Arsenal beats Crystal Palace as the English Premier League returns

By Ben Church, CNN

Updated 1126 GMT (1926 HKT) August 6, 2022

Gabriel Martinelli celebrates after Arsenal's first win of the new season.

(CNN)Arsenal enjoyed a perfect start to the new English Premier League season as it beat Crystal Palace 2-0 at Selhurst Park on Friday.

A first-half header from Gabriel Martinelli and an own-goal from Palace defender Marc Guehi secured the three points as the league returned after just a 75-day break. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said he was happy to get the first win on the board after what proved to be a tricky match. «Yes, really pleased to be winning. Three points, a clean sheet, against a really difficult opponent and a really tough place,» he told reporters after the match.«We showed great resilience to get through them, and it is really positive the way we started. Read More»We started really sharp, really mobile, really determined to play the way we wanted to play. Overall, positive."The Arsenal team had come under increased scrutiny with the season-opener in the same week as the release of the Amazon docuseries «All or Nothing» which documented the side's previous campaign. But the visitors did not look phased as the host of young stars started the match in brilliant form. Arsenal's young squad started the match in impressive form. New signings impressNew signing Gabriel Jesus looked electric at times and gave Arsenal added intensity in the final third, while 21-year-old defender William Saliba was impressive in what was his first league appearance for the Gunners. Saliba previously spent time away from the club on loan.There was also a debut for Ukrainian captain Oleksandr Zinchenko, who made the switch to the Emirates after leaving Manchester City. The defender gave his new