Arteta is facing the same old problems
ARSENAL have made undoubted progress under Mikel Arteta. But some old habits die harder than others.
And their ability to relinquish control of games and switch off at pivotal moments remains.
Arsenal were well in control at Selhurst Park, leading through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s 16th goal of the season, heading for a rare comfortable afternoon at a ground that has proved problematic in recent years.
This match eventually proved to be no different. They let Palace back into the game, conceded a poor equaliser and ended the 90 minutes hanging on after Aubameyang was sent off for a horrific-looking challenge on Max Meyer, following a longer than necessary VAR review.
The way this game slipped out of Arsenal’s grasp and the costly manner in which they went to sleep to allow Palace to level took some of the shine off the more encouraging signs they showed.
Their opening goal, involving some telepathic attacking, was tangible proof of Arteta’s methods. They were dogged in defence when Palace grew into the game before half-time and then had a one-man advantage for the final 23 minutes. But after years of underachievement, eradicating the failings that have plagued them will not happen quickly or easily.
Just one win from the first four league games under Arteta further underlines that there remains plenty of work to do.
Arteta said: ‘We dominated the first half but after they put us under more pressure we started to give a lot of free kicks away, something we need to avoid in these grounds and we switched off for their goal. Completely switched off. I was very disappointed with that. We reacted very well again after conceding the goal and after Auba’s red card we reacted even better. Maybe in the second half, when they started to change a bit, it was a bit more difficult but there are a lot of things I was pleased about.’
For injury-hit Palace, this was another excellent point, secured thanks to Jordan Ayew’s deflected equaliser.
They find themselves a point above Arsenal in ninth and the relegation worries that have hung over them in recent seasons have been absent this season.
Hodgson said: ‘It was certainly a point we thoroughly deserved and I’m full of praise for this team. They were able to go out in difficult circumstances and produce a performance against one of the top clubs.’
Hodgson had new signing Cenk Tosun on the bench while Arsenal named an unchanged side for successive league games for the first time since January.
The signs of a growing chemistry among Arteta’s men were there for all to see when they took the lead on 12 minutes. Palace allowed David Luiz too much time to stroll into their half and fizz the ball down the middle of the pitch into Mesut Ozil.
Ozil laid the ball back to Alexandre Lacazette, he took one touch to control and a second to slip the ball through to Aubameyang. The outcome as he strode in on goal was never in doubt. Pepe’s miscontrol cost him a chance to add a second, but the warning signs were there as Palace grew into the game as the half wore on. Their reward came early in the second half when
Arsenal firstly allowed a quick free-kick to be knocked in to Max Meyer and then let his cross reach Cheikhou Kouyate.
His touch fell to Ayew whose hopeful shot was diverted down into the ground and then sent spinning and bouncing over Bernd Leno off Luiz.
Then 13 minutes later, the momentum swung Palace’s way further when Aubameyang saw red. His challenge was low but late and the impact on Meyer’s ankle was sickening, the joint bending 90 degrees.
Referee Paul Tierney took his time before upgrading Aubameyang’s yellow to a red for endangering the safety of an opponent on the advice of VAR Craig Pawson.
Watching it again there was really only going to be one outcome. Meyer followed Aubaemyang off, succumbing to the effects of the challenge while Tosun crept on almost unnoticed for his debut after the shocked crowd saw the replay.
James Tomkins had a header hacked off the line by Sokratis before Pepe hit the post and Vicente Guaita smothered Lacazette’s follow-up in a frantic finish that looked unlikely after the first quarter of the game.