Arsenal secured a hard-fought victory against Crystal Palace, maintaining their perfect start to the season despite finishing the match with 10 men. Martin Odegaard’s calmly taken penalty was the pivotal moment of the game, and it proved enough to clinch all three points.

The match kicked off with a grand spectacle, complete with pyrotechnics, booming music, and cheerleaders, but the early exchanges on the pitch struggled to match the off-field excitement. Crystal Palace had the initial opportunities in front of goal, with Eberechi Eze testing Arsenal’s goalkeeper, Aaron Ramsdale, with a shot on the 15-minute mark. Cheick Doucoure also had a go from long range, but his effort ended up with the home supporters rather than in the back of the net. Follow your favourite Premier League team with attractive football betting odds from Nextbet. 

Gradually, Arsenal found their rhythm, and the pivotal moment of the first half arrived on the 28th minute. Kai Havertz seized possession and threaded a precise pass through the Eagles’ defense for Eddie Nketiah. The striker managed to get past both Joachim Andersen and Marc Guehi but saw his shot strike the post.

As the tide turned in Arsenal’s favor, Nketiah had another chance, this time in a one-on-one situation with Sam Johnstone, but he chipped the ball over the bar. Arsenal’s captain, Martin Odegaard, tried his luck from distance, forcing Johnstone to tip his dipping shot over the crossbar. Gabriel Martinelli also had a go, volleying a Thomas Partey cross wide.

The second half began with Arsenal on the front foot, and their breakthrough came within eight minutes. A quick-thinking move from Gabriel Martinelli set Nketiah through on goal, and he was brought down by Johnstone. After a VAR review, Martin Odegaard stepped up and confidently converted the penalty to give Arsenal the lead.

Opportunities to extend the lead followed, with Partey’s shot saved and Havertz sending an attempt wide. However, in the 67th minute, the match took a dramatic turn. Takehiro Tomiyasu, who had earlier been booked for delaying a throw-in, received a second yellow card after minimal contact with Jordan Ayew.

With a one-man advantage, Crystal Palace pressed forward, but Arsenal’s defense held firm. Manager Mikel Arteta introduced Gabriel and Jorginho to steady the ship, and they successfully thwarted most of Palace’s advances. Edouard missed a golden opportunity for Palace when he headed wide from a Tyrick Mitchell cross.

Despite seven minutes of added time, Arsenal managed to withstand Palace’s late efforts, securing a hard-fought victory and sparking jubilant celebrations from the players. It was a testament to their resilience and determination to secure back-to-back wins.

Next up for Arsenal is a capital clash with Fulham at Emirates Stadium on Saturday, followed by a showdown with Manchester United eight days later on Sunday, September 3. The Gunners will be looking to maintain their winning momentum as the season unfolds. Get the latest updates from the Premier League only on Nextbet Sports.