Crystal Palace vs. Arsenal result: Saliba, Jesus and Zinchenko shine on debut as Gunners seal opening-day win

Graham Ruthven

Crystal Palace vs. Arsenal result: Saliba, Jesus and Zinchenko shine on debut as Gunners seal opening-day win image

A first-half header by Gabriel Martinelli and an own goal by Marc Guehi gave Arsenal a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace on opening night of the 2022/23 Premier League season.

Mikel Arteta's team lost last season's corresponding fixture 3-0 away to Palace, but this was a strong start to the campaign by an Arsenal side that has improved over the summer.

Gabriel Jesus made his official debut for his new team and was sharp from early on, but it was fellow Brazilian Martinelli who opened the scoring after 19 minutes, heading home following a well-worked corner involving Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Palace pushed hard for an equaliser and forced Aaron Ramsdale into a number of saves, but Arsenal killed the game five minutes from the end when Bukayo Saka's cross was diverted into the back of the net by the head of Guehi.

The Sporting News followed the match live and provided live score updates, commentary below.

MORE: Latest Arsenal summer transfer news

Saliba makes a good first impression, at last

There was much talk about the two new signings in the Arsenal XI ahead of kickoff, but it was another Premier League debutant who impressed most of all. William Saliba had to wait three years for this night and he didn't allow the opportunity slip through his fingers as the French defender produced a man-of-the-match performance.

Against a physical Crystal Palace attack, Saliba was comfortable. Not only did the 21-year-old handle everything thrown at him, he played an important role in getting Arsenal out from the back with the ball. Gunners fans have long wondered how Saliba would fare in the first team of his parent club. Now there is some evidence to suggest he will become a key part of Arteta's side.

Jesus perfect for Arteta's Arsenal

Jesus is a Premier League champion, but there's a sense his summer switch to Arsenal from Manchester City could unleash him in a new way and his first-half performance against Palace supported this opinion. The Brazilian was exceptionally sharp and threatened to dribble through the opposition defence more than once. He could have scored one or two.

Arteta clearly wants to use Jesus as a No.9, but he allows the 25-year-old to drift into wide areas to open up pockets of space to be exploited. Jesus is also strong at leading a high press and gave the Palace defence something to think about throughout. On the basis of this display, he is perfect for the team Arteta has built.

Positives for Palace

Palace might have suffered defeat on the opening night of the season, but there were still some positives for Patrick Vieira to take from his team's performance. The hosts created good opportunities and could have scored through Odsonne Edouard and Eberechi Eze. They imposed their own game on the Gunners for periods of the match, particularly in the second half.

Joachim Andersen completed all 12 of the long passes he attempted from central defence as Palace did a good job of targeting the Arsenal full-backs. With greater cutting edge in front of goal, the home team likely would have taken something from this match. There are things for the Eagles to build on.

Ramsdale gives Southgate plenty to ponder

Gareth Southgate was an interested observer at Selhurst Park for the opening fixture of the 2022/23 Premier League season and the England manager surely had some thoughts on the performance of Aaron Ramsdale, who was forced into a number of stops. Two saves in particular from Edouard and Eze caught the eye.

However, Ramsdale was also shaky on the ball at times. Arteta asks his No.1 to play out from the back, but Southgate must consider what he wants from his goalkeeper at the 2022 World Cup. Ramsdale might be the best shot-stopper England have right now, but he is prone to errors in possession. Is Southgate willing to accept those mistakes?

Crystal Palace vs. Arsenal result

  1H 2H Final
Crystal Palace 0 0 0
Arsenal 1 2 2

Goals:

19' Martinelli - ARSENAL - Assist: Zinchencko,

85' Guehi OG - ARSENAL - Assist: Saka

Crystal Palace vs. Arsenal commentary, highlights from the Premier League

90+3 mins: FULL TIME: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 2

Arsenal started last season with a defeat at Brentford, but they have made a winning start to the 2022/23 campaign and Arteta will generally be pleased with how his team played. They probably deserved all three points.

90+2 mins: SUB - Odegaard OFF, Lokonga ON - One final change from the Gunners and the captain comes off in stoppage time.

90 mins: There will be three minutes of stoppage time played at the end of the match.

87 mins: Arsenal had to work hard in the second half, they had to rely on Ramsdale to make a couple of important saves, but this will be a solid result for Arteta's team. It very much looks like they will start their 2022/23 campaign with a victory.

85 mins: GOAL! Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 2 (Guehi OG) - That's the points in the bag for Arsenal as Saka's cross is diverted into the back of the net by the head of Guehi. Palace had pressed hard for an equaliser in this second half, but the Gunners have almost certainly claimed the victory.

82 mins: SUBS - Jesus & Zinchenko OFF, Nketiah & Tierney ON - Arteta finally makes some changes off the bench and it's the two newbies who come on.

79 mins: It's all Crystal Palace at the moment as they probe with the ball. This could be a long final 10 minutes for Arsenal. They are inviting pressure on top of themselves. Is that by design or because the away team are running out of steam?

77 mins: Depth was a problem for Arsenal last season, but Arteta has good options on the bench this evening. Yet Arsenal still haven't made a change and Crystal Palace look fresher. They're the ones pushing for the next goal. Arsenal need fresh legs!

75 mins: SUB - Doucoure OFF, Milivojevic ON - Vieira makes his second change of the match and it's a change in midfield. Still nothing from Arteta, though.

70 mins: Wasteful! Saka gets in behind the Palace defence down the right side, he bursts into the box, but the angle was getting tighter and tighter for him and he lashes a wild shot wide of the near post! Saka lacked composure when he needed it.

69 mins: Saliba has been very impressive for Arsenal on his Premier League debut. While Crystal Palace have had opportunities, the Gunners haven't been bullied. Saliba gives his team greater physicality at the back.

66 mins: There's a sense that Crystal Palace are starting to suffocate Arsenal with their pressing. The away side are finding it difficult to find a way out from the back. Arteta is surely thinking about making some changes.

62 mins: Nearly an own goal! Not entirely sure what happened there! Andersen headed a corner kick back into the six-yard box, but then the ball bounced around and struck the post off Gabriel. The whistle was blown for a foul on the Arsenal defender.

61 mins: BOOKING - White! There's a second booking for an Arsenal player and this time it's for White.

60 mins: Chance for Jesus! The Arsenal forward wins a bouncing ball and feeds the pass into Odegaard. He takes too long to get the shot away, but the ball falls back into the path of Jesus who has a shot blocked. Jesus is such a handful for the Palace defence!

58 mins: SUB - Edouard OFF, Mateta ON - Palace make the first change of the match and Vieira has swapped his striker with Mateta coming on for the home side.

56 mins: Odegaard goes for goal! Arsenal win a freekick into a dangerous position just over 20 yards out, but Odegaard sends his shot wide of the near post. He was trying to trick the goalkeeper into thinking he was crossing into the middle.

53 mins: Zaha driving! Palace have identified at the break the need to isolate White at right back and Zaha is doing all he can to drive at the Arsenal defender. This time White does just enough to stop the Ivory Coast winger from breaking into space for the shot.

52 mins: Ramsdale save! Another good opportunity for Crystal Palace to draw level. Zaha threaded a pass through for Eze inside the area, he had time to take the touch and open his body out, but Ramsdale makes the save to deny him. Palace will feel they should have scored by now!

50 mins: Zinchenko made the assist for Martinelli's opener in the first half and there are already signs that the former Manchester City player will be a key figure for his new team.

47 mins: Schlupp takes aim from the edge of the box, but it's blocked and the Palace midfielder has to settle for a corner kick. That corner kick is claimed at the second attempt by Ramsdale who initially appeared to have dropped the ball!

46 mins: The second half is under way! No changes made by either manager. Arsenal have the 1-0 advantage over Crystal Palace.

45+2 mins: HALF TIME: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 1 - Martinelli's header is the difference between the two teams at the interval. The Gunners have played some nice stuff, but Palace have fought back and shown they can still claim something from the match.

45+1 mins: Edouard... over! The Crystal Palace strike rode a couple of tackles inside the Arsenal penalty area and got the shot away, but it takes a deflection off Xhaka and flashes over the crossbar! Edouard has had a couple of really good opportunities.

45 mins: There will be just one minute of stoppage time played at the end of the first half.

44 mins: BOOKING - Xhaka! The first yellow card of the Premier League season is shown to Xhaka for simulation.

43 mins: Gareth Southgate is in the crowd at Selhurst Park this evening. He has a decision to make on his England number one ahead of the 2022 World Cup and that save from Ramsdale surely caught his attention!

41 mins: Big save! Andersen gets on the end of a diagonal freekick delivery into the box, he heads it back into the six yard box, but Edouard's header is saved by Ramsdale! That was the best chance of the match for Crystal Palace. Edouard should have done better!

38 mins: Crystal Palace are doing a slightly better job of standing up the Arsenal attackers and making sure they can't spin in behind do easily. They are getting closer to the likes of Jesus and Martinelli.

35 mins: Penalty kick appeal! The Crystal Palace players and the home fans inside Selhurst Park claim for a spot kick after the ball appeared to strike the arm of Gabriel as a clearance dropped back to the ground from high, but the replays show there wasn't much in that. Not awarded.

33 mins: Martinelli missed a golden opportunity to find the back of the net in the opening five minutes of the match, but he made amends by knocking home from a corner kick routine.

30 mins: Palace are growing into this match. Andersen is starting to play some long passes forward to try and unsettle the Arsenal defence. The home team are also having some joy with the pressure. Arsenal are finding it difficult to play through Palace at times.

28 mins: Almost a blunder by Ramsdale! The Arsenal goalkeeper looked to be under no pressure, but he strikes his pass into Edouard. However, the ricochet bounces to a Gunners player and the away side survives. Ramsdale is prone to errors like that every so often!

24 mins: Jesus has looked so sharp in the opening 24 minutes of this match. Palace are having such a difficult time stopping the new Arsenal number nine. He's dribbling and flicking the ball past them every time!

21 mins: That was a very clever set piece by Arsenal. There were clear instructions for Zinchenko to provide a different option at the back post and the cross from Odegaard found him. Well worked even if it looked a bit scrappy in the end.

19 mins: GOAL! Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 1 (Martinelli) - There's the first goal of the Premier League season and Martinelli grabs it! Zinchenko peeled away at the back post from a corner kick to head the ball back into the danger area and Martinelli flicked it over the line! Arsenal have the lead!

15 mins: You can see what Jesus will bring to this Arsenal team. The Brazilian forward is dribbling past Palace defenders and is drifting out wide to create space for himself to run into. He has the potential to be a transformational signing for the Gunners!

11 mins: Palace started well, but Arsenal have taken a grip of things in the last five minutes or so. They are playing some nice stuff with the ball at their feet. The home side are having to sit deep and keep things tight at the back for the time being.

8 mins: Zinchenko has a shot! The ball fell nicely for the Arsenal left back on the edge of the Palace box, he struck it cleanly, but Guaita makes the stop. The chance is recycled and Partey has an effort too, but his shot is blocked 20 yards out from the goal.

4 mins: Should be 1-0! What an opportunity for Arsenal! Jesus dribbles through the Palace defence, he scuffs his shot, the ball falls nicely for Martinelli, but he somehow manages to put his shot across goal and wide of the far post!

3 mins: It's been a solid start to the match by Crystal Palace who are controlling possession in the early stages. Of course, this Palace team have changed their style of play since the appointment of Vieira last summer. They like to play with the ball at their feet.

1 min: Palace kick off and the 22/23 Premier League season is under way! The hosts are in their usual red and blue shirts while Arsenal are in a slightly familiar light pink away shirt.

5 mins from kickoff: Ok, here we go! Crystal Palace and Arsenal are walking out of the tunnel at Selhurst Park. The 22/23 Premier League season is just minutes away!

10 mins from kickoff: This will be Odegaard's first Premier League match as Arsenal's official new club captain. The Gunners needed a new skipper after the departure of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the January transfer window and Odegaard has been picked by Arteta as his replacement.

15 mins from kickoff: Not long until the 22/23 Premier League season gets under way! This should be a compelling first fixture. We will learn a lot more about how strong these two teams will be this season after full time!

20 mins from kickoff: Selhurst Park will be packed this evening! Of course, the last time Crystal Palace hosted Arsenal in the Premier League the Eagles ran out 3-0 winners! Can they repeat that sort of performance tonight?

30 mins from kickoff: Saliba will make his long-awaited Premier League debut this evening. The Frenchman enjoyed a very successful spell on loan at Marseille last season and he starts for Arsenal at centre back with White pushed out to the right back spot with Tomiyasu injured.

50 mins from kickoff: Edouard starts: Vieira has opted for Odsonne Edouard as his number nine with Nathaniel Clyne starting as a full back. Besides those two selections, Crystal Palace line up as most would have expected!

55 mins from kickoff: Saliba starts! The Arsenal starting lineup and matchday squad has been announced and William Saliba has been picked to start! Jesus starts up front and Zinchenko is at left back for the Gunners.

60 mins from kickoff: This is the second successive season that the Premier League has kicked off on a Friday night, but it's still relatively rare. The floodlights gives it added sparkle!

75 mins from kick off: What do you expect from these two teams this season? Palace will be aiming to finish in the top half while Arsenal want Champions League qualification. Can they both achieve their objectives? 

90 mins from kickoff: Arteta has a number of injury concerns ahead of tonight's match at Selhurst Park. Kieran Tierney, Emile Smith Rowe and Takehiro Tomiyasu are all doubts. We'll learn more once the team news is released in 30 minutes' time!

100 mins from kickoff: Selhurst Park is one of the most atmospheric stadiums in the Premier League and it should be very loud this evening! Palace enjoyed a positive 21/22 campaign - can they build on it this season?

110 mins from kickoff: Arsenal fans are excited ahead of the start of the 22/23 season, and perhaps with good reason! The Gunners had a strong pre-season. Jesus has made an instant impact and Arsenal have hopes of making the step into the top four!

120 mins from kickoff: Good evening and welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of the Premier League curtain-raiser between Crystal Palace and Arsenal.

Vieira's team host the Gunners at Selhurst Park, and while the away side are the favourites, it should be noted Palace beat Arsenal 3-0 in the same fixture last season. This could be fascinating! 

Crystal Palace vs. Arsenal lineups

Jack Butland missed the opening match of the 2022/23 season through injury with summer signing Sam Johnstone also on the sidelines. This meant Vicente Guita started as Palace's goalkeeper against Arsenal.

Michael Olise was also an injury absence for the Eagles with James McArthur unavailable. Cheick Doucoure was favoured by Vieira at the base of the Palace midfield in an attempt to prevent Arsenal from imposing themselves in the centre of the pitch.

Crystal Palace XI (4-3-3): Guaita (GK) — Mitchell, Guehi, Andersen, Clyne — Doucoure, Eze, Schlupp — Ayew, Zaha, Edouard

Jesus started up front for Arsenal with support from Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka in the wide areas. Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu were injury doubts and so Oleksandr Zinchenko and Ben White were picked to play in the full back positions.

Fabio Vieira and Emile Smith Rowe were omitted from the squad due to injury concerns as Arteta stuck with the tried and tested midfield trio of Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka and Martin Odegaard.

Arsenal predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Ramsdale (GK) — Zinchenko, Gabriel, Saliba, White — Thomas, Xhaka — Martinelli, Odegaard, Saka — Jesus

Graham Ruthven