Copyright irishexaminer
And it is his ability to settle tight tussles such as this why Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was so keen to sign the England international. They could have scored more but one is all they need with their defence. They have still conceded only three goals with a quarter of the season gone. Even not at their best, Arsenal are in good shape. Commenting on Eze’s contribution, Arteta stated: "That's what big players do and he's certainly a big player and hopefully that's going to give him a big boost and confidence to generate many more moments like this because that's the moment that sometimes defines a season.” It was Graham, a brilliant title winner as both a player and manager for Arsenal, who claimed he never looked at a league table until at least a quarter of the way through the season. ‘It’s a marathon, not a sprint’ he would remind us. So, one can imagine the astute Scot would have been all aglow when he stepped back into the warmth of the directors’ box to see a television screen displaying Arsenal not just a win and bit clear of second-placed Bournemouth but six points ahead of title rivals Manchester City and seven in front of defending Champions Liverpool. Theirs to lose after only nine games? Too soon for that and they feared they suffered a few injuries, but Arsenal drew this corresponding fixture last season and are steadily righting the wrongs, big and small, that have held them back from winning in recent years. Current boss Arteta, hell bent on ending his club’s two-decade wait for a title, said afterwards: “I just told the boys that I value this victory than any other victory this season. We knew the difficulty of it, you come after playing every three days, you have a big opportunity as well with the things (results) that happened during this weekend. "We played against a team that in my opinion has been one of the best recently in terms of organisation, how difficult they made it, how frustrated they can make you and the moment that you lose that concentration they will punish you for sure.” Asked if the goal had backed up why he had signed, him, Arteta commented: “Yes, 100%. To strike the ball in the manner they did it. He did it very similarly last year but against us. With the nine defending your best player, you have to generate chaos or open space at some moments to generate big chances. He took the ball and it went really well. “He's super relaxed always before the game, always a big smile on his face. He's desperate to play games, and I haven't noticed anything different. He might be inside him, obviously; he's been there a long time. It was such strong feelings and gratitude to Crystal Palace and today was a very special game for him.” Oliver Glasner, the Palace manager who has created such an interesting and capable side, seemed almost resigned to the fact his former hero would inevitably defeat him. “If you give Eze a shot in the box it is usually a goal. I do not like to comment on players from other clubs, but he is special. Last season he made all of us very happy when he scored that goal in the FA Cup Final. Today he made us sad. “That said we did so many good things against a team that has everything. They have improved every season by identifying what they need and spending €300m in all he right areas. Great players, a great manager and a great structure.” Arsenal had all of the ball but lacked the required zip and intensity to get through Palace’s well-structured 11-man counter attacking wall of a team for much of the match. The Arsenal crowd, so much more intense in recent seasons here under Arteta, were not really up for it either. The slightly early 2pm kick off did not help. The match suddenly came to life on 39 minutes when Eze finished off a set piece by scoring with a flying kung-fu kick volley. Dead ball demon Declan Rice fizzed a curling right-foot ball to his favourite target player Gabriel and the ball was headed back towards Eze, who finished with a flying right-foot volley. A classy end to Arsenal’s 11th set-piece goal of the season. The worry, for Arteta and co. were injuries suffered by Rice, Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Martinelli. Tests will follow at the start of this week, but even this massively strong squad will not cope well if they join Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke, Kaui Havertz and Gabriel Jesus in the treatment room. Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Raya, Timber, Saliba 5 (Mosquera 45), Gabriel 7, Calafiori 6 (Hincapie 82), Zubimendi 6, Rice 7 (Merino 82), Eze 8 (Lewis-Skelly 88), Trossard 6, Saka 5 (Martinelli 65), Gyokeres 6. Subs: Kepa, White, Norgaard, Nwaneri. Crystal Palace (3-4-2-1): Henderson 6, Munoz 6, Richards 6, Lacroix 6, Guehi 7, Mitchell 7, Wharton 6, Kamada 7 (Hughes 74), Sarr 6, Pino 6 (Nketiah 60), Mateta. Subs: Benitez, Lerma, Uche, Clyne, Canvot, Sosa, Devenny. Referee: Thomas Bramall 6 # Att: 60,013
