‘On another day’ – Roy Hodgson delivers verdict as Crystal Palace fall to 1-0 defeat at home to Arsenal

Roy Hodgson believes he could not have asked much more from his Crystal Palace side across the 90 minutes as they suffered a 1-0 defeat against Arsenal on Monday night.

Nketiah nearly gave the visitors the lead in the 28th minute when he skipped past Joachim Andersen and rolled an effort beyond Palace keeper Sam Johnstone. However, luckily for Roy Hodgson’s side, the effort crashed off the post.

The 24-year-old had another chance to put Mikel Arteta’s side ahead in the 35th minute when Declan Rice found the forward inside the penalty area. But the Lewisham-born striker chipped his effort over the bar.

The visitors put themselves 1-0 up when Sam Johnstone brought down Eddie Nketiah inside the penalty area and Martin Odegaard converted the spot kick.

Arsenal were reduced to 10 men in the 67th minute when Takehiro Tomiyasu was issued with his second yellow card.

Hodgson brought on Naouirou Ahamada and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, but the Eagles were unable to get back into the game and suffered their first defeat of the 2023-24 Premier League campiagn/

The Palace boss said: “We have to give Arsenal credit for their defensive ogranisation and they defended the crossess very well – they got the blocks in when necessary

“I don’t know if I could have asked much more from the players in that situation. 

“I don’t know if I could have asked much more from the players across the 90 minutes.

“It was a very well organised performance. Tactically, we did most of the things we wanted to do. 

“On another day we wouldn’t have conceded a penalty and we would have maybe got an eqauliser.”

PICTURES: ROB AVIS