The fact that Arenal looked extremely poor for 90 minutes won't ultimately matter thanks to a stoppage time winner from Aaron Ramsey. The late goal allowed the Gunners to grab three points, leaving Palace with nothing after a solid performance in the wake of a rough week.
Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace: Final score 2-1, Ramsey saves the Gunners in stoppage time
The Gunners were frustrated by the Eagles but managed to grab full points with a stoppage time winner from Aaron Ramsey
It took nearly 29 minutes for either team to generate a genuinely dangerous chance on goal, and it was Arsenal who came close first. Jack Wilshere found himself with a pocket of space 20-yards from goal and decided to send a skipping shot through traffic to see what might happen. The ball got through the box and forced Julian Speroni to get down quickly and push the bouncing ball wide of the post with a two-handed save.
As if inspired by Arsenal's sudden pressure, Palace responded by actually putting the ball in the net in the 34th minute. Palace earned a corner after a poor clearance by the Gunners defense, and new signing Brede Hangeland got free at the near post, heading Jason Puncheon's delivery just inside the fair post where no Arsenal players were positioned.
Easily the best moment of the first half though was after Arsenal earned a free kick on the right side of the Palace box. As match referee Jonathan Moss tried to mark the free kick spot, his disappearing spray can malfunctioned, sending a fine mist into his own face and Santi Carzola’s, who was standing behind him.
Arsenal made up for a rather poor half with an equalizer in stoppage time. Alexis Sanchez sent a long free kick into the Palace box that found Laurent Koscielny alone in front of Speroni. The Arsenal defender had gotten free from Hangeland who was late stepping up, playing Koscielny onside for a fall away header that eluded the Palace goalkeeper.
The Gunners were dominate in the second half but a combination of tough defending and clever time wasting from Palace kept Arsenal frustrated, and off the score sheet.
Palace were left a man down in the 89th minute when Puncheon came in late on a tackle and was shown his second yellow card of the match.
Perhaps that extra bit of space made the difference as the Gunners finally broke through again in the 92nd minute when Aaron Ramsey took advantage of a fortuitous rebound to hammer home the winner past Speroni from short range. Oliver GIroud headed down a ball in front of goal that was put on frame by Mathieu Debuchy. The Palace goalkeeper made a great save, but his rebound went right to Ramsey who’d snuck in unmarked to his right for the easy tap-in.
Arsenal: Szczęsny, Debuchy, Chambers, Koscielny, Gibbs (Monreal 53’), Ramsey, Arteta, Wilshire, Sanchez, Carzorla, Sanogo (Giroud 62’)
Goals: Koscielny (45’), Ramsey (92’)
Crystal Palace: Speroni, Kelly, Hangeland, Dann (Delaney 75'), Ward, Puncheon, Jedinak, Ledley, Bolaise (O'Keefe 91'), Chamakh, Campbell (Gayle 85')
Goals: Hangeland (34’)
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