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For all those who view set-pieces as a lesser currency, is there anything more loaded with rich possibilities than a dead ball in Arsenal’s possession? The snobs can count their tears while Mikel Arteta measures the gap.
With quarter of the season now complete, he will enjoy the process immensely – his side sit four points clear of Bournemouth, a full six better off than Manchester City and are proving by the game that nothing beats a good routine and even less is capable of getting past Arsenal’s defence.
Not a bad combination, all things considered, with this clash against Crystal Palace won by a corker from Eberechi Eze against his former club.
The fact it was his first league goal for Arsenal was outweighed by the familiarity of its origins, with Declan Rice swerving a free-kick to the far post, Gabriel Magalhaes winning the knock down, and Eze contorting his body in flight to thunder a half-volley past Dean Henderson. Predictable and beautiful all at once.
Maybe we should say the same of Arsenal as a whole, notwithstanding the fact this was an ugly victory, which only elevates the value of goals scored from set-pieces – this was 11th they have converted in all competitions. No club in Europe’s biggest leagues has more.
Granted, the performance had none of the breathless finesse with which they crushed Atletico Madrid in midweek. But just like the win at Fulham last Saturday, it was about kicking down a door when they needed to. It was about finding a way and not letting anything slip.
Eberechi Eze scored the only goal of the game as Arsenal squeezed past Crystal Palace
Eze's first-half goal - the latest scored from a set-piece by the Gunners - settled the game
This was Eze's first appearance for Arsenal against Crystal Palace since leaving Selhurst Park in the summer
The latter is a conversation about the Arsenal defence, which, remarkably, has permitted only one shot on their goal in the past three Premier League fixtures. If we were to be rude about it, there might be a purpose in stating West Ham, Fulham and Palace are hardly gatekeepers to titles, and yet those fixtures cost Arsenal seven points last season. This time round they have left nothing on the table.
For Arteta, the ability to play a strong hand at every opportunity has doubtless been the key factor. His squad depth offers that luxury, even if he only made two changes to the side responsible for pulling apart Atletico on Wednesday.
Gabriel Martinelli scored his fifth in eight games during that Champions League assignment but his demotion in favour of Leandro Trossard was a further hint of where he stands in the domestic pecking order. Same for Myles Lewis-Skelly, who was replaced by Riccardo Calafiori.
As for Oliver Glasner, he made three alterations to the team beaten by AEK Larnaca in the Conference League on Thursday, including the return of Adam Wharton. With significantly less time to recover than their opposition, Palace’s challenge here was obvious, and yet the game didn’t conform to any of our expectations until Eze’s had his moment late in the first half.
Indeed, for the thick end of 40 minutes, Arsenal had zero cut-through. Zilch. Zip. Nothing. Bukayo Saka was afforded only limited breathing room from Tyrick Mitchell, Trossard had even less against Daniel Munoz and Eze outright struggled.
Eddie Nketiah battles Jurrien Timber as Crystal Palace fought in vain for an equaliser
Leandro Trossard is put under pressure by Daniel Munoz and Ismaila Sarr
He was briefed by Arteta to be the most advanced of that midfield shelf of three and clearly his directive was to find Saka. Time and again, his attempts at those cute balls between Mitchell and Maxence Lacroix were swallowed en route. As has too often been the case, there was also a cause to wonder why Viktor Gyokeres wasn’t doing more to present an option.
With those broken forays shaping into an ambience of frustration, Palace were happy to absorb pressure and play for the breaks.
Noting that Fulham had success in the spaces behind Calafiori last weekend, Glasner twisted on the same theme by targeting long balls to Jean Philippe Mateta and relying on his immense strength to hold up and lay-off to Munoz on his right. It yielded a decent chance and validated a blueprint, with Munoz forcing David Raya into a save midway through the half.
Arsenal’s response was muted but their breakthrough, when it came, carried the whiff of Deja vu.
Gabriel couldn't hide his delight at full-time after watching centre back partner William Saliba go off at half-time
England boss Thomas Tuchel was in the stands at the Emirates
Saka won the free-kick from Yeremy Pino 40 yards from goal and Rice’s ball followed that fiendish right-to-left arc before being knocked down by Gabriel. Eze’s finish off the half-volley was excellent; Arsenal’s record of success from such a fundamental routine unparalleled.
Arteta started the second half by replacing William Saliba with Cristian Mosquera – Arsenal hopes will be stack on that being necessitated by tactics or caution – before another free-kick led to Gabriel crashing a header against the Palace bar.
The same man, a defender, lest we forget, then laid on a lovely lobbed pass for Trossard, forcing Marc Guehi to hack off his line.
When Palace surged in the later stages for the equaliser, Arsenal held firm. As much as the set-piece goals, it is becoming a dominant characteristic in their season.
