Gunners Edge Past Palace: Arteta Emphasizes Value of Victory
London, UK - Arsenal secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, a win that manager Mikel Arteta has described as the most valuable of their season so far. The tense match saw Eberechi Eze, playing against his former club, score the decisive goal in the first half. This victory extends Arsenal's lead at the top of the Premier League to four points.
Arteta expressed immense satisfaction with the result, highlighting the challenges his team overcame. "I told the boys that I value more this victory than any other victory this season," he said in the post-match press conference. He acknowledged the difficulty of playing every three days, especially against a well-organized Crystal Palace side. He further stated, "We knew the difficulty of it after playing every three days...But I knew we were playing against a team who have, in my opinion, been one of the best in terms of organisation and how frustrated they can make you. The moment you lose concentration they will punish you".
The Gunners faced a resilient Crystal Palace team that made it difficult for them to create clear-cut chances. Oliver Glasner's team effectively stifled Arsenal's attack for much of the first half, restricting them to few opportunities. However, Arsenal's breakthrough came from a set-piece, an area where they have shown significant improvement this season. Declan Rice delivered an excellent ball into the box, which Eze converted with a superb volley.
Arsenal's defense played a crucial role in securing the victory, maintaining a clean sheet despite Palace's persistent pressure. Arteta praised his team's stability and ability to play the game they needed to play. Goalkeeper David Raya made a key save in the first half, denying Daniel Munoz. The Gunners have now kept 10 clean sheets in 13 matches this term.
Eze's performance was particularly noteworthy, given his history with Crystal Palace. Arteta acknowledged the significance of the moment for the player, saying, "It was a very special game for him". Arteta further commented on Eze’s professionalism and composure before the game. Eze previously won the FA Cup for Crystal Palace in May.
Despite the victory and the growing lead in the league table, Arteta remained cautious about title talk. "It's very early, we're still in October," he said. He emphasized the need for continued improvement and focus on the upcoming matches. Arsenal faces Brighton in the League Cup on Wednesday.
The match was attended by 60,103 fans at the Emirates Stadium. With this win, Arsenal continues their strong run in the Premier League, demonstrating resilience and tactical flexibility. Their ability to grind out results in tight games, as highlighted by Arteta, could prove crucial in their pursuit of silverware this season.
