David Raya – 7
Again, no shot on target (I think), but still kept busy by Palace in other ways. Claim the crosses well late on, although they weren’t the best crosses to be fair! Distribution was good although he went quite long with a few today, but his most telling contribution was the way he swept up from the back. So quick off his line to thwart a number of dangerous Palace attacks.
Best moment:
Tempted to pick one of his darts off his line, but he actually made a really good save to push out an Ismaila Sarr attempt, that may or may not have been going in,
Jurrien Timber – 7
A little bit sloppy in possession at times as his jinking runs and inverted positioning didn’t quick work out today, rock solid at the back though as nothing got past him.
Best moment:
Winning a free kick with four Palace players around him was particularly impressive, even for someone with Timber’s natural battling qualities.
William Saliba – 6
Handled Mateta well for the most part apart from the one occasion where Saliba was a little bit too casual which allowed the big striker to run away from him. Distribution was good and he tried to push us forwards with probing passes into midfield when the opportunity allowed. Worryingly substituted at half time.
Best moment:
Nothing of note, although did provide some strong headed clearances from Palace crosses.
Gabriel – 8
Relishes games like this, where the opposition is attacking our box with regularity and he can just sit back there and head everything away. Colossus at the back and handled Mateta the best out of the two centre backs. The guy absolutely loves a good clean sheet and you can see it with every inch of his body in his defending. No goal today, but it was his initial header from Rice’s set piece that led to Eberechi Eze’s goal. Another chance in the second half as well, that Gyokeres just nicked off him and went wide.
Best moment:
Some brilliantly defending today yet his best moment has to be his part in the goal, given how the first half had gone for us, it was a massive moment that ultimately decided the game.
Riccardo Calafiori – 7
A bit more restrained than usual although he did pop infield on occasion. I could be wrong, but I don’t remember the Italian having a shot on goal today, which is really rare and highlights how disciplined he was in his defensive work today. Like Timber on the other side, not much got down his side as he largely shut down the Palace threat. Has improved his defensive work tremendously this season. Are his long throw-ins getting longer? I think they might be!
Best moment:
Some nice link up play with Trossard down the left, but nothing specifically worthy of mention.
Martin Zubimendi – 6
Impressive in his duels, as always however, he misplaced a few passes which nearly lead to Palace getting in behind us, which is something we’ve not seen a lot of from the Spaniard. Tried to get us moving forward
Best moment:
Great awareness to spread the ball left in the build up to Trossard’s first half chance/half chance.
Declan Rice – 8
He did Declan Rice things. Was brilliant in the pressing and closing down space. Set piece delivery was excellent again leading to another goal (although he dragged one horrible corner which amazed everyone in the stadium – he is human after all!!). Some nice switches and neat passing to keep us moving forward without producing a ‘Hollywood’ moment going forward. It feels like a solid performance, but if you take a step back you realise that these sort of performances are actually excellent, Rice just makes them look ordinary. Does that make sense?
Best moment:
Wicked set piece that led to the opening goal. Despite our prowess from set pieces, we don’t get many from these deep free kicks, so I wasn’t really a goal to come from there, such is the brilliance of Rice’s dead ball skills.
Eberechi Eze – 7
Must have been a tough day for him although you wouldn’t have guessed it by his first half performance. Eze still feels like a player of moments for Arsenal, as he struggles to influence the game for long periods in the way that Martin Odegaard does, but those moments are turning games in our favour and isn’t that what he was brought in to do? This game could easily have been a 0-0 game, and more than likely would have been last season, but this time around a bit of brilliance of Eze. It wasn’t his only involvement of note as a few nice dribbles and bursts threatened to open up Palace again and this was by no means a bad performance. Eze is just quietly effecting games moment by moment right now and it’s working out pretty well so far for Arsenal, so I say long may it continue!
Best moment:
Can only be one moment. Superb finish to win the game for Arsenal. Technique to hit a ball bouncing that high was unreal.
Leandro Trossard – 8 PLAYER OF THE MATCH
I’ve mentioned it a few times before, I’ve not been the biggest Leandro Trossard fan, especially as a starter, as it feels like he’s more influential from the bench. Today though, I thought he was excellent. Credit where credit is due, he kept us moving forward with his quick feet and feints creating space for himself and others. That low centre of gravity of his must make him a nightmare to defend against. In a game where the other attackers didn’t have their most effective games, Trossard stood out with his sublime first touch, clever passes and quick feet. No goal or assist, but the fact that he stayed on and Saka went off, when Martinelli was introduced, tells you everything you need to know.
Best moment:
Excellent control run and dink to put the ball across the six yard box for what might have been a tap-in for Bukayo Saka.
Viktor Gyokeres – 7
The link-up play and understanding with his teammates is going from strength to strength right now. Has really perfectly the art of backing into his defender and laying off a sideways pass to one of his teammates. Had a few sighters at goal, but in truth he never really looked like adding to his double in midweek this afternoon. Touch was a little heavy at times, as on occasion he did get in behind the Palace defence, or at least goal side of his man, only to be let down at the last minute by an awkward bounce or heavy touch. That said, there was a lot to like about his performance as he tried his best to keep all three of Palace’s centre backs occupied.
Best moment:
Brilliant centre forward play to body Lacroix, run into the channel and hold up the ball in the build up to Trossard’s first half shot.
Bukayo Saka – 6
On his heels for Trossard’s ball across and was on the periphery for most of the game. Unusually substituted for Martinelli on 66 minutes which suggests that maybe he’s carrying something. Was starved of the ball in the first half and didn’t do a great lot when he did get it. Kept the ball well and did his bit defensively, just not his day.
Best moment:
Arrow of a shot that whistled past the far post. Henderson was nowhere near it.
Subs:
Cristhian Mosquera – 7
Thrust into another acid test in Jean-Philippe Mateta which he again faced with flying colours. Never put a foot wrong after coming on at half time. The competition is pretty fierce, but is this guy our best signing of the summer?
Mikel Merino – 5
Came on to shore things up, but in truth Merino was lapse in possession and made a few decisions which actually invited on more pressure.
Piero Hincapie – 7
It’s the first time that I’ve got the chance to see the new man for any prolonged period and the Ecuadorian was calm, composed, aggressive in the tackle, I liked what I saw!
Myles Lewis-Skelly – 5
Came on late for the struggling Calafiori. Wasn’t massively involved but was caught on the ball late on as he waited for a free kick that never came.