Ramsey to the rescue for Arsenal
Managerless Palace denied at the death by Welshman
FOR Arsene Wenger, all that counts is the result. Arsenal somehow spluttered into life and got there in the end.
For that they have Aaron Ramsey to thank, after he came to their rescue with a dramatic winner in the final minute of this game against managerless Crystal Palace.
It was not a performance to take the breath away — far from it — but Arsenal are up and running.
There is much for Wenger to consider after this opener and it will take time for his new recruits to bed in to the club’s style.
Palace will feel aggrieved, particularly after such a spirited display for their caretaker coach Keith Millen.
After the departure of Tony Pulis on Thursday, Millen took charge of the team on a temporary basis. He probably deserved a point.
Palace had gone ahead when Brede Hangeland scored i n the 35th minute, but Arsenal equalised through Laurent Koscielny.
Ramsey, an inspiration to this team last season, snatched the winner in the final moments. They were nowhere near their best here.
They can still be exposed, with a vulnerability at set-pieces which has become synonymous with teams under Wenger.
Arsenal’s players rarely track their men and Palace took advantage of this when they opened the scoring 10 minutes before the break from a corner.
Pulis drills his players all week, preparing set-piece scenarios and aiming to capitalise on them against teams with far more resources than Palace. They took advantage here, with Hangeland running unchecked through Arsenal’s penalty area to glance Jason Puncheon’s inswinging, left-footed corner beyond Wojciech Szczesny.
It was Palace’s first meaningful attack, a goal that was scored by Hangeland and surely made by Pulis on the training ground last week.
The euphoria in the directors’ box, where Palace’s four owners had held an emergency board meeting to discuss the managerial position before kick-off, was short-lived.
Palace switched off, failing to follow Koscielny’s diagonal run when Alexis Sanchez lifted a free-kick into the penalty box just before the break.
The Gunners defender beat Julian Speroni with a neatly taken header.
Arsenal offer so much going forward, with a carousel of players — Mikel Arteta, Jack Wilshere, Ramsey, Santi Cazorla and Sanchez — moving the ball effortlessly around the pitch.
But they struggle against spirited resistance, taking their time to break down teams who will happily settle for a point.
Sometimes their fans feel like they will have to wait forever. Palace were game opposition and, with the exception of their dozy defending for Arsenal’s equaliser, were accomplished.
Wenger called on Olivier Giroud and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain midway through the second half in a bid to add some extra danger.
They changed the pace of the game, switching the emphasis of the home attack in an attempt to secure victory. And, after Puncheon was sent off for a second booking four minutes from time, Arsenal went on to score the winner.
It wasn’t pretty, but all that counts is the three points. And Wenger knows that only too well.
ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Szczesny; Debuchy, Chambers, Koscielny, Gibbs (Monreal 53); Arteta, Wilshere (Oxlade-Chamberlain 69); Ramsey, Cazorla, Sanchez; Sanogo (Giroud 62). Subs (not used): Rosicky, Martinez, Campbell, Coquelin. Booked: Chambers, Cazorla.
CRYSTAL PALACE (4-4-1-1): Speroni; Kelly, Hangeland, Dann ( Delaney 75), Ward; Puncheon, Jedinak, Ledley, Bolasie (O’Keefe 90); Chamakh; Campbell (Gayle 85). Subs (not used): McCarthy, Hennessey, Murray, Bannan. Booked: Kelly, Puncheon, Chamakh. Sent off: Puncheon (89min). Referee: J Moss.