New-look Arsenal show exciting signs of progress with winning start at Crystal Palace
The IndependentSign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. A Brazilian named Gabriel did indeed open Arsenal’s Premier League account and although it may have been Martinelli who was the match-winner after finishing off a smart set-piece routine, the front line led by Jesus sparkled in this early examination of Mikel Arteta’s side. A Premier League opener under the lights invariably brought back memories of Arteta’s team wilting under Brentford’s imposing pressure this time last year, memories of which have perhaps unhelpfully resurfaced following the release of All or Nothing this week, but if Crystal Palace thought they could replicate the same physical approach they were met by a different proposition this time. Just three players remained in Arsenal’s starting line-up that began what proved to be a season of boom and bust a year ago, but the way Arteta’s forwards combined and zipped the ball between them in the first half, and then showed resolve and grit with their backs against the wall, spoke of an even more significant transition they have undergone since losing their hold on fourth place back in May. Crystal Palace impressed under Patrick Vieira last campaign and although they have had a disrupted pre-season, their squad almost split in two due to key players being unable to join their tour of the far East, they eventually mustered enough of a fight to give Arsenal some nervy moments.