Martin Odegaard scores penalty as 10-man Arsenal hold on to beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park

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Arsenal overcame a red card to beat Crystal Palace 1-0 thanks to Martin Odegaard converting a penalty. </p>

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Only Manchester City and Brighton had won their opening two games but the Gunners joined them on six points after a narrow success at Selhurst Park. </p>

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In a close-fought encounter, captain Odegaard stepped up to steer home a second-half spot-kick, with the visitors then hanging on for the final quarter of the game after Takehiro Tomiyasu was sent off. </p>

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The defender was the only change to Mikel Arteta's starting XI from their opening-day win against Nottingham Forest as he replaced the injured Jurrien Timber at left-back - but he will now be banned for Saturday's visit of Fulham after a controversial dismissal here. </p>

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Palace - unchanged from their own victory at Sheffield United a week ago - were fast out of the blocks, Aaron Ramsdale making a low stop to keep out an Eberechi Eze drive as the hosts built up a head of steam. </p>

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Cheick Doucoure then flashed a speculative effort wide as Arsenal struggled to get a foothold on proceedings. </p>

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The visitors gradually started to see more of the ball and Eddie Nketiah was unfortunate to see his shot come back off a post after beating Sam Johnstone in the Palace goal. </p>

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With the game opening up, both sides had good chances, with Jordan Ayew almost capitalising on a poor William Saliba touch, only for the France defender to makes amends with a fine, last-ditch tackle. </p>

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Arsenal went down the other end and Nketiah wasted a gilt-edged opportunity as he tried - and failed - to execute a deft lob over Johnstone from close range. </p>

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Odegaard was next to come close to breaking the deadlock for Arteta's side, his curled strike from outside the box tipped over by Johnstone. </p>

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Arsenal would eventually hit the front soon after the restart, Gabriel Martinelli's quick free-kick playing in Nketiah, who went to ground under pressure from the sliding Johnstone. </p>

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Referee David Coote pointed to the spot and the decision survived a VAR check for a foul by Thomas Partey in the build-up, with Odegaard making no mistake as he sent Johnstone the wrong way from 12 yards. </p>

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Coote was to make another couple of controversial calls shortly after, showing a yellow card to Tomiyasu for time-wasting at a throw-in before dismissing the Japan full-back seven minutes later for a soft foul on Ayew. </p>

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Arteta reacted by introducing Gabriel Magalhaes in place of Martinelli, while Jorginho replaced Nketiah as Arsenal shut up shop in the closing stages. </p>

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Jakub Kiwior and fit-again Oleksandr Zinchenko added even more steel to the defensive unit as Odegaard and Bukayo Saka made way. </p>

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It proved just enough to keep Palace at bay, the Arsenal rearguard high-fiving and celebrating every challenge and clearance as they hung on to secure the win. </p>

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<p>The article <a href="https://www.planetsport.com/soccer/news/martin-odegaard-scores-penalty-10-man-arsenal-hold-beat-crystal-palace-selhurst-park">Martin Odegaard scores penalty as 10-man Arsenal hold on to beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park </a> appeared first on Planetsport.com.</p>