“He brings a drive forward”, he said after the 2-1 win, according to the club’s official website.
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It wasn’t the prettiest Arsenal victory, but Wenger will be particularly pleased at the fight his team showed at a bouncing Selhurst Park.
A game which could be said to be good by his standards, in which he had some bright moments, followed by an assist for Giroud.
Arsenal bench: Ospina, Gibbs, Gabriel, Debuchy, Arteta, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Santi Cazorla returned to his usual center midfielder position.
From the opening whistle, Arsenal seemed to be in much sharper form.
The Gunners were coming off a shocking defeat on the opening day against West Ham.
Ten minutes into the second half, Arsenal – who were fortunate to not have Francis Coquelin sent off for two bookable offences – regained their lead when Palace’s Damien Delaney diverted Alexis Sanchez’s towering header into his own goal.
Aaron Ramsey was the next to try his luck but his effort was saved well by Alex McCarthy. He was given first time action today along with Connor Wickham who got the nod ahead of Glenn Murray. Giroud arched backwards before the 6ft 3in France striker dispatched a left-foot volley of the highest order into the bottom corner.
Likely Crystal Palace goal scorer or assist provided would be the strong and hardworking Bolasie.
In the 54th minute, Arsenal caught Crystal Palace napping and Sanchez powered in a go-ahead goal his club desperately needed.
Twelve minutes after Giroud scored, Crystal Palace would equalize.
Going into the new campaign, Wenger’s squad – bolstered by the summer signing of veteran Petr Cech and having beaten Chelsea in the FA Community Shield at Wembley – were seen as genuine title contenders. The score was now tied at 1 apiece, per Harris.
“After that, we came back, then they had a chance at the start of the second half (which hit the post) and that kept us in the game”.
Arsenal are now sitting 11th on the table with Palace seventh despite being on the same points.
Sanchez climbed above Ward at the back-post to meet Hector Bellerin’s cross but the header took a deflection from Damien Delaney into his own net.
– Can this be the win that really gets Arsenal back on track after a poor start?
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The pair clashed on the touchline in 2006 when Wenger took exception to Pardew celebrating a last-minute victor for West Ham, and Pardew has also criticised the Frenchman for failing to promote English players.
