16th August, 2014
Arsenal began its Premier League campaign with a last gasp 2-1 win at home to 10-man Crystal Palace while there were also wins for Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Hull City.
Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger handed Alexis Sanchez, Calum Chambers and Mathieu Debuchy their Premier League debuts while Brede Hangeland made his debut for Crystal Palace which only parted company with manager Tony Pulis on Thursday.
Nonetheless it was Palace that took the lead in the 35th minute through Hangeland who flicked a cornerkick past a poorly positioned Wojciech Szczesny in the Arsenal goal.
The Gunners were however back on level terms on the stroke of half-time thanks to a back header by French defender Laurent Koscielny.
Koscielny’s goal gave Arsenal the momentum to dominate the second period but Palace held firm as Sanchez and substitute Olivier Giroud saw chances go begging.
The turning point of the game came two minutes to the end when Jason Puncheon was sent off after picking up a second yellow card for a needless foul on Nacho Monreal.
And Arsenal duly snatched the win at the death when Ramsey bundled in a rebound after the Palace goalkeeper kept out Debuchy’s initial effort.
The win, Arsenal’ s first opening day league win since 2009, puts the Gunners joint top of the league with Swansea City that earlier shocked Manchester United 2-1 at Old Trafford.