CP 0-2 Gunners, final. COYG!!!
@Alphabets,
@Toadvine,
@Woodpecker. Arsenal looked bad in the second half.
Oh boy.
Well, for starters I think this Palace team might be the most athletic team in the league. Doucoure man-marked Odegaard and completely destroyed him. Vierra set up Zaha to get isolated against Ben White, and White came off second best almost all night. Story of the match was Palace owned the middle of the field but Arsenal owned the wide areas. Palace adjusted to successfully take Martinelli and Jesus out of the game after the first 30 minutes, but they did so by leaving two midfielders deep to shield the back four. That meant that they didn't have much in attack.
Worst game I have ever seen Odegaard play -- on his usual night, this game is over in the first 30 minutes. Partey was also bad all night.
BUT, and this is a pretty massive ******* but, Bill Saliba is a ******* rolls royce of a centerback, and ultimately save for White losing his marker and allowing a header from 6 yards and Ramsdale losing his mind twice trying to play out against a press, Palace didn't create much. And the times they might have, Saliba snuffed it out.
Arteta waited way too long for subs, should have had Odegaard off for Lokonga in the 60th and should have thrown Nelson or Pepe on for Martinelli in the 70th. Whatever, I'll take it.
I'll also wager that Palace is a tough out for most of the teams they play this year, particularly at home. Doucoure looks awesome, I love Eze, and Olise will be back.
