Crystal Palace 0-1 Arsenal: Player ratings as Gunners hold on for win despite Tomiyasu red card
Martin Odegaard's penalty was enough for ten-player Arsenal to hold on for victory at Crystal Palace on Monday night.
Gunners captain Odegaard stepped up to convert from the spot when Sam Johnstone brought down Eddie Nketiah after a frustrating first half for Mikel Arteta's side.
Takehiro Tomiyasu picked up two bookings in eight second-half minutes to hand Palace a player advantage for a large chunk of the second half, but no equaliser came as Arsenal secured their second league win in as many games.
Early Gunners pressure saw Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka hit blocked efforts in quick succession, while Palace nearly created an opening when Jordan Ayew's cross brought a weak punch from Aaron Ramsdale. Eberechi Eze slipped on the edge of the area, allowing Ben White to clear the danger.
It was White again who made a vital intervention when Jeffrey Schlupp released Odsonne Edouard, getting a meaty block on the shot before Ramsdale cleaned up.
Palace's sturdy defending frustrated the Gunners for the most part but busy striker Nketiah came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half after Saka dispossessed Schlupp. However, his effort on the stretch bounced back off the far post.
William Saliba had to show excellent recovery skills after a poor touch almost let in Ayew, sprawling across with a sliding tackle tackle that drew incredulous appeals from the home crowd.
A smart ball over the top from Declan Rice — impressive all evening — again set Nketiah behind the Palace defence but his finish was off target, chipping over the bar before Odegaard brought a save from home goalkeeper Johnstone with a sharp drive from distance.
The well-drilled hosts kept the game goalless by half-time, though all the best chances fell to the
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