Aaron Ramsey hit a late winner as Arsenal beat Crystal Palace on the opening day of the Premier League season at the Emirates Stadium

Published: 16 August, 2014
by PAUL COWLING at the Emirates

Premier League
ARSENAL 2, CRYSTAL PALACE 1

AARON Ramsey was the match-winner as Arsenal came from a goal down to snatch all three points against managerless Crystal Palace at the Emirates.

After the match, Arsene Wenger paid tribute to the Welshman. The Arsenal boss said: ''He hasn't changed from last season. 

"He has a freshness. He scored last week, and now today at a very important time in the game."

Despite starting with the same 11, Arsenal were nothing like the side who strolled to a 3-0 Community Shield win the previous weekend against Manchester City.

The Gunners will simply have to play far better than this if they are to get anywhere near to lifting the Premier League crown this season.

Despite 75 per cent possession, they were far from convincing against a disciplined and spirited Palace side, mustering only six tame shots on target in the match.

It could have been a lot worse, as Palace went a goal up on 35 minutes when Brede Hangeland headed in from a corner.

Arsenal got an unexpected lifeline when Laurent Koscielny rose unmarked to head in from an Alexis Sanchez free-kick in first half injury time.

It was much the same in the second half – Palace dealing easily with Arsenal's limp attack. But, just as it looked as if the Gunners would have to settle for a point, the pendulum swung in their favour.  

With the game going into five minutes of injury time, Palace winger Jason Puncheon was sent off for a second yellow, and for the first time in the match there was panic in the visitors' goalmouth.

The ball fell to Ramsey, who had the simplest of tasks to prod home unchallenged from a few yards out.

Ramsey wheeled away in relief as much as delight, and the moment was shared in the home crowd, who stayed with their side throughout the match.

"I want to thank the fans for their patience," said Wenger. "They stayed behind the team, We had heavy legs at 1-1, but they gave us energy.

"We were the only team to win at home in the Premier League today."

Performance aside, Arsenal have made the start to the new season they wanted. But it's going to be a tough nine months for Wenger if they are to lift their first league title since 2004.

ARSENAL: Szczesny, Debuchy, Chambers, Koscielny, Gibbs (Monreal, 54), Arteta, Wilshere (Oxlade-Chamberlain, 70), Ramsey, Cazorla, Sanogo (Giroud, 61), Sanchez.
Subs: Martinez, Coquelin, Rosicky, Campbell.
Attendance: 59,962. 

ARSENAL COMMENT by Steve Barnett

ARSENE Wenger spent much of his first evening of the season at the Emirates feeling the frustration. Squirming and wiggling around in his seat, and throwing his arms up in the air like a drunk man playing charades, every time the ball went out of play. But deep down he, along with pretty much every football fan in the country, knew that the only way Crystal Palace were going to be able to compete was to slow the game down. 

They won't be the first team to play against Arsenal this season who try to take minutes rather than seconds every time there's a throw-in, a corner or a substitution. It is a proven tactic that oh-so nearly earned Palace a deserved point. 

The only way Wenger can try and stop what is a frustrating but admirable match-leveller is to encourage his players to hit their opposition hard and fast. 

Arsenal are away to Everton next Saturday, and face Manchester City, Tottenham and Chelsea in the coming weeks. Those are the fixtures to play a more patient, passing game. For the rest, the earlier the Gunners can grab a goal or two the better – if only to save Wenger, and the fans, from any more nervous nights in north London.