First goal was always gonna be vital in a game like that.
I said it would be a tight game and that’s what it turned out to be.
Alexis Sanchez was buzzing around strongly from the kick-off and when he found Ozil on the left, a deadly cross was instantly produced.
The ball flew behind Giroud but he stretched his long left leg for a wicked volley that bounced in for a vital goal. A very, very important goal
While Giroud did his job, Koscielny didn’t.
A tidy Palace move set up right back Joel Ward for a shot from outside the box.
But Koscielny stayed still and stayed small.
What a wimp! Too rich, too soft.
Shame. He’s been a fine player for Arsenal.
Without desire, a centreback will never dominate and his team will never keep clean sheets.
The score was 1-1 for about half an hour and Coquelin was lucky to stay on the pitch.
Interestingly, both Arsenal goals came from crosses.
Not from seven or 10 passes.
In 55, Bellerin played a nice ball to the far post and Sanchez sailed high like the fearless Andy Gray used to do back in the day.
The Sanchez header went in off Delaney and they held on for their first win in the Premier League.
Arsenal’s next game is Liverpool, who are still an unknown quality this season. Liverpool play promoted Bournemouth tonight at Anfield.
Lukaku is firing for Everton and his Belgian mate Benteke has to do the same.
The dimwit Dunga has recalled the veteran Kaka and excluded Coutinho from Brazil’s national team. That means the lad will not be jet-lagged
My view: Every team needs a striker and it’s best to take charge of a game by scoring first.
Man City beat Chelsea 3-0 after Kun Aguero scored the first goal.
Aguero now looks like the most inventive box centre forward since Romario.
He can work in tiny spaces and score from situations that are half-chances to anybody else.
VERDICT ON THE WEEKEND:
Arsenal scored two goals from two crosses but will depend too much on Sanchez staying fit.
Chelsea don’t have a striker right now.
Everton (4th) play leaders Man City at 4pm next Sunday.
I thought Jordan Spieth would win the PGA.
But Jason Day became the first golfer to shoot -20 in a major.
20 under par!
The Aussie played out of his skin for 4 days. Magnificent.