Key occasions
In the meantime, in Germany
Congratulations to Bayern Munich on successful their eleventh consecutive Bundesliga title.
“Good to see Xhaka has began the season within the traditional kind,” says Rachel Clifton. “Now that David Luiz has gone, he brings that edge to the Arsenal workforce: which model will present up – the great participant or absolutely the [redacted]?”
Half time: Crystal Palace 0-1 Arsenal
Peep peep! Arsenal lead by way of Gabriel Martinelli’s close-range header. They began thrillingly, with Gabriel Jesus wanting excellent, however Palace slowly got here into the sport and Odsonne Edouard had a few probabilities simply earlier than the break.
45 min Edouard has two photographs blocked within the house of 5 seconds, the second by Xhaka within the six-yard field. Superb defending. That is Palace’s greatest spell of the sport, by a distance.
44 min Xhaka is booked for diving. He’s not having it, but it surely regarded a very good choice by Anthony Taylor.
43 min “What constitutes handball?” says Mary Waltz. “It’s just like the phrase ‘salt to style’ in a recipe. For some a teaspoon, others a cup.”
42 min: Good save by Ramsdale! A couple of full of life challenges close to the midway line, culminating in a foul by White on Zaha. The free-kick is pushed past the far put up by Eze in direction of Andersen. He powers a header again throughout purpose that finds Edouard, whose stooping header is just too near Ramsdale. It was nonetheless a very good save from Ramsdale, diving to his proper, however Edouard ought to have given him no probability.
40 min “Re: summer time evening fixtures – these early rounds of the Intertoto Cup had been good for these sorts of video games, particularly in opposition to Scandinavian groups,” says Alex Adams. “That night daylight simply mixes completely with floodlights; the grass virtually glows.”
Rattling it. I had 12 December within the ‘first Intertoto Cup point out within the MBM’ sweep.
39 min It’s a better sport now. Arsenal nonetheless look snug however Palace are having a good share of possession and have began getting some pleasure from Andersen’s lengthy passes.
37 min Clyne takes a free ball off the toe of Xhaka within the Palace space. It appears like a second Arsenal purpose, even at this stage, would most likely kill the sport.
35 min Palace enchantment unsuccessfully for a penalty when a excessive ball drops onto the marginally outstretched arm of Gabriel. I believed VAR may take a look at it, as a result of his forearm appeared to be away from his physique, however I haven’t a clue about handball any extra.
32 min Andersen’s lengthy go is pulled down deftly by Zaha. He runs at White within the space, twisting a technique after which the opposite, however Saka comes on his blindside to nick the ball. Good defending.
32 min Palace are having a barely higher spell, sparked by that Ramsdale clearance. However Arsenal nonetheless look very snug in defence.
30 min “I’m watching the sport and I’m simply so impressed by Zinchenko to this point,” says Olivier Cardon. “Good, fast, protected… Most likely simpler to face out right here than in Metropolis’s sea of abilities and Pep’s hyper-precise ways… He can actually be a sport changer for Arsenal. And Jesus ain’t unhealthy both.”
And he’s not even taking part in in his greatest place. You’ll have nice choices in midfield when Tierney is match to play at left-back.
29 min A dodgy clearance from Ramsdale hits Edouard however rebounds safely to Gabriel. If nothing else, that may stir the Palace crowd.
28 min “Do you or anybody else love an evening match when it’s nonetheless gentle outdoors for lots of it?” says Ruth Purdue. “Summer season ending or springtime?”
Completely, particularly European knockout video games. I keep in mind these.
26 min Jesus turns Andersen thrillingly on the midway line, then appears to be pulled again. Anthony Taylor offers nothing.
26 min Right here’s the opening purpose from Gabriel Martinelli.
Martinelli scores a header to place Arsenal forward! 🔥
It is the primary purpose of the 2022/23 Premier League season! ⚽💥 pic.twitter.com/ALAUwge1ZQ
— Sky Sports activities Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 5, 2022
26 min “Only a fast notice to say how a lot I like the Arsenal kit,” says Andy Bradshaw. “Is the color known as ‘crimson pants left in wash’?”
It’s now!
25 min Zaha’s cross in direction of Edouard is reduce out by Saliba. Palace look a bit tentative in assault.
23 min Arsenal have had 66 per cent of the possession and 5 photographs to Palace’s none.
22 min Jesus wriggles previous a few gamers within the space earlier than being dispossessed. “He appears sharp,” purrs Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports activities. His contact and motion have been first-class.
It got here from a training-ground nook on the best. Saka curled it very deep to the unmarked Zinchenko, who cleverly bumped into house past the far put up. He headed it again throughout purpose, and Martinelli’s softish header from six yards went by way of Guaita.
GOAL! Crystal Palace 0-1 Arsenal (Martinelli 20)
Arsenal take a deserved lead!
19 min “Rob, darling,” says Ian Copestake. “Whenever you mentioned ‘Jesus particularly’, had been you expressing your shock that Arsenal are taking part in soccer effectively or simply channelling Father Ted?”
That may be an ecumenical matter.
18 min A half respectable Palace assault, with Eze discovering Zaha on the left. He teases White within the space and drives a cross that’s booted clear by Xhaka.
17 min See 13 min. It’s actually one-sided, albeit with out many clear probabilities.
15 min “I believe everyone knows that Romario counted objectives scored in friendlies, testimonials and pre-match warm-ups,” says Gary Naylor, “however are pre-season event objectives included in a participant’s document? That may throw the Moneyball guys.”
Nothing may throw these guys. You could possibly put a yr’s provide of Nando’s on the opposite facet of the workplace they usually wouldn’t flicker.
13 min Arsenal proceed to dominate possession. Palace haven’t been capable of threaten on the break, which is normally a power, and in the meanwhile it appears like a matter of time earlier than Arsenal rating.
11 min “What do you make of Arsenal’s buys?” asks Andrew Hurley. “Saliba who has hardly been talked about in pre-season might be among the best ‘additions’. Jesus appears to have fitted in effectively however they may want one other ahead, and another midfielder.
“It’s value noting for all of the criticism of the Kroenke household they’ve supported Arteta with an even bigger web spend than most if not all golf equipment in Europe.”
I believe they’ve purchased extraordinarily effectively, not simply this summer time however all through Arteta’s time. I haven’t seen a lot of Saliba however he feels like a critical expertise. This primary XI is absolutely robust now.
10 min Right here’s that Martinelli probability within the fourth minute.
8 min Jesus and Xhaka mix to seek out Zinchenko, whose deflected shot is pushed away by the falling Guaita. It’s all Arsenal, and moments later Partey has a shot blocked by Schlupp.
7 min “Glad that I can get at the very least one spherical of PL motion in a sunny and heat East Sussex earlier than heading again to moist and wintry Australia subsequent week,” writes Waz. “Might be very unusual watching at a time aside from tremendous early within the morning. May really get a full spherical in for as soon as. Convey it on!”
6 min Arsenal look actually shiny, Jesus particularly.
4 min: Martinelli misses an amazing probability! Jesus goes on a sensational run, nutmegging Doucoure after which zig-zagging previous Andersen on the sting of the world. He pokes a shot that’s blocked and rebounds throughout the world to Martinelli, who slides it large of the far put up from seven yards. What an opportunity.
3 min Nothing a lot to report. Arsenal are taking part in 4-2-3-1, with Odegaard because the No10; Palace’s form appears like 4-1-4-1.
1 min Ebere Eze has the primary contact of the 2022-23 Premier League season. We’re off!
Right here come the gamers, led by Marc Guehi and Martin Odegaard. The solar are shining, the house followers are belting out Glad All Over, and my tail is wagging.
Again again again again again again again again again again
One final little bit of pre-season studying
“Gabriel Jesus is a correct participant,” says Ian Copestake. “He’s simply bought an annoying face. That is one thing that has not held me again, nonetheless, due to the web.”
“Hey Rob,” says Invoice Hargreaves. “Noticed an article that wasn’t particularly complimentary of Arteta’s management fashion the opposite day, and it bought me to questioning a couple of variety of kinds amongst PL coaches, and the way totally different kinds would have totally different long-/short- time period strengths or weaknesses, and swimsuit totally different squads and cultures. An e.g can be SAF and the tradition at Man Utd – tough to comply with, tough tradition to introduce totally different coaches?”
Truly, considered one of Ferguson’s power was introducing various kinds of No2s (oh behave your self). However sure, it’s an attention-grabbing topic – for instance, I’m unsure Arteta’s method can be as profitable with extra skilled gamers, whereas Conte is the other. And a few coaches develop their fashion extra successfully than others, as we’ve seen from the relative decline of Jose Mourinho.
It’s a stunning, heat night in south London, and the environment is constructing. I don’t know what else to inform you.
“Rob, we’re invited to e-mail you with our ideas,” says Charles Antaki. “Certainly it’s too early within the season for ideas? I actually don’t have any, and I doubt that any skilled Arsenal fan would: swirling mists of uncertainty, certain. Fogged-up photos of potential looming disasters, actually. Clear, agency concepts as to what’s going to occur, completely none. Perhaps, contemplating final season’s begin, it’s higher this manner.”
Certainly. As I do know from bitter expertise, July and August are usually not the time for ideas.
“As an Arsenal fan I’ve a sense at first of this season that I haven’t had for a lot of, a few years,” says Matt Emerson. “It’s precise Optimism, fairly than it’s nastier, mendacious cousin Hope. This may all change by 8:20 I’m certain, but it surely’s good to welcome it again, nonetheless briefly…”
I used to be attempting to recollect the final time Arsenal had such a very good younger facet. The late 2000s/early 2010s, I assume, however then you need to return to the early days of George Graham.
“A giant hey from California,” says Mary Waltz. “Some may see Rob’s comparability to a canine insulting however I discover it an amazing praise. Glad to have the Premier League and MBM again once more. And my Everton squad misplaced their greatest participant to Spurs and their second greatest to harm so the cloud of doom has already fashioned over my head. Some issues by no means change. Let’s get began!!!!!”
“Night,” says Martin Segerstråle. “So, will Gabriel Jesus now show he is an excellent striker who didn’t match the Pepball system, or have Arsenal purchased one other Bendtner? I simply really feel precise high quality gamers shouldn’t be system-dependent.”
I’m unsure he was unsuited to Pepball. He simply wasn’t fairly ok to be a daily No9 for a workforce that aspires to be the perfect on the earth. However Pep nonetheless favored him – Jesus began a number of massive video games, albeit typically in large positions – and it’ll be a shock if he doesn’t do rather well at Arsenal.
Every part you must know concerning the new season. Okay, not everything.
Barney Ronay’s season preview
Workforce information
No surprises in both XI. Cheick Doucoure is the one summer time signing to begin for Palace, whereas Arsenal embody Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus. Their defence consists of one other debutant: William Saliba, the France worldwide who excelled on mortgage at Marseille final season.
Crystal Palace (attainable 4-3-3) Guaita; Clyne, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Eze, Doucoure, Schlupp; Ayew, Edouard, Zaha.
Substitutes: Johnstone, Ward, Milivojevic, Mateta, Hughes, Ebiowei, Richards, Riedewald, Plange.
Arsenal (attainable 4-2-3-1) Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Xhaka; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Jesus.
Substitutes: Turner, Tierney, Holding, Cedric, Lokonga, Elneny, Nketiah, Pepe, Nelson.
Referee Anthony Taylor.
Premier League previews
A little bit of Palace switch information
Christian Benteke is becoming a member of Wayne Rooney’s DC United within the MLS, ending a combined 10-year spell in English soccer. At instances he was banter fodder, at others he was spectacularly good.
Preamble
The beautiful factor about canine is that they’re all the time thrilled to see you. Even in the event you come out to put up a letter and are available again two minutes later, you’ll be greeted as in the event you’ve been away since 2017.
The same factor occurs each time a brand new soccer season begins. All of us do an enormous jig of pleasure to rejoice the truth that soccer is BACK, despite the fact that it hever actually went away. This yr we had the Nations League in June and the Euros in July, to not point out a gazillion extensively lined pre-season friendlies and 482,195 switch exclusives. Doesn’t matter. Loyal outdated football-loving canine that we’re, we’ll all the time begin wagging our tail earlier than the primary sport of the season. Wag wag wag.
This can be a singular season – the primary, and presumably final, to have a World Cup for a winter break. An evening sport at Selhurst Park, which pound for pound produces the perfect environment within the Premier League, is an effective place to begin.
Crystal Palace v Arsenal is twelfth v fifth within the parlance of 2021-22, although each groups – like everybody on the opening wekend, earlier than actuality’s incisors have gone to work – are wanting upwards. Palace have life like ambitions of a top-half end, which might be solely their second for the reason that miracle season of 1990-91, whereas Arsenal fancy their probabilities of ending within the prime 4 for the primary time for the reason that pleased, harmless, isn’t-the-world-a-reasonably-nice-place spring of 2016.
Palace have gone below the radar this summer time. They’ve made some attention-grabbing, comparatively low-key signings, most notably Cheick Doucoure, however the principle subject of discussionk has been about how they are going to cope and not using a participant who wasn’t theirs within the first place: Conor Gallagher, who’s again at Chelsea after an excellent mortgage spell. On the plus facet, the superb Eberechi Eze is again after lacking most of 2021-22.
Arsenal’s switch enterprise has been universally praised. Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko had been ok to play a whole lot of video games for England’s greatest workforce, whereas Fabio Vieira has the potential to be a star.
For richer and poorer, Arsenal have been all about potential below Mikel Arteta. There isn’t a extra thrilling younger workforce in England, perhaps Europe. Now they need to show which you can win one thing with youngsters. A fourth-place trophy would do for starters.
Kick off 8pm.
