On Monday, August 21, Arsenal clinched a tight 1-0 victory against Crystal Palace, marking their second consecutive Premier League win, courtesy of a spot-kick by captain Martin Odegaard.
The match wasn't without its share of drama as the Gunners found themselves a man down after Takehiro Tomiyasu was handed his second yellow card in the 67th minute.
The initial stages of the match witnessed both sides carving out notable opportunities. Eddie Nketiah was particularly in the thick of things for Arsenal. In the 29th minute, he rattled the woodwork following a successful press in the middle of the park. He had another gilt-edged chance just seven minutes later. After being set up by Declan Rice's incisive pass, Nketiah tried to lob the goalkeeper, but his effort floated over the bar.
As the second half commenced, Nketiah was once again at the centre of a pivotal moment. He was brought down in the box by goalie Sam Johnstone after pursuing a quick free-kick from Gabriel Martinelli. The referee, David Coote, immediately pointed to the spot. Odegaard stepped up and coolly slotted the ball past Johnstone, who was sent in the opposite direction.
Arsenal's grip on the match seemed firm, but the tables turned when Tomiyasu was cautioned for time-wasting in the 60th minute. This was followed by his dismissal just seven minutes later after a challenge on Jordan Ayew earned him a second yellow card.
Reacting to the shift in dynamics, Arsenal's head coach, Mikel Arteta, introduced defensive reinforcements to safeguard the slender lead. Crystal Palace pushed for an equaliser, and their best chance arrived in the dying minutes. Tyrick Mitchell took a snap-shot that whizzed just past the post, much to the relief of the visitors.
With this triumph, Arsenal ascended to the Premier League's third spot, holding six points and only trailing Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester City based on goal difference. On the other side, Crystal Palace have accumulated three points from their opening two fixtures.
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