Arsenal kick off new Premier League season with hard-fought Crystal Palace win

Arsenal kicked off the new Premier League season with a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Gabriel Martinelli scored the first goal of the 2022-23 campaign as the Gunners made an electric start in south London and threatened to blow away their London rivals.

Patrick Vieira’s Palace improved after the break and threatened to mount a comeback but Arsenal’s victory was sealed when Marc Guehi diverted Bukayo Saka’s cross into his own net.

Mikel Arteta gave debuts to new signings Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko and the returning William Saliba, who spent last season on loan at Marseille.

Vieira, meanwhile, gave a start to summer addition Cheick Doucoure in a largely familiar Crystal Palace side, with Christian Benteke absent following his loan move to MLS side DC United.

Arsenal have been rattled by similarly electric atmospheres in years gone by but there were no signs of that at Selhurst Park this evening as they dominated the early exchanges.

Martinelli should have put the visitors ahead after just three minutes but the Brazilian missed a sitter after Jesus glided past two defenders and saw his own effort blocked.

Former Manchester City defender Zinchenko sensed an opportunity to score his first Premier League goal inside ten minutes but his drilled effort was palmed away by Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita.

Zinchenko did play a role in Arsenal’s first goal of the new season, however, as the Ukrainian drifted to the back post from a corner and headed the ball back into the danger area, with Martinelli on hand to nod home.

It appeared as though a lively and dynamic Arsenal team could tear through Palace but they failed to turn their dominance into another goal before the hosts came back into the game later in the