positive point for Arsenal is the presence of William Saliba who after a number of loan spells in the French league will finally make his competitive debut for The Gunners.

With Tomiyasu is expected not to be available for the match, it could be Ben White in the right-back spot with Saliba partnering Gabriel Magalháes in the middle and Zinchenko at left-back.

With the departure of Bernd Leno to Fulham, Aaron Ramsdale will be seen as the automatic choice for Arteta as the goalkeeper. Jesus will be the focal point of attack and will be supported by Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Ødegaard.

Arteta will then have to choose beyween Granit Xhaka, Mohamed Elneny and Thomas Partey to hold the fort in front of the defence while helping to link between defence and attack in the fastest way possible.

A winning start to the season would be most welcomed but coming away with a point from Selhurst Park on the opening day of the season against a Patrick Vieira side will be acceptable too.