Arsenal were very good value for the first half lead over Crystal Palace as we dominated the visitors both before and after that 17th minute strike. But it was only 1-0 at the break and so it could well have been a very nervous Arsenal dressing room and a different game but for a piece of individual brilliance from our French centre forward Olivier Giroud.
The improvised scorpion kick finish from the Frenchman may well end up being the Premier League goal of the season as the pundits agreed that it was a more difficult and better finish than the scorpion kick by ythe Manchester United star Henrikh Mkhitaryan against Sunderland a few days ago.
It was a good performance all round from the Gunners, although we did perhaps take the foot off the gas after Giroud’s wonder goal. Alex Iwobi scored a second with a looping header after a ctross from the excellent Monreal popped up off a Palace boot.
From then on the result looked safe and we could have scored more. There was a brief fightback from Palace but Petr Cech was up to the task to deny them with a double save. Hopefully the comfortable manner of our win will not have taken too much out of the players ahead of the trip to Bournemouth in two days.
Keep it up Arsenal.
Bob.
Olivier “scorpion king” giroud
It was a bit scruffy win though, wasn’t it? We missed so many chances.. Well at least defensively we were sound.
GOAL OF THE SEASON for Giroud. Haven’t seen goal like that in a while..
I must admit that magnificent “scorpion goal” from olivier giroud has got to be up there for goal of the season! Coyg!
Big win under pressure! Now let’s focus on the next game. Thought Sanchez did well.
Should have scored more but only results count so reason to be happy.
Good goal from Giroud. Lovely cameo from Oxlade-Chamberlain. Iwobi ensured we didn’t miss Ozil. Lovely passing and distribution from Xhaka. My MOTM though goes to Sanchez for his tireless display.
Alexis Sanchez worked his socks off today! Great shift from him!
I’m happy for the priceless 3points today but the hard work must continue, let’s keep on pressing “gunners “! Coyg!
Alexis Sanchez gets my nod for “MOTM”
Thank you Arsenal for the win on my first wedding anniversary!
@JAmerican
Congrats Gooner. Many Happy ones to come…
Thank you! Looking forward to more…
Everyone played well and we did a good job to break down a bus parking team. Finishing was off at times, but we did enough to be comfortable the entire match. Xhaka was looking very good today, great long passes and short passes, he’s going to be very important member of our team in the future. Giroud with the goal of the season, it was really a great moment. Good game to start off the new year! Also I thought Bellerin and Iwobi were phenomenal. Two of our younger players who really seem to be coming along very well. Sanchez also deserves a shoutout for being typical Sanchez the entire match
As much as Sanchez worked today, he was largely frustrated with end result of most of our attack.
Clean sheet and 3points the positives for me, not the the scoreline, we should have taken advantage of our dominance to score well.
Iwobi was great in that central attacking midfielder position! He was strong physically and the ball was glued on his feet for most of the time. I believe if he gets more experience, he would be a great central attacking midfielder.
Giroud was also dominant in the air, held the opponent’s defenders off with his strength and scored with a cool finish too! Sanchez got some assists, but he didn’t look too happy. I guess he wanted to score as well. Perez didn’t do anything special and looked a bit lost sometimes. I think he needs to play as a left winger first, until he adjusts himself for the team.
Xhaka and Elneny didn’t have too much pressure and didn’t need to defend too much. I think this was because Giroud, Sanchez and Iwobi controlled the game very well in the front. Our defenders and goalkeeper didn’t have any real threats as well.
I like it when Arsenal plays with players that can control the game and hold the ball well. It’s been a long time since Arsenal completely dominated their opponent like this. Finally Wenger have got guts to make some changes to the first team players, to increase the ball possession, creativity and domination.
i don’t want to see ozil back in this team sell him buy center forward. winger left back
Bellerin looking super sharp, powerful display. The stand out player for me.
you fool’s still didn’t think Perez do anything that is why arsenal will not win anything. he on bellerin one two passing get behind the defender so many times this is how the team is suppose to play not side way passing i am happy for the first time this season because of the way we play we miss a lot of chance but i am happy
Bellerin was MOTM for me. Thought Monreal did well on the opposite side. We moved the ball so much quicker than usual, got to keep it up now. Could be down to a six point gap by midweek.
OK it was a good 3 pointer but against a team like palace we should be wiping the floor with them. A 4 goal win should have been on the cards this evening.
Great win…no injuries.
Looking forward to next match.
My only complaint was the squandered chances to make it 2 nil. After the two recent losses after going up one nil at Everton and City I wear hoping for a bit more urgency after Giroud’s wonder strike. Instead Arsenal seemed to slow the game down. That mentality could come back to bite them (as it already has done) against a better team.
Biggest plus for me is two straight clean sheets. It all starts from the back.
No, we need to recharge for Bournemouth.
Very important that we win and end the festive period properly.
Giroud, Giroud, wow, wow, i was at a printshop in jamaica, where i was surprise by how many arsenal fans were present ( normally alot of Manu fans in jamaica), but we were discussing what the problems are with arsenal. My point was I dont know if i am being harsh, but i think arsenal should sell Ozil, he is great, but i actually think we would become a better team without him, arsenal have become too dependent on his mood, if things are not going right for him, he becomes withdrawn and moody and therefore arsenal suffers.
Yeah, yeah many are going to say i am an Ozil hater and probably they are right, with all the assists he has made, i still feel he has not contributed enough to a team who look to him for leadership and inspiration, for too many matches i think we have been playing one man short and i find that hard to swallow.
I do not know if he was actually ill, but i must i must praise the manager for putting that team together today, we were direct at times and that is when we look more dangerous, YES EVEN WITHOUT THE BRILLIANT PASSING SKILL OF OZIL.