Catch him if you can!
14′ Crystal Palace 0-0 Arsenal It has been an electric start to this new Premier League campaign by Arsenal. There is a brief pause as Granit Xhaka is tackled by the referee after clipping a ball to the head. Jesus looked frighteningly sharp in the debut. No wonder it’s owned by so many FPL managers! (Photo: Getty Images) Ed Mackie August 5, 2022 at 3:10 pm EDT
Guaita palms away, stinging Zinchenko’s strike
10′ Crystal Palace 0-0 Arsenal This is seriously one-way traffic so far. The Gunners are allowed to do whatever they want with the ball and Vicente Guaita was forced into his first save of the season. The ball rolled to Zinchenko just outside Palace’s 18-yard box but his well-struck effort, even after a deflection, was effectively dealt with by the Spaniard. Ed Mackie August 5, 2022 at 3:07 pm EDT
Palace under increasing pressure early on
7′ Crystal Palace 0-0 Arsenal If the first six minutes are anything to go by, this could be a very long night for the Palace defense. Arsenal look to be in good spirits and could very easily have scored a couple of goals up front had it not been for a few lapses in concentration in the opposition area, notably by Martinelli. Ed Mackie August 5, 2022 at 3:05 pm EDT
Martinelli slices from a few meters!
4′ Crystal Palace 0-0 Arsenal That’s incredible from Jesus, but compatriot Martinelli should do much better. The former Manchester City striker danced his way through the Palace defense before the ball fell to his team-mate, who could only parry his effort from a few yards. Ed Mackie August 5, 2022 at 3:00 pm EDT
The 2022/23 Premier League season is underway!
1′ Crystal Palace 0-0 Arsenal Premier League football is back and how good it feels! The players take a knee and Eze takes the ball for Palace in front of a raucous sell-out crowd in South London. Ed Mackie August 5, 2022 at 2:56 pm EDT
Both sets of players are on the playing field
Here come the players and officials at Selhurst Park, led by Anthony Taylor. The curtain is just minutes away from rising on the start of the 31st season of the Premier League. Ed Mackie August 5, 2022 at 2:50 pm EDT
10 minute warning
We are just 10 minutes away from the start of the 2022/23 Premier League season and the atmosphere is building nicely in South London. It will be absolutely bouncy by the time the players come out of the tunnel, just like the other nine stadiums welcoming fans this weekend. A quick reminder that neither of these sides can start this campaign any worse than they did 12 months ago. Arsenal were famously beaten 2-0 in the first leg played at the Brentford Community Stadium, while Palace were dismantled by Chelsea in a 3-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge. By the end of last season, both teams had, however, turned their fortunes around with two final day wins. The Eagles signed off with a narrow home win over Manchester United, while the Gunners went five past Everton in a 5-1 win at the Emirates. (Photo: Getty Images) Ed Mackie August 5, 2022 at 2:40 pm EDT
Pressure on Jesus’ shoulders
It’s a massive night for Jesus tonight as he makes his first Premier League appearance for Arsenal since his big-money move from Manchester City last month. Following the departures of both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette, the goal-scoring burden will fall on the Brazilian’s shoulders. Not only will Jesus have the pressure of his own fan base to deal with, but he also has the pressure of being FPL’s most owned asset of all time. 76.9 per cent of all managers have opted to include the 25-year-old in their squads and will be desperate for him to hit the ground running tonight. For those of you wondering how he can earn points, here’s how the points system works for a striker.
Playing 60 minutes or more: 2 points Goal: 4 points Assist: 3 points Missed penalty: -2 points Yellow card: -1 point Red card: -3 points
Ed Mackie August 5, 2022 at 2:30 pm EDT
Five subscribers available tonight
One of the key rule changes affecting the Premier League this season is the return of five substitutions. The frantic demand from first-class players, especially those playing for their countries, has led to much debate about whether managers should be allowed to play two extra innings. The decision was, of course, to allow these further changes throughout a match and the first example of its re-implementation will be seen tonight. Whether Vieira or Arteta opt to make four or five appearances remains to be seen, but both will be pleased to have that opportunity. Supporters of the so-called smaller clubs expect the big teams to be the only ones to benefit but, with a mid-season World Cup on the horizon, it certainly does not seem excessive to allow all 20 teams to make up to five substitutions. Mark Carey explained the impact he will have on the English top flight. Ed Mackie FURTHER What impact will the five substitute rule have on the Premier League? August 5, 2022 at 2:20 pm EDT
A massive night for new signings
There are plenty of new signings for both sides in South London tonight. Jesus, Zinchenko and Saliba will all make their Premier League debuts for Arsenal tonight, while Cheick Doucoure will play his first competitive game for the home side. The 22-year-old isn’t necessarily a name most neutral supporters will have heard of, but he has considerable potential. This explains exactly why his move to Palace from French side Lens cost €21 million earlier this summer. He may not be a player who will bring fans to the edge of their seats, but he will play a hugely important role in the middle of the park if he can recreate the form he showed in Ligue 1 of the Premier League. For the lowdown on what Doucoure can offer, read what Matt Woosnam and Mark Carey wrote about him below. (Photo: Getty Images) Ed Mackie FURTHER Cheick Doucoure: A perfect fit for Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace rebuild August 5, 2022 at 2:10 pm EDT
Will it be all or nothing tonight for Arsenal?
Arsenal have quickly become the Premier League’s most interesting case study. Not only do they have one of the youngest managers in European football, but their squad lacks genuine experience. More episodes of the documentary will be released in due course, but our own Nick Miller has broken down the three episodes we’ve dealt with so far. Read what he thought of the first installment below. Ed Mackie FURTHER August 5, 2022 at 2:01 pm EDT
Arsenal team news
Arteta has thrown some of his new signings straight into the deep end tonight, including French youngster William Saliba. This is the Gunners starting line-up. Ed Mackie August 5, 2022 at 2:00 PM EDT
Crystal Palace team news
Here is the starting XI that Patrick Vieira chose to start the season with. Ed Mackie August 5, 2022 at 1:56 pm EDT
The Eagles announce the departure of Benteke
Just over an hour before the start of their Premier League campaign, Crystal Palace announced that Christian Benteke has joined DC United in the MLS. It ends the Belgian striker’s six-year stay at Selhurst Park as he agrees to join Wayne Rooney’s side across the Atlantic. Ed Mackie August 5, 2022 at 1:45 pm EDT
Palace feels confident, Mitchell says
Many watching tonight will remember the crushing defeat Crystal Palace inflicted on Arsenal the last time the two sides met back in April. Tyrick Mitchell has claimed he and his teammates are in an even better position for the new campaign. “Personally, I feel very confident and so does the rest of the team,” he told Sky Sport. “It’s been a good season and we’re just trying to keep going and get better this season. “From last season until now, I feel like we’re more of a team and we know how the manager wants us to play, so it’s just [about] building on it.” Ed Mackie August 5, 2022 at 1:36 pm EDT
Zinchenko: The Premier League is back!
It could be a very different Gunners line-up tonight to what we were used to towards the end of last season. One of those who will be hoping to make his competitive debut for Arsenal at Selhurst Park is four-time Premier League champion Oleksandr Zinchenko. Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of tonight’s game, he said: “Honestly, I’m so happy to be here, to be part of this amazing club. My childhood dream has come true – ever since I was a kid, I’ve been a massive Arsenal fan. “Obviously, I’d like to say a massive thank you to Manchester City for everything they’ve done for me and now it’s another page, another story, so it’s time to focus on Arsenal. It’s finally starting, the Premier League is back!” Ed Mackie August 5, 2022 at 1:30 pm EDT
The FPL deadline has passed!
The season’s first Fantasy Premier League deadline passed with an hour and a half to go in South London. Good luck to everyone who is catching up with family, friends, colleagues and others ahead of the opening weekend! Ed Mackie August 5, 2022 at 1:23 pm EDT
“Get half-and-half scarves…”
New season, same dubious match memorabilia… but we’ll take it – the Premier League’s curtain call is fast approaching! Kate Burlaga; Staff Editor, News Aug 5, 2022 at 12:58 pm EDT
Arteta to new captain Odegaard
Mikel Arteta has named Martin Odegaard as his new captain and the Arsenal boss admits the Norway international is relishing the new responsibility. “Martin has been with us for 18 months and in my opinion is a player who represents the values of this football club in the perfect way. “Are well…
