Crystal Palace 0-1 Arsenal: Owen, Parlour say win a big three points for Gunners

Liverpool and Manchester United legend, Michael Owen and former Arsenal star, Ray Parlour have hailed Arsenal for grinding out the 1-0 win at Selhurst Park against their host, Crystal Palace in Monday night’s Premier League matchweek 2 tie.

Arsenal dominated the game and deservedly scored via the spot after the restart before Takehiro Tomiyasu was red carded on 67 minutes, leaving the visitors to play the last 26 minutes with 10-men.

Owen, who netted 150 goals and provided 31 assists in 326 Premier League games, believes Arsenal have shown the quality to be title contender this season.

‘If you’re going for the title, these are the games you have to win. A few years ago Arsenal would have dropped points there. Now they’ve got a good goalkeeper, a good defence and they look a strong, strong team. It’s a big three points for them,’ he said during his analysis on Skysports after the game.

Former Gunners’ midfielder, Parlour is also thrilled to see Mikel Arteta’s men dig deep to win all three points.

“It’s so important to stay firm. Last season Arsenal made mistakes in key games that cost them and they could have easily done that again tonight. It’s a big three points.

‘They’ve got more leaders on the pitch now,’ said Parlour, a three time Premier League champion who scored 20 goals and made 20 assists in 379 games.

Arsenal have now won their first two matches in successive Premier League seasons (won first 5 last season), after they had lost their first three in 2021-22.

The Gunners have also won 11 of their 13 last London derbies in the Premier League, losing none.