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Arsenal kick off Premier League with 2-0 win over Crystal Palace

Sports Desk, Aug 5 (EFE).- Arsenal, who began the 2021-2022 Premier League campaign with a stunning loss to promoted Brentford, beat Crystal Palace 2-0 Friday in the 2022-2023 season opener.

Though the Gunners dominated for most of the first half of the London derby at Selhurst Park, the hosts improved ahead of the break and the contest was closer than the score would indicate.

The Arsenal side that barely missed out on a top-four finish last season improved over the summer with the acquisitions of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City.

Yet the new face who made the best impression Friday was defender William Saliba, recalled to the Gunners after several seasons on loan with Ligue 1 teams. The French international was named man of the match for his work shutting down the Palace attack.

Gabriel Martinelli scored in the 20th minute – with an assist from Zinchenko – to give Arsenal the lead, but the Eagles battled back and the Gunners needed a good save by Aaron Ramsdale to stop Odsonne Edouard from equalizing in the 42nd.

Ramsdale came up big again seven minutes into the second half, denying Eberechi Eze.

The score was still 1-0 with five minutes left in regulation when Bukayo Saka’s cross deflected off Palace defender Marc Guehi and past keeper Vicente Guaita to nail down the win for Arsenal.

EFE jjl/dr

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