Look closer—at the little but important aspects that bring mayhem under control—to understand why Arsenal is the most disciplined, unyielding out-of-possession team in international football. Consider the four players who were positioned at the box's edge during corners. They aren't there for a covert set piece or some witty little routine. Instead, their goal is much more straightforward and calculated: to put out any potential Crystal Palace counterattack before it has a chance to ignite.

For example, Gabriel Magalhães, the steadfast, rock-solid cornerstone of Arsenal's entire defensive system, is flinging himself in front of two more shots. Gabriel refused to move no matter how much Jean-Philippe Mateta pushed, shoved, and wrestled. Then, as Palace surges down the right, Myles Lewis-Skelly is seen discreetly extending his left arm toward Christantus Uche. It's the kind of nudging that exists in the gray area of football—just enough to disrupt Palace's rhythm, but not enough to raise an alarm. Arsenal's defensive prowess subtly reaffirms itself at those brief instances when the rules are bent without being broken.

Piero Hincapié, only minutes into his Premier League debut, is crawling frantically toward the touchline because he knows he can win the ball back, not because he genuinely thinks he can maintain it in play. Oliver Glasner takes advantage of the moment, throwing the ball to Adam Wharton for a short throw-in as the audience gasps in anticipation of the ball's escape. Thomas Bramall, however, will not accept it. The move is stopped by the whistle, and Hincapié has already done his duty by buying Arsenal valuable seconds to regroup and start over with that modest, tenacious act.

You may refer to it as luck. Perhaps it was. However, what transpired felt far from coincidental. Hincapié's haste appeared to permeate the Emirates itself, like an unseen force coursing through the bleachers. A short while later, Jefferson Lerma took the field, ready to make one of those long throws that are so popular right now and have become a tactical fad in the Premier League. Then, unexpectedly, a ball sailed into the field—from deep inside the West Stand, a playful interruption that caused both astonishment and laughter. The story was better conveyed by Glasner's dejected smile than by words. It appeared that Mikel Arteta had achieved his goal: North London was actively participating in the game rather than only watching it.

The stands didn't need to assist the eleven in red and white. Every tackle, pursuit, and interception carried a sense of intent, and they were already well into the battle. After then, Arteta's pride was almost unbearable. He spoke with confidence, saying, "Ricky Calafiori goes to ground for a tackle, Jurrien Timber does the same, and look at the way Viktor Gyökeres hunted every second ball." "Those unique moments, both on and off the ball, are what re-establish our strength." And everything changes when the audience joins in and plays the game with us.

The fact that this Arsenal defense, which is already strong, is getting better should be a terrifying realization for strikers throughout Europe. And it's not being oversold by Arteta. His team can afford to be imperfect in possession when they defend in this way. Arsenal left Crystal Palace, one of the Premier League's most formidable counterattacking teams, with virtually nothing to chase despite their build-up being a little less precise and their passing being a little slower than usual. All escape routes were barricaded and all passing lanes were blocked. Arsenal's resolve solidified the moment Eberechi Eze converted a wayward knockdown into an incredible kung-fu volley. They prevented Palace from finding the key again once the lock snapped shut.

Crystal Palace has demonstrated thus far this season that they are worthy of being discussed, if not directly among the Champions League contenders, then at least close enough to be a factor. Despite battling, pressing, and maintaining their shape for over half of the match, they managed to escape with nothing. It wasn't for lack of planning or effort. Oliver Glasner later remarked, "We found Ismaïla Sarr in the pocket two or three times in the second half, and Declan Rice recovered and stole the ball." That brief glimmer of hope was sucked away by Arsenal's discipline.

Glasner was only able to identify "two mistakes," or instances where Eberechi Eze was twice given the kind of leeway he so seldom needed within the box. More than anyone, Palace is aware of the consequences of past mistakes and the fine line separating sorrow and resiliency. However, the harsh reality for them was straightforward: Arsenal didn't actually produce any.

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