Pain in the Arsenal
Fansided

Crystal Palace 0-2 Arsenal: Player ratings as Gunners win on opening night

By James Cormack

Arsenal's Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Martinelli (L) celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal in the English Premier League football match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park in south London on August 5, 2022. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal's Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Martinelli (L) celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal in the English Premier League football match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park in south London on August 5, 2022. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next

Forwards

Gabriel Martinelli scored the first goal of the new season. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Gabriel Martinelli scored the first goal of the new season. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images) /

Bukayo Saka (RW) – 7/10 – Bright without starring. He looked sharp in the opening 45 minutes and was dangerous when attacking space after the restart. Had a huge say in the second goal.

Gabriel Jesus (ST) – 7.5/10 – Jesus started like a house on fire and he almost scored an incredibly early Goal of the Season contender in the opening exchanges. Palace couldn’t cope with him in the first half and while he saw less of the ball after the break, his intensity never waned.

Gabriel Martinelli (LW) – 7/10 – Quickly made up for his early miss and scored the opening goal of the new season with a close-range header. He was spritely throughout, and I thought his pressing was excellent.

Substitutes

Kieran Tierney – 6.5/10

Eddie Nketiah – 6.5/10

Sambi Lokonga – N/A