With Martin Odegaard’s second-half penalty, the Gunners have won their last two games.
Despite playing the final 30 minutes with 10 men, Arsenal defeated Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park by a score of 1-0.
Eddie Nketiah was unlucky not to give Arsenal the lead right away after a closely fought opening. When the ball came his way, he did a great job of spinning past Joachim Andersen and hitting a post.
After being put through on goal by Declan Rice, Nketiah should have done better with his second scoring chance, as he chipped his attempt over the crossbar.
However, the 24-year-old quickly atoned for his mistake by winning a penalty early in the second half after being fouled by goalkeeper Sam Johnstone after Gabriel Martinelli’s quick free-kick.
Bukayo Saka, who took penalties last year, unexpectedly stepped up to take the penalty shot, and Martin Odegaard did, surprising Johnstone by taking the spot-kick. Since playing for Vitesse Arnhem in the Eredivisie in May 2019, Odegaard hadn’t taken and scored a penalty in a league game.
Takehiro Tomiyasu’s dismissal after receiving two cautions in the span of seven minutes put Arsenal’s fortitude to the test.
Defending player took too long over a throw-in, and referee David Coote awarded the first penalty. Jordan Ayew was fouled in the 67th minute, and the second penalty was awarded. This past weekend, Tomiyasu became the fifth player to receive a dismissal in nine Premier League games.
In the box, Thomas Partey’s challenge on Eberechi Eze caused him to fall, but he was not given a penalty, giving the away team a scare. Eze had displayed incredible skill to elude two Arsenal players.
It took seven minutes of extra time for Arsenal to win, their first on a Monday night in five tries, but they held on to make it two wins in a row.
After a five-match winning streak at Selhurst Park, Roy Hodgson was left to mull over his first defeat at home since rejoining Palace in April.
