Well that was a lot tougher than Arsenal would have wanted it to be but the main thing is that Arsene Wenger and his players got the result that we really needed after losing the opening Premier League game against West Ham.
Arsenal started the game with real intent, zipping the ball aroung with purpose and precision and putting the Crystal Palace team under real pressure. A lot of the players that got criticised the most last week, like Ramsey, Giroud, Coquelin and Ozil, were seemingly determined to make amends.
Arsenal had already had some good chances go by with clearances off the line and last ditch tackles when Giroud scored an absolute cracker of a volley in the 16th minute, with an assist for Ozil with his pinpoint left wing cross. To be fair we should have been out of sight when Palace stunned us with a goal; from nowhere in the 28th minute, and we had a host of chances after that as well.
But the only other goal of the game, probably an own goal, came from an Alexis Sanchez header which showed the Chilean’s burning desire to win. We were perhaps a bit lucky not to have Coquelin sent off but that was about the only luck we had and it would be harsh to say the Gunners did not deserve our win.
A much better performance all round. Now for the scousers and to get our title charge well and truly back on track.