Patrick Vieira says Arsenal’s clinical finishing was the difference in a tight game at Selhurst Park, as goals either side of half-time saw Palace slip to defeat in the opening game of the season.
“The difference between the two teams today is that they scored those goals, and we created two really good chances to score,” he told Sky Sports after the match. “We were in a really good period in the second half and we didn’t take our chances.
“Of course, I’m disappointed, because I thought we could score a couple of goals today even though we didn’t create very much, but they took their chances and we didn’t.
“But football is about trying to score goals. We were playing against a good side. We had chances in both halves and we didn’t take it – in the game you get punished really hard.”
Despite the defeat, Vieira says it is fine margins that need to be fine-tuned as the season progresses.
“It is really difficult to control the game when you play against a team that has so much quality technically,” he said. “They had a really good period in the first 15 to 20 minutes. I think after that we had the ball, we had situations but we didn’t create very much.
“In games like that there is a key moment, and in those key moments, we didn’t score that goal to lift the crowd and to build even more that momentum. This is something that we have to work on.”
Playing their first competitive minutes this season, Vieira was pleased with the fitness of his players.
“I was really pleased – I think physically we worked hard until the end,” he said. “Of course, you have to run a lot against those kinds of teams. I was really pleased with the physical side of the game.
“We have to be positive because both teams didn’t create a lot of chances. Again, if you want to win football matches you have to score goals, and if you play against those teams you might not create a lot.
“The small chances you create, you have to score goals.”
Palace boss Patrick Vieira was concerned this game had arrived too early after a disrupted pre-season that saw some of his squad not being able to travel to Singapore and Australia, some players remaining on the treatment table, and the Frenchman still hoping to make more transfer additions.
He also said he was happy with the business the Eagles have done so far this window, although only Cheick Doucoure started after arriving from Lens, and Palace struggled to deal with an irrepressible Arsenal early on.
The hosts, who took four points off Arsenal last season, did improve, and Ramsdale’s save from Edouard’s header before the break was followed after half-time when the goalkeeper also denied Eberechi Eze following Wilfried Zaha’s pass in what kick-started a dominant spell for the Eagles.
Palace, who are looking to improve on their 12th-placed finish last season, was unable to capitalize on that pressure and were instead caught out on the break, but Vieira will want to wait until the end of the transfer window before giving a real assessment of where his side is.
