Culture shock for Ozil as Arsenal dig it out

Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 2

In other circumstances the German would have had his feet up, preparing to play in El Clasico.

Instead he was in a corner of what must have seemed a very foreign field, that of Selhurst Park.

And he was tracking Dean Moxey, desperately trying to limit the Crystal Palace full-back’s forays forward as Arsenal’s 10 men attempted to cling on to a narrow lead.

It is fair to say it would have been a culture shock for Arsene Wenger’s record signing, but this season has hinged on Arsenal’s ability to surprise. Perhaps the biggest shock of all is in this side’s new-found solidity and steel. They lost to Borussia Dortmund in midweek but this was a gritty, tough afternoon and in their previous guise Arsenal would have dropped points.

Here they were a man down for the last 25 minutes after Mikel Arteta’s harsh sending-off but they rallied as a unit, limiting Palace to shots from distance — although one from Mile Jedinak required a stunning save from Wojciech Szczesny — and then grabbed a late second through Olivier Giroud. While performances and sumptuous goals such as those against Norwich last week are welcome, this was the sort of display that marks a side out as genuine contenders — and at the heart of it were the centre-backs, Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny.

“We want to surprise people, that is what we need to do,” said Mertesacker after Arsenal cemented their place at the top of the table.

“(What we do after this run) will be the test. We did not lose any player this season and I think that is a big advantage. Everybody knows each other, how to cover each other, we have a much stronger squad.

“We are in a better position, it feels much better now, we don’t have to get anything back (on the other sides) so that gives us more safety and we feel much better. What we showed against Palace was good enough to respond (to the defeat to Dortmund) but there will be more tests and that will be crucial for the rest of the season.”

The next month is key, with Liverpool, Manchester United and Southampton to play as well as two testing Champions League ties.

But there are signs the resilience is there. Wenger praised Giroud afterwards but this was a game where the defenders were key.

“Of course,” replied Wenger when asked if a win of this nature was as satisfying as a 5-0 stroll. “It’s good because it shows the team can win when we are not completely flying. That’s a good sign.

“Even until the end, Ozil fought very hard, played on the right, played like a full-back. It’s good to see that everybody puts a shift in when it’s needed.

“As it stands at the moment, we have a good away record. We have drawn only once and won all our other away games and we have more points ahead of everyone else so that’s not bad.

“That’s the advantage, the disadvantage is that some teams have had heavier fixtures than we have had until now. That is what is facing us now.”

For Palace every fixture is ‘heavy’, to use Wenger’s phrase. Interviews for the vacant managerial position will start this week, with Tony Pulis, Roberto Di Matteo and, intriguingly, the many considered by many as favourite, for the Republic of Ireland job, Martin O’Neill, all likely to be considered.

Ian Holloway was unable to halt their slide, but Palace played well for long periods here under caretaker manager Keith Millen.

The spirit was good, but the final ball lacking. Relegation is still unlikely to be avoided with just three points from nine games but this is a squad that would at least do extremely well in the Championship.

“Ian is a great manager and I thoroughly enjoyed playing under him,” said full-back Joel Ward.

“It’s a shame the circumstances in which he has left. But now we keep our heads down, keep working hard and whoever comes in we will try and pick up results.”

That was unlikely from the moment Adlene Guedioura hacked down Serge Gnabry for a penalty within the first 60 seconds of the second-half.

Arteta slammed it home before he was contentiously dismissed for bringing down Marouane Chamakh, with Chris Foy deciding it was a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Yet Arsenal stayed strong. Maybe Ozil will have to endure a season of surprises.

CRYSTAL PALACE: Speroni 6, Ward 7, Delaney 6, Gabbidon 6, Moxey 6, Bannan 6 (Gayle, 77; 6), Jedinak 7, Dikgacoi 6, Thomas 6 (Bolasie, 58; 7), Guedioura 5 (Kebe, 72; 7), Chamakh 6.

ARSENAL: Szczesny 9, Sagna 7, Mertesacker 8, Koscielny 8, Gibbs 7, Flamini 6 (Gnabry, 8; 8) (Wilshere 69; 7), Arteta 6, Ozil 6, Cazorla 6 (Monreal 72, 7), Ramsey 7, Giroud 7.

Referee: Chris Foy.