In a pre-season filled with goals and optimism, it was an old face who made the biggest impression when the serious business started.
As Mikel Arteta tries to push his team forward this season, he has brought the winning mentality from Manchester City with him.
The defensive performance of 21-year-old William Saliba that outshone everyone else to create a real stir of excitement among the visiting fans was one of the highlights of the opening game.
He won full France honours after impressing so much at his parent club that he went on to win a loan spell at Nice and a start in the English premier league.
The question of where he fit into Arteta's plans was raised when he was out of the picture for a while.
Arteta insisted he was merely handling Saliba with care until his time had come, and judging by the display at Selhurst Park, it has now arrived.
As the game went on and Palace raised a gallop at last, Saliba emerged as the game's outstanding performer because of his calm command and controlled power.
The central defensive partnership with Gabriel is in its infancy and there were anxious moments when the keeper was called into action to save them.
He was almost flawless to delight his manager.
No-one at the club will be getting carried away with the result or the performance of the game.
All the background noise that this was a top class defender ready for the premier league was confirmed by the talent of Saliba.
Arteta has used his time well, bolting young and established talent from last season onto his new acquisitions, as evidenced by the way he ran Palace ragged in this first game of the season.
They had to survive a lot of pressure from Palace and it took a late shot by Bukayo Saka from the edge of the box to seal the deal.
It was not the same as the opening Friday night of last season when a Covid-hitArsenal were handed the unwanted assignment at newly promoted Brentford, sinking meekly without trace in an awful start to the season, £50m new boy Ben White enduring a nightmare debut, although he was not
Palace's early enthusiasm given its only outlet by chasing the ball to all parts of the pitch was all it took for the visitors to take the lead.
There will be more new arrivals before the end of the transfer window, with Arteta indicating that there will be more arrivals before the end of the season.
The opening evidence suggests he has done some smart work this summer despite the ridicule he has received for his style.
There was a welcome sight of Kieran Tierney coming on as a substitute and he was ready to restore his influence.
The way in which Saliba strode through a game that always presents a test, even with Palace short of their best, will have added to the feelgood factor engendered by the addition of proven, winning quality.
The fans chanted "top of the league" in the closing moments, but it was more enjoyable than the last time they were in the league.
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