Gritty Gunners survive test of time

Red card for delaying tactics fails to derail title hopefuls

Arsenal defender Ben White leaps above teammate Gabriel and Crystal Palace forward Jordan Ayew during Monday night’s English Premier League match at Selhurst Park in London. AFP

Arsenal’s bench celebrated Monday’s 1-0 win at Crystal Palace as if it was the Premier League title decider. It was only the second week of the season as the Gunners hung on to take the points despite a red card for Takehiro Tomiyasu.

The Japan defender fell foul of a stricter interpretation of time-wasting rules this season, getting booked for dallying at a throw-in on the hour mark and then being sent off for a pull of Jordan Ayew’s shirt in the 67th minute.

“It shows how much we want it,” Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta said of the celebrations.

“When you see the players on the bench … they have to come and help the team. They were magnificent and they changed the dynamic of the game. I say thank you so much to them because they really contributed to winning the game,” he added.

Arteta said it would take some time for teams to get used to the crackdown on time-wasting that has seen more yellow cards and additional time being added on at the end of each half.

“It’s going to be very difficult for us. I guarantee you, we will have to play with 10 or maybe with nine or with eight depending on where we put the standards and the level. We can play eight against eight, it can be very entertaining,” the 41-year-old said wryly.

Arsenal is keeping pace with likely title rival Manchester City, the defending champion, by earning back-to-back wins. The first — 2-1 at home to Nottingham Forest — didn’t come easy, either.

“We know Man City are the best team in the world at the minute and they are tough to stop,” Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice said. “But it’s a great challenge ahead.”

Palace offered little attacking threat until Tomiyasu, who was yellow-carded in the 60th for taking too long at a throw-in, was adjudged to have pulled the jersey of Ayew after the Palace forward spun round to chase a ball over the top.

The second booking looked harsh and Tomiyasu appeared stunned by the decision as he became the fifth player in the second round of Premier League games to be sent off. Match officials are clamping down on time-wasting this season, explaining why Tomiyasu got his first yellow.

“We know what’s happening, we know if we are time-wasting, we’re going to get a yellow card,” Rice said. “It can be frustrating at times but they laid down the law at the start of the season.”

Arteta withdrew a raft of attackers in the final 20 minutes and replaced them with defenders to protect the lead. Centerbacks William Saliba and substitute Gabriel, in particular, were impressive in helping Arsenal see the game out.

“I love to win like this,” Arteta said.

“Even at 10 men, we didn’t concede and we read the game very well. … It shows how much we want it.”

In the first half, Nketiah wasted two great chances when played through first by Saka and then by Rice. His first attempt hit the post and his second was poked over the crossbar.

Palace won its opening game at Sheffield United 1-0.

Aside from City and Arsenal, Brighton was the only other team with a maximum of six points after two games.

Ice-cool Odegaard

Emulating City boss Pep Guardiola’s tactic of instructing a defender to advance forward whenever they have possession, Arteta deployed Thomas Partey at rightback with a license to link up play from his preferred midfield role.

That allowed the Gunners to dominate possession but Eddie Nketiah, deputizing for the injured Gabriel Jesus, failed to make their first-half pressure pay off.

The 24-year-old wasted a good chance when he nimbly turned away from Joachim Andersen, only to scuff his shot against the far post with just Sam Johnstone to beat.

Palace was denied a penalty after Saliba’s sliding tackle on Ayew was ignored by VAR.

Nketiah was profligate again when he chipped over from close range after Rice picked out the unmarked forward.

Arsenal kept its composure and Odegaard’s fierce long-range strike forced a superb tip over from Johnstone.

Odegaard wouldn’t be denied again as the Norwegian netted from the spot in the 54th minute to reward Arsenal’s dominant display.

Gabriel Martinelli’s quick freekick caught Palace dozing and Nketiah rounded Johnstone before being upended by the keeper, who was sent the wrong way by Odegaard’s ice-cool penalty.

When Partey’s blast from the edge of the area was slapped over by Johnstone, it looked like Arsenal would cruise to victory.

But Palace was given a glimmer of hope in the 67th minute as Tomiyasu was harshly dismissed for a slight push on Ayew that was not reviewed by VAR under rules governing second yellow cards.

Palace’s frustration mounted when Eberechi Eze went down under contact from Partey but saw his penalty claim rejected.

In a tense finale, Odsonne Edouard had Palace’s best chance to equalize when he headed wide from Tyrick Mitchell’s cross.

Mitchell then blazed over inside the penalty area as Arsenal held firm.

Agencies