As William Saliba, Aaron Ramsdale, and company shined in a 1-0 Premier League victory at Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson offered a reluctant respect to Arsenal’s backline. A year and a half after the humiliating 3-0 loss at the same place, Mikel Arteta’s team demonstrated their progress under extremely difficult circumstances in South London. It wasn’t a performance that will stick in the mind for too long, with Arsenal depending on Crystal Palace losing focus, allowing Eddie Nketiah to steal a penalty that Martin Odegaard converted early in the second half.
Crystal Palace Boss Roy Hodgson acknowledges the strength of Arsenal’s defense
Despite playing the final 30 minutes with ten men following Takehiro Tomiyasu’s very contentious second yellow card, Arsenal had nerves of steel to resist the Crystal Palace attack. Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson says their team performed well. He says: “We worked very, very hard. Excellent displays from Cheick Doucoure, Ebere Eze and Jordan Ayew going unrewarded.”
“I thought when we had the chance to get in the ascendancy when they went down to ten men, we took that opportunity and got players forward and got the ball in and around their goal, and made them clear it as many times as we possibly could.”
Crystal Palace Boss says Arsenal’s defense was the key factor for their victory. He adds: “You have to give Arsenal credit for their defensive organisation. They got the blocks in when they were necessary. Their goalkeeper was there also to make a few saves from the crosses.”
Mikel Arteta feels relieved after Arsenal’s victory
“I’m so happy to win, always very happy to win,” Mikel Arteta states. He further adds:
“But very happy in the way we won with 11 players and 10 players, and the way the team adapted. How much they wanted the win. The contributions from the players on the bench. The way they changed the game straight away when they came on… It doesn’t matter the circumstances, it doesn’t matter the decisions, we keep going. We want to win and find a way to win it.”
Arteta feels at ease after Arsenal’s defensive unit resisted the deadly Crystal Palace crosses to hand them 3 points.
“They absolutely did the job. They didn’t concede anything, apart from one cross. I think it was a wide free-kick and they had a volley, but after that nothing. And we had some good moments as well when we changed the momentum of the game, so I’m really happy.”
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