Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace Player Ratings: Eze Rated 8/10 as His Strike Secures Narrow 1-0 Victory

Of the ‘Big Six’, only Arsenal went through the current gameweek without being humbled. The Gunners claimed a hard-fought 1-0 win in a tense Premier League encounter. From our perspective, it was a game of defensive resilience versus persistent, if not always clinical, attack.

Arsenal dominated possession for large spells. They created several good opportunities. However, a combination of determined defending and their own lack of a cutting edge kept the scoreline tight. What stood out to us was how Palace, despite being on the back foot, always looked organized and difficult to break down.

The decisive goal arrived in the 39th minute, a well-taken finish by Eze that lit up an otherwise gritty affair. Arsenal came close to doubling their lead when Gabriel Magalhães rattled the crossbar early in the second half. Ultimately, one goal was enough to seal the three points in this match, though Mikel Arteta will know his side should have been more comfortable.

Here are the Arsenal Vs Crystal Palace Player Ratings

Arsenal Player Ratings vs Crystal Palace

Here are Arsenal Player Ratings vs Crystal Palace

Goalkeeper

David Raya - 6.5: A very quiet afternoon for the Arsenal keeper. He only had one save to make all game. His distribution was decent, finding his targets consistently. We noticed he was always alert, but Palace rarely forced him into any strenuous action. A straightforward day at the office.

Defenders

William Saliba - 6.5: Looked his usual composed self before an unfortunate injury forced him off at halftime. He was tidy in possession and won his duels. It's a shame his evening was cut short. From our perspective he was on his way to another solid performance.

Gabriel Magalhães - 8.0: Our man of the match. What a performance. He was an absolute rock at the back, winning almost every duel and making crucial clearances. He was also a massive threat in the opposition box, unlucky to see his header crash against the crossbar. A complete and dominant display.

Jurriën Timber - 7.5: A bundle of energy down the right flank. He was excellent in one-on-one situations, drawing multiple fouls from the opposition. His forward runs caused problems for Palace's defence throughout. What stood out to us was his tenacity and willingness to get involved in every phase of play.

Riccardo Calafiori - 6.5: A solid, if unspectacular, performance from the defender. He was very tidy with the ball, boasting a high pass completion rate. Defensively, he was sound and rarely looked troubled. He didn't offer a huge amount going forward but did his job effectively before being substituted.

Midfielders

Martín Zubimendi - 6.0: A mixed bag of a performance. He kept possession ticking over in midfield but was also responsible for an error that led to a shot. We noticed he looked a little off the pace at times. He made some good interceptions but also seemed vulnerable when pressed.

Declan Rice - 7.5: He was everywhere before his injury. He created three chances, made vital tackles, and even forced a great save from the keeper. From our perspective, he was running the show from the heart of midfield. His departure was a significant blow to the team's control of the game.

Eberechi Eze - 8: The match-winner. He provided the one moment of true clinical quality to decide the game. His finish was composed and precise. Beyond the goal, he looked lively and was always looking to make things happen. He was the difference-maker on a day when clear-cut chances were scarce.

Forwards

Bukayo Saka - 6.0: A surprisingly quiet game for the starboy. He worked hard and got into some promising positions but lacked his usual end product. He seemed a bit frustrated before being substituted. Palace did a good job of doubling up on him and limiting his influence.

Viktor Gyökeres - 5.0: A really difficult afternoon for the striker. He was isolated for large parts of the match and struggled to make any impact. He lost the majority of his duels and barely had a sniff of goal. What stood out to us was how easily he was marshalled by the Palace defence.

Leandro Trossard - 6.0: He was busy and involved but ultimately lacked the killer instinct. He had a big chance that he squandered and was denied by a good save. From our perspective, it was a classic case of 'almost but not quite'. He put in the effort but the final ball or shot was missing.

Substitutes

Cristhian Mosquera - 6.0: Came on for the injured Saliba at halftime and looked steady. Didn't have a lot to do defensively but was comfortable on the ball.

Gabriel Martinelli - 6.0: Injected some pace after replacing Saka but couldn't find a way through the resolute Palace backline.

Piero Hincapié - N/A: Came on late with little time to make an impact.

Mikel Merino - N/A: A late replacement for the injured Rice to see out the game.

Manager

M. Arteta - 7.0: His team secured the win, which is the most important thing. However, he will be concerned by the lack of clinical finishing. The performance was controlled but not convincing. His substitutions were largely forced by injuries, but the team saw the game out professionally.

Crystal Palace Player Ratings vs Arsenal

Here are Crystal Palace Player Ratings vs Arsenal

Goalkeeper

Dean Henderson - 7.0: He can be pleased with his performance. He made two excellent saves, particularly the one to deny Declan Rice in the second half. He couldn't do anything about Eze's well-placed goal. From our perspective, he kept his team in the contest for as long as possible.

Defenders

Maxence Lacroix - 8.0: An outstanding defensive performance. He was a colossal figure at the back for Palace. His reading of the game was immense, leading to an incredible 13 clearances. What stood out to us was his timing and composure under constant pressure. Palace's best player by a mile.

Marc Guéhi - 7.0: The captain led by example with a strong and committed display. He was a solid partner for Lacroix, making several important blocks and clearances. He was strong in the air and organized his backline superbly. A really good defensive shift.

Chris Richards - 6.5: Played his part in a very solid defensive unit. He didn't stand out like Lacroix but was reliable and made no notable errors. He won all his duels and contributed with five clearances. A steady and dependable performance.

Midfielders

Daniel Muñoz - 6.0: A hard-working performance from the midfielder. He battled hard and put in a good defensive shift. However, he offered very little going forward and lost possession a few too many times. A tireless but limited display.

Tyrick Mitchell - 6.5: A busy evening for Mitchell, who was excellent defensively. He made four interceptions and was sharp in the tackle. He struggled to contribute much in an attacking sense, but his primary job was to defend, and he did it well.

Daichi Kamada - 5.5: A bit of an anonymous performance from the midfielder. He was neat in possession but failed to influence the game in the final third. From our perspective, the game passed him by before he was substituted. We expected more creativity from him.

Adam Wharton - 6.5: Looked composed on the ball under pressure. He distributed it well and made some important tackles in midfield. He was one of Palace's better players in possession. What stood out was his calmness in a frantic midfield battle.

Forwards

Ismaïla Sarr - 6.0: He worked incredibly hard for the team, tracking back and contributing defensively. However, he was largely starved of service in attack. He showed glimpses of his threat on the counter but was often isolated. A frustrating day for him.

Yéremy Pino - 5.0: A very poor performance. He really struggled to get into the game and was dispossessed multiple times. He offered almost no attacking threat and was deservedly substituted before the hour mark. A day he'll want to forget quickly.

Jean-Philippe Mateta - 6.0: A thankless task leading the line. He battled physically with the Arsenal centre-backs but received very little service in dangerous areas. He held the ball up well on occasion but was never able to get a clear shot at goal.

Substitutes

Eddie Nketiah - 6.0: Came on and showed some energy, winning a couple of free kicks, but couldn't change the game's outcome.

Will Hughes - 6.0: Added some fresh legs in midfield and delivered one good cross from a set-piece.

Manager

O. Glasner - 6.5: He set his team up to be defensively solid, and it almost worked perfectly. They were organized, disciplined, and incredibly hard to break down. However, the game plan lacked any real attacking ambition. A pragmatic approach that frustrated Arsenal but ultimately fell just short.

Sportsdunia's player of the game is Eberechi Eze