LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 21: Martin Odegaard of Arsenal celebrates after scoring the team's first goal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal FC at Selhurst Park on August 21, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
4 observations from Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace
Partey was fortunate not to give away a penalty. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
3. Thumbs down for the Partey inverted RB role
Arteta knows more football than many of us, but I am not sure Partey playing the inverted right-back role is paying off. It takes a bit of continuity away from the team.
Maybe it pays off later in the season when the right side gels better with time, but I for one miss the linkup between Ben White and Bukayo Saka which was efficient and effortless last season.
Perhaps the tactics work in the long run, but Saka and White played well with each other on the right flank and created a lot last season.
Partey also isn’t the most mobile in one-on-one situations and better teams will exploit the Ghanaian’s vulnerability defending out wide should Arteta continue to stick with the ploy.
Continued on the next slide…
pic.twitter.com/OHQdJhqr95
<p>— Gunners (@Gunnersc0m) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/08/22/4-observations-arsenal-1-0-victory-crystal-palace/3/"https://twitter.com/Gunnersc0m/status/1693770359177101443?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>August 21, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
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<h2>1. Gabriel missing again</h2>
<p>I’m not sure whether it’s the<a title="Arsenal Transfers: Gabriel will not be leaving this summer" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/08/22/4-observations-arsenal-1-0-victory-crystal-palace/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/08/22/gabriel-not-leaving-arsenal-saudi-interest/" rel=""> inks to the Saudi Pro League</a>, but for the second match in a row, Gabriel was not in the starting XI.</p>
<p>However, as he was against Forest, the Brazilian was brought on late to protect the lead. I’m still puzzled as to why one of Arsenal’s standout performers last season has been limited to the role of a ‘stopper’.</p>
<p>Arteta is experimenting with his dynamics and his attempting to assert even more control on games by using Thomas Partey as an inverted right-back. Will this continue throughout the season? That remains to be seen, but I think the questions will continue every match Gabriel doesn’t start, especially when he is making match-saving plays down the stretch to protect the lead.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/08/22/4-observations-arsenal-1-0-victory-crystal-palace/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #2 observation from Palace win </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-135987" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/08/22/4-observations-arsenal-1-0-victory-crystal-palace/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1706,w_2560/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1615007393-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="2560" height="1706" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1615007393-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1615007393-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1615007393-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1615007393-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Declan Rice was excellent at Selhurst Park.<br>(Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>2. Declan Rice is growing into his own</h2>
<p>The most expensive English player of all time certainly knows a lot of criticism will come given the size of his transfer fee, but Rice is already coming into his own at Arsenal.</p>
<p>He was all over the pitch on Monday night controlling the tempo of play as the single pivot. Playing deep initially and driving forward from that position may suit Rice the best. He also contributed further forward when the situations arose, and he should’ve had an assist for Eddie Nketiah in the first half.</p>
<p>Rice was the best player on the pitch and that can only be great for Arsenal as he continues to find his footing with the Gunners.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/08/22/4-observations-arsenal-1-0-victory-crystal-palace/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #3 observation from Palace win </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-135988" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/08/22/4-observations-arsenal-1-0-victory-crystal-palace/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1810,w_2560/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1631528096-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="2560" height="1810" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1631528096-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1631528096-768x543.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1631528096-1536x1086.jpeg 1536w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1631528096-2048x1448.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Partey was fortunate not to give away a penalty. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>3. Thumbs down for the Partey inverted RB role</h2>
<p>Arteta knows more football than many of us, but I am not sure Partey playing the inverted right-back role is paying off. It takes a bit of continuity away from the team.</p>
<p>Maybe it pays off later in the season when the right side gels better with time, but I for one miss the linkup between Ben White and Bukayo Saka which was efficient and effortless last season.</p>
<p>Perhaps the tactics work in the long run, but Saka and White played well with each other on the right flank and created a lot last season.</p>
<p>Partey also isn’t the most mobile in one-on-one situations and better teams will exploit the Ghanaian’s vulnerability defending out wide should Arteta continue to stick with the ploy.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/08/22/4-observations-arsenal-1-0-victory-crystal-palace/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #4 observation from Palace win </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_135948" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-135948" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/08/22/4-observations-arsenal-1-0-victory-crystal-palace/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1707,w_2560/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1630041095-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="2560" height="1707" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1630041095-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1630041095-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1630041095-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1630041095-2048x1366.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Tomiyasu is given his marching orders. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>4. Tomiyasu on the left may need to change</h2>
<p>The Jurrien Timber injury changed the landscape for Arsenal’s left-back position, and the Gunners desperately need a fully fit Oleksandr Zinchenko.</p>
<p>Jordan Ayew certainly isn’t an easy task for anyone given his dogged determination, but he took it to Tomiyasu on Monday night. Palace’s wide man had some success in one-on-one situations in the first half, with the Arsenal full-back struggling to get a hold of the Ghanaian.</p>
<p>Tomiyasu didn’t do himself any favours by wasting time and earning himself a yellow on the hour, though he didn’t deserve a second booking for his foul on Ayew seven minutes later which left the Gunners a man down. Even without the harsh red card, this wasn’t Tomi’s finest hour.</p>
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<p>His suspension rules him out of Saturday’s game against Fulham, and barring another Zinchenko injury, it might be a while until we see Tomiyasu in the starting XI again.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
