Mikel Arteta will know that there’s plenty still to come from his Arsenal side

Arsenal’s 2022/23 Premier League campaign started in such a scintillating fashion that they drew comparisons to two of the best sides these shores have ever seen.

“It felt like we were watching Man City or Liverpool in that first 20 minutes, half an hour,” claimed Sky Sports pundit and co-commentator Jamie Carragher. Supporters were certainly optimistic over their side’s chances at Selhurst Park following a majestic pre-season, but the manner of Arsenal’s early dominance on opening night certainly took neutrals aback.

However, it wasn’t anything new from Mikel Arteta’s Gunners. Last season, we’d seen the spritely north Londoners tease their sky-high potential in spurts, but major injuries at crucial times prevented this utopia from being realised over a sustained period.

Why Mikel Arteta will have some concerns from Palace win

Arteta deployed what many believe is his strongest starting XI against Crystal Palace and they came out like a house on fire. The manager’s sound structure prevented the home side from counter-attacking, while Arsenal’s technical security and shrewd pressing allowed them to sustain attacks at will. Palace couldn’t get out. They were overwhelmed by a fluid and relentless Gunners.

Admittedly, the visitors didn’t create chance after chance amid their distinct period of domination, but they did muster 1.09 xG in the opening 35 minutes and take the lead through Gabriel Martinelli. Palace, meanwhile, didn’t register their first shot until the 42nd minute.

It was some of the best football the Gunners had played away from home in years. Patrick Vieira’s side were left gasping for air as Gabriel Jesus pirouetted his way beyond hopeless Palace challenges like he was Natalie Portman in Black Swan. The Brazilian was the protagonist in Arsenal’s early blitzkrieg at Selhurst Park, with Carragher describing him as “razor sharp” on commentary, but his influence would wane as old habits crept in to undermine an impressive display.

Arteta’s Gunners are at their best when they’re pressing high and sustaining pressure. Those were key to their eye-opening start on opening night. But just before half-time, they started to sit off and invite Palace onto them. This may be down to fatigue, but the regularity at which it occurred last season suggests there are other factors at play.

The aggression of the first 30 minutes dissipated, as did their composure in possession. As a result, Palace grew into the game to close out the half and they were the superior side for much of the second period. Odsonne Edouard and Eberechi Eze spurned two glorious chances on either side of half-time to restore parity as Aaron Ramsdale was on hand to save the Gunners.

This lack of control was a worry, while both Ben White and especially Oleksandr Zinchenko proved that they could be ‘got at’ once Arsenal’s momentum wavered. The latter isn’t a great athlete, nor is he physically impressive, and Arteta was forced to bring on Kieran Tierney for the fading Ukrainian.

Ultimately, it was immaturity in possession and a lack of aggression out of it that turned a controlling Arsenal display into a frenetic one. The game could’ve gone either way in the second half, but a Marc Guehi own goal in the closing stages put the contest beyond Palace and into Arsenal’s hands.

It was a huge victory, there’s no denying that. Selhurst Park is a tough place to play but we can’t get ahead of ourselves. This was a Palace side whose pre-season paled in comparison to ours, while the departure of Conor Gallagher and absence of Michael Olise are/were huge blows.

Arteta, though, will be thrilled with his side’s resilience in the second half and even Gary Neville was complimentary of the Gunners. The former Manchester United right-back, who doesn’t exactly have the softest of spots for the club, described Arsenal’s first half performance as “sensational”.

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But, the Arsenal manager will be fully aware that more has to come from his side if they’re to build on last season’s fifth-place finish. This was a performance we often saw last season, and the Gunners must ensure such displays aren’t commonplace in 2022/23 because they WILL drop plenty of points – especially away from home where momentum can be snatched away from you in an instant.

So while there were plenty of positives, particularly the performances of individuals, there are still a couple of concerns from a holistic perspective. Arsenal ceased control in the second period, and Palace were superior as a result. If the Gunners are to improve this season, then they must mature. Stay aggressive. Keep the ball. Slow the game down. That’s what the elite sides do.

Arsenal proved on Friday that they can reach the lofty levels of the very best while simultaneously showing just how far off they are.