The new Premier League campaign kicks off on Friday night when Arsenal travel to Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace.
For Mikel Arteta, this clash between these two back in April proved to be a defining moment in Arsenal’s season, and he’ll be eager to lay the ghost to rest this time around. Palace blew the Gunners away 3-0 in a fixture that significantly dented their Champions League hopes and ultimately proved costly come the end of the campaign.
First-half goals from Jean-Philippe Mateta, Jordan Ayew and a second-half Wilfried Zaha penalty handed the hosts the win, leaving Arteta to label his side's display “unacceptable”. He said: "You have to be physical and run and then you earn the right to play. We were really inconsistent on the ball and that is unacceptable.
"We were poor, especially in the first half. I apologise to our supporters. We didn't have the presence today or the composure to dominate the situation so that is what I'm most annoyed with. Some days you are not there and you are late all the time. They got on top of it and had a good atmosphere and we could not get out.”
The Gunners had been in great form on the road going into the game securing five straight away wins and scoring 14 goals along the way. However from their last game, Arteta was forced to make a change in his defence for the clash, with Nuno Tavares coming into the team for Kieran Tierney who suffered a knee injury while on international duty.
This proved to be a key narrative of the game with Palace enjoying plenty of success attacking down Arsenal’s left side. The full-back looked miles off the pace and it was his indecision, along with teammate Gabriel, that caused the space for Jordan Ayew to run through and double Palace's lead. His display was so bad that Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher stated on air while commenting that Arteta had to get Tavares off.
The performance from the Portuguese defender was a reminder of the work needed by Arsenal in terms of strengthening the squad this summer, and it’s why the capture of Manchester City ’s Oleksandr Zinchenko was so celebrated.
Zinchenko was hugely impressive playing within a left-back role at City, and could well trump Tierney in terms of being the club’s new no.1 choice. He is strong defensively and did after all last season register more assists, Expected assists (xA) per 90, passes completed into the penalty area per 90 and progressive runs made per 90 than the Scotland international.
His form over pre-season hints that he could start on Friday night, which will give Arsenal a big boost. As will having Zinchenko’s former CIty teammate Gabriel Jesus leading their attack. Following the last encounter, Arteta highlighted his side’s finishing on the night as another big reason behind their struggles: "When we had the big chances we didn't score to give ourselves the best chance to get back in the game.”
He was forced to start the game with Alexandre Lacazette leading his attack, though the Frenchman’s return of one Premier League goal across 2022 highlights how grossly out of form he was in those final months at the club. Jesus’ seven goals in five friendly matches over the summer indicates he’s coming into the season in red hot form and he could well prove to be a difference maker on Friday night.
