Pain in the Arsenal
Fansided

3 positives and negatives from Arsenal’s win over Crystal Palace

By Mitch Peotter

Arsenal's Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Martinelli (C) celebrates 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 (C) celebrates 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) /
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Positive #2: William Saliba

William Saliba was outstanding on his Premier League debut. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
William Saliba was outstanding on his Premier League debut. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /

The young Frenchman made his Premier League debut and looked like a veteran.

He was calm on the ball, composed in the tackle, and dominant physically. A perfect performance from him in between Ben White and Gabriel who also had really solid matches.

I feel like I have talked about Saliba a lot so far this season, but he has just been that good. He is an unbelievably exciting talent and I am excited to see what he does this year.

Negative #2: Areas behind the fullbacks

Oleksandr Zinchenko was caught out on occasion in the second half. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Oleksandr Zinchenko was caught out on occasion in the second half. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images) /

This was a really solid defensive performance from Arsenal to keep a clean sheet away from home but there was something I noticed that will be interesting to keep an eye on. Both Zinchenko and White were setting up a bit high, which left a lot of space behind them.

They both had really solid games but the space behind allowed for Jordan Ayew and Wilfried Zaha to get opportunities that were ultimately not capitalised on despite Joachim Andersen’s stellar distribution.

The defence had a great match today but giving up that space to dangerous wingers needs to be stopped.

Continued on the next slide…

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