Arsenal 2 Crystal Palace 2 LIVE REACTION: Lacazette snatches dramatic injury-time leveller to deny Vieira dream return

GOODNIGHT

Whether celebrating success in the North London derby, or seething over another home disappointment, life is never dull at the Emirates.

And so it proved this evening as Arsenal and Crystal Palace served up a thrilling 2-2 draw that turned one way and then twisted another.

Patrick Vieira was cheered to his seat in the visiting dugout before kick-off, but ended the night on his haunches in disappointment as Alexandre Lacazette’s late, late leveller ripped a memorable away victory from his grasp.

It ends another eventful weekend of Premier League football, but it won’t be long until the league – and Arsenal – goes again. The Gunners are back at home in just four day’s time against Aston Villa, and we’ll be here with more live coverage. See you then!

VIEIRA’S VIEW

However, the Crystal Palace manager was still left rueing the stoppage time equaliser that thwarted his side, acknowledging that the players had not learnt lessons from similar late heartbreak against Brighton recently.

We were so close, but we’ve been saying that a little too often. We have to learn from the games that we’ve played previously. I’m really disappointed because I think in the second half, the way the team came back, they deserved to win. I’m frustrated for them because they played well and were brave.

Patrick VieiraSky Sports

PAT STILL SMILING

Despite seeing his side robbed of two points in the final seconds, Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira was still able to smile and share a joke with the Sky Sports team at full time.

The Frenchman was asked how he’s able to remain so calm on the touchline when he was such a fiery figure during his playing days. His response was to touch upon his infamous tunnel bust-up with Roy Keane and a Manchester United team that included one Gary Neville.

I’ve always been calm…even in the tunnel.

Patrick VieiraSky Sports

NOT KNOWING ARSENAL FROM THEIR ELBOWS

For long periods of tonight’s game, Arsenal were a shambles in failing to deal with Palace’s energetic performance.

It came as no surprise when both of the Eagles’ goals arrived after errors from the home side.

LACA’S RELIEF

Supersub Alexandre Lacazette has spoken of his personal relief as well as the team’s after his late goal rescued a point for Arsenal.

It’s a relief because it’s my first goal of the season. The main thing was to avoid the loss. We wanted to win and we started the game well, but I don’t know what happened to the team. We stopped playing and this is something we need to work on in the future.

Alexandre LacazetteSky Sports

FT: ARSENAL 2-2 CRYSTAL PALACE

An entertaining evening ends in dramatic fashion as Arsenal steal a point they barely deserved. Alexandre Lacazette was only on the pitch 28 minutes but showed himself to be one of the home side’s better players, and it was he in the right place at the right time to score deep into stoppage time. Goals from Christian Benteke and Odsonne Edouard had earlier turned the game on its head after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s opener.

PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
THE FINAL WHISTLE IS BLOWN!

ARSENAL 2-2 CRYSTAL PALACE

90+5. Alexandre Lacazette levels right at the death!

The Gunners win a corner with the clock already beyond the allotted four minutes, and Mike Dean gives them the go ahead to launch one final assault on the Palace goal.

Nicolas Pepe’s delivery causes panic with the ball eventually falling to Ben White. The defender mishits his volley but is aided by a deflection that Vicente Guaita can only get a foot to.

The ball ricochets away from the goal-line to Lacazette, who makes absolutely no mistake in converting from close range.

Arsenal celebrate as Patrick Vieira falls to the TURF on the touchline. His Crystal Palace side had come so close.

GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLL!!
ALEXANDRE LACAZETTE RESCUES A POINT FOR ARSENAL!!

ARSENAL 1-2 CRYSTAL PALACE

90+3. Martinelli tries one more time on the left, but isn’t given an inch of spare by the combination of Ward and Andersen.

ARSENAL 1-2 CRYSTAL PALACE

90. Crystal Palace are four minutes of stoppage time from registering a fine away win.

AFTV is four minutes away from meltdown.

ARSENAL 1-2 CRYSTAL PALACE

89. Lacazette tries to go alone. He cuts back from the right byline, inside one defender, and then another. As he approaches a third, he turns and goes for goal but is well off target.

ARSENAL 1-2 CRYSTAL PALACE

88. It’s heart in mouth time for Crystal Palace fans as Pepe moves on to a deep cross, goes back beyond Mitchell in the area and then falls to the floor.

With Mike Dean, you never know, but the referee waves the penalty claims away and – again – replays show that he was spot. It’s a pretty shameless dive from the Arsenal man.

ARSENAL 1-2 CRYSTAL PALACE

87. Tierney smashes the crossbar!

A cross from the right travels through a crowd of players in both yellow and red, and falls nicely for the left-back in space.

The Scot could take the shot on first time, but instead takes one touch to control and then blasts an effort above Guaita and against the woodwork.

Was that the chance for Arsenal to rescue something from this game?

ARSENAL 1-2 CRYSTAL PALACE

85. Martinelli tries to conjure up some magic.

The young substitute shows neat skill on the left before cutting on to his right foot and curling a cross towards Aubameyang, who is just unable to make contact at the far post.

ARSENAL 1-2 CRYSTAL PALACE

84. The Arsenal fans are revolting.

Their frustration levels are palpable as their disjointed side struggle to find a way beyond Palace’s now packed defence.

ARSENAL 1-2 CRYSTAL PALACE

83. Patrick Vieira responds to Arsenal’s attacking move with a defensive shift.

He introduces James Tomkins for Odsonne Edouard, whose goal could yet prove to be the difference between the sides.

ARSENAL 1-2 CRYSTAL PALACE

81. The series of studmarks imprinted on Kouyate’s face are to be Partey’s last involvement tonight.

It’s not been a stellar showing from the Ghanian, who has played as though the international break has caught up with him.

He’s replaced by Gabriel Martinelli, but it’s asking a lot of the Brazilian to turn this around in the final nine minutes.

ARSENAL 1-2 CRYSTAL PALACE

79. Ouch! Cheikhou Kouyate takes an accidental set of studs in the face after finding himself tangled on the turf with Thomas Partey.

ARSENAL 1-2 CRYSTAL PALACE

77. Palace are certainly making a habit of these second half comebacks but it’s no more than they have deserved.

ARSENAL 1-2 CRYSTAL PALACE

75. Here’s a chance for Arsenal to immediately claw themselves level.

Lacazette beats Andersen to the ball and wins a free-kick no more than five yards outside of the Crystal Palace penalty area.

It’s pretty central but Nicolas Pepe fancies it. The Ivorian weighs up the packed defensive wall, and then promptly curls his effort into it.

ARSENAL 1-2 CRYSTAL PALACE

73. The Eagles have turned it around with a goal that sums up the two sides!

The Palace players are full of energy, driving forward as one as Connor Gallagher easily wins possession off Albert Sambi Lokonga.

Arsenal, in contrast, are sloppy and hesitant. Ben White backs off Odsonne Edouard after the striker has been fed by substitute Michael Olise, and then Aaron Ramsdale fails to get near to the Frenchman’s strike despite it being thumped straight down his eyeline.

The ball crashes in off the underside of the crossbar and the Crystal Palace supporters on the far side erupt.

GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLL!!
ODSONNE EDOUARD PUTS PALACE IN FRONT!!

ARSENAL 1-1 CRYSTAL PALACE

72. Great save from Guaita!

ARSENAL 1-1 CRYSTAL PALACE

70. Arsenal almost shoot themselves in the foot for a second time.

This time it’s Tomiyasu who loses the ball on the edge of his own area, dispossessed by Edouard’s challenge, and that tees up Gallagher.

The Chelsea loanee goes for the spectacular, and immediately realises his mistake as he curls high and wide.