5 Things we learned from Arsenal’s Nervy Victory over Crystal Palace

5. This team is very similar to last year

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Despite adding Petr Cech and completing a stellar preseason, the Arsenal team that showed up against Crystal Palace looked much the same as the Arsenal that faced them and narrowly won twice last year.

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Both times Arsenal faced them last year, the Gunners squeezed out a narrow 2-1 victory that would have felt justified coming out as a draw.

This game was no different. Arsenal won the affair by the same tally, 2-1, but in the end, we could not have complained if the game came out 1-1 or 2-2. Sure, Arsenal had a ton of chances (which will be covered later) but Palace’s blocking ability and physicality yet again caused Arsenal a serious amount of trouble.

The Gunners got off the snide in a big way and it feels good to notch a win, but it is impossible not to draw parallels between this win and so many other’s last year.

Next: All those chances...