Here's the excellent Alex Walsh with his take on Arsenal's hard-fought 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace that made it two wins on the bounce for Mikel Arteta's character-laden Gunners.
1 - David Coote targeting Tomiyasu after his first yellow
Takehiro Tomiyasu received his first yellow card in the 60th minute for timewasting, and it took David Coote only seven more minutes to issue him another yellow, resulting in a red card.
This second yellow card highlighted a flaw in the VAR system: the inability to review a second yellow card. It appeared that Tomiyasu pulled Ayew back to prevent a counter, but upon reviewing the footage, it became evident that Ayew had dived.
However, the flaw in the VAR system should not have been exposed - rather, the issue stemmed from the poor refereeing by David Coote.
2 - The character shown by Arsenal to grind out a tough victory
After Arsenal were reduced to 10 men, they faced a tough test of their character. Playing with a numerical disadvantage and with 30 minutes still to go against a Crystal Palace side, energized by the boisterous atmosphere of Selhurst Park, they showcased the kind of resilience and determination that is needed from a side dreaming of a Premier League title.
3 - The tremendous Arsenal away support
Once again, the Arsenal away supporters were in full voice, occasionally overpowering the noise from the Crystal Palace fans. While this has become a familiar scene, it's crucial not to overlook its significance. Undoubtedly, it contributes to boosting the team's performance on the field.
Alex Walsh will be writing extensively on Arsenal this season for the Gooner Fanzine online and in print.
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@Carra23 @GNev2 I'm surprised you didn't mention this during the analysis. Both players already booked. Only 1x received and 2nd yellow. Any comments lads? @SkySportsPL https://t.co/cJG52V00D1
— Memz (@Memz_AFC) August 22, 2023