Arsenal recovered from their opening-day defeat by West Ham to claim a hard-fought victory away to Crystal Palace. Olivier Giroud's first half acrobatic effort and a fortunate own goal from Damien Delaney cancelled out Joel Ward's fine first half equaliser.
Palace started off quickly but it was Arsenal who forced the first few chances in the game. Arsenal were dangerous on the counter attack consistently in the first half and Scott Dann was forced into a fine block to deny Giroud who looked certain to test Alex McCarthy. Arsenal broke quickly again shortly after and this time Alexis Sanchez was denied by McCarthy before his second effott was cleared off the line.
Arsenal find the breakthrough
Arsenal made it third time lucky as Mesut Ozil crossed for Giroud who readjusted before firing an acrobatic effort into the bottom corner for his first goal of the season.
Quickfire equaliser
Crystal Palace equalised 10 minutes later against the run of play when a diagonal ball was knocked down by James McArthur and full back Joel Ward fired a low, hard shot past Petr Cech for his second ever Premier League goal.
Arsenal nearly struck back before the break when the dangerous Ozil crossed for Aaron Ramsey who's delicate flick was palmed away by McCarthy.
Palace's big chance after the break came when a low cross from Wilfried Zaha was met by Connor Wickham who on his home debut, was unlucky as his snapshot came back off the post.
Back in front
Arsenal went back in front 10 minutes after the break. Ramsey fed Hector Bellerin who floated a cross up to the far post, Ward should have nodded it away but Sanchez bounded up and away from him and thumped a header towards goal. Delaney, trying to clear it, sliced the ball into the net.
Palace forced two late chances in the last 10 minutes as Cech produced a fine reaction save to deny substitute Jordon Mutch before a late challenge from another substitute Mikel Arteta stopped yet another sub, Chung Yung Lee as he aimed to cut back onto his favoured right foot. Arsenal managed to easily hold out for a very hard earned three points at Selhurst Park.
Verdict
Palace offered very little going forward which left new signing Wickham isolated for the majority of the match. Arsenal built their game around swift counter attacks which they executed brilliantly. Ozil the stand-out player on a fairly even game at Selhurst Park.