Crystal Palace (0) 0 v 2 (1) Arsenal
20 Martinelli
85 Guehi (o.g.)
Yellows: Clyne White, Xhaka Referee: Anthony Taylor.
Played Friday 5 August 2022 at Selhurst Park, attendance 25,286.
Arsenal, whose 3rd kit looked suspiciously like another North London Club’s, with new faces and new feet in William Saliba, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus, won the opening fixture of the Premier League (PL) 2022-23 season 0-2 away at Crystal Palace. It was their other Gabriel, Martinelli, who opened the scoring in this first Premier London Derbies (PLDs) match of the season. The Gunners had to wait until the 85th minute to seal the win, and then through an own goal by the Eagles England hopeful Marc Guehi’s deflection of Bukayo Saka’s right wing cross. Somethings never change with Granit Xhaka’s first booking!
Elsewhere our PLDs Clubs had mixed fortunes: newly promoted Fulham drew 2-2 with PL Runners-up Liverpool; Brentford scored 2 second half goals for 2-2 at Leicester City; West Ham United went down 0-2 at home to Champions Manchester City whose new signing Erling Haarland ominously scored both; Chelsea relied on Jorginho’s 16th penalty goal in a row for their 0-1 win at old-boy Frank Lampard’s Everton; and Tottenham Hotspur started the season in style thumping Southampton 4-1.
It is Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur as our next PLDs match on Sunday 14 August 2022. The Lilywhites have only won once at Stamford Bridge, 1-3 in 2017-18, in the last 6 PL seasons with 1 draw. The Blues will be wanting to continue their dominance in this often ill-tempered fixture, and even early season there is so much at stake, if only psychologically. New owner Todd Boehly’s investments: Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Marc Cucerella will need to shine as will all those new Spurs! A draw may not be honourable but acceptable to both Clubs’ Managers if not their fans.
Until next time, “Keep Safe” and enjoy your football, Andrew at PLDs.