3 positives and negatives from Arsenal’s win over Crystal Palace

A perfect performance</a> from him in between Ben White and Gabriel who also had really solid matches.</p> <p>I feel like I have talked about Saliba a lot so far this season, but he has just been that good. He is an unbelievably exciting talent and I am excited to see what he does this year.</p> <p>Negative #2: Areas behind the fullbacks</p> <div id="attachment_128329" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-128329 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/08/06/3-positives-negatives-arsenal-win-over-crystal-palace/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1242325858.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1242325858.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1242325858-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Oleksandr Zinchenko was caught out on occasion in the second half. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> <p>This was a really solid defensive performance from Arsenal to keep a clean sheet away from home but there was something I noticed that will be interesting to keep an eye on. Both Zinchenko and White were setting up a bit high, which left a lot of space behind them.</p> <p>They both had really solid games but the space behind allowed for Jordan Ayew and Wilfried Zaha to get opportunities that were ultimately not capitalised on despite Joachim Andersen’s stellar distribution.</p> <p>The defence had a great match today but giving up that space to dangerous wingers needs to be stopped.</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/2022/08/06/3-positives-negatives-arsenal-win-over-crystal-palace/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Positive &amp; negative #3 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h2>Positive #3: Fluidity</h2> <div id="attachment_128312" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-128312 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/08/06/3-positives-negatives-arsenal-win-over-crystal-palace/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1242325900.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1242325900.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1242325900-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Gabriel Martinelli opened his account for the new season. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> <p>I have talked about this before, but it was once again on full display. Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Ødegaard, Bukayo Saka, and Eddie Nketiah (when he came on) all popped up in different areas of the pitch which makes the attack very unpredictable. Jesus and Marinelli, in particular, love to be switching positions and it is very fun to see.</p> <p>Nketiah after coming on immediately caused havoc with his movement that would set up the second goal.</p> <h2>Negative #3: Martin Ødegaard’s shooting</h2> <div id="attachment_128330" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-128330 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/08/06/3-positives-negatives-arsenal-win-over-crystal-palace/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1242327947.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1242327947.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1242327947-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Martin Odegaard was hesitant in front of goal. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> <p>I thought Ødegaard had a solid match but his moment when he had the ball in the box and hesitated is a continuing pattern from the Norwegian. His first instinct is almost always to pass but when he has that much room on his own in the box, he’s got to shoot.</p> <div class="embed "> <blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="g0SVsajahE"><p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/08/06/3-positives-negatives-arsenal-win-over-crystal-palace/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/08/05/3-talking-points-arsenal-2-0-victory-palace/">Crystal Palace 0-2 Arsenal: 3 talking points as Gunners start season with a win</a></p></blockquote> <p><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/08/06/3-positives-negatives-arsenal-win-over-crystal-palace/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/08/05/3-talking-points-arsenal-2-0-victory-palace/embed/#?secret=g0SVsajahE" data-secret="g0SVsajahE" width="500" height="282" title="“Crystal Palace 0-2 Arsenal: 3 talking points as Gunners start season with a win” — Pain in the Arsenal" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p></div> <p>He is a wonderful player to watch but that is defiantly an area that needs to be improved upon.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">