IT has ended 2-2 in what was a thrilling end-to-end Premier League clash between Arsenal and Crystal Palace!
Jakub Kiwior gave the Gunners an early lead before Eberechi Eze scored a stunning volley to level the score.
Leandro Trossard then continued his red-hot form by bagging a solo goal to restore Arsenal’s lead.
But then a mixup at the back followed by a wonderful Mateta long-range effort forced both teams to share the spoils.
- RESULT: Arsenal 2-2 Palace
Having players you can trust
A couple of summers ago, Mikel Arteta focussed his attentions and making his team more solid at the back.
He felt the addition of David Raya was the answer to that question.
When asked about the signing, the Spaniard said they needed a keeper who is good with the ball at his feet.
Raya fails to show this talent and often can be seen misplacing passes and getting his side into trouble.
However, what should be a bigger concern is that the keeper always seems to have a mistake in him.
His positioning for Mateta’s equaliser was baffling, gifting the striker the chance to go for goal.
From the fans perspective, Arteta’s stubborn nature means he is unlikely to admit he was wrong and will persist with the former Brentford keeper.
Credit: EPA Credit: Getty Credit: Getty More key players need in capital
When you look at the current Arsenal strongest XI, there is a lot of pressure on Odegaard and Saka to perform.
They have bit-part players, capable of contributing the occasional important goal, but the duo are their main threats to opponents.
It will be interesting to see how much the club back him in the summer and, more importantly, how Arteta sees fit to spend it.
Pressure builds on Spaniard
Many people have pointed towards the money Mikel Arteta has spent to assemble this current Arsenal squad.
The Spaniard has had in excess of £650m from the owners, as they backed his visions of where the club need to be.
While he has secured regular Champions League football over the last five years, they have not brought the silverware back to North London that many had expected.
This makes the showdown with PSG even more important, it is now their only chance of giving anyone at the club a reason to venture into the trophy room at The Emirates.
Credit: Getty
All attention goes to Paris
Arsenal have some time to recover now and make sure that everyone is fighting fit for the biggest game the club have had for some time.
They welcome PSG to The Emirates for the first-leg of the Champions League semi-finals.
Luis Enrique’s side are the favourites to win the trophy now and it will a similar level of performance from The Gunners as they showed against Real Madrid to stand a chance of progressing.
Eagles looking forward to big day
Speaking with Sky Sports, the Crystal Palace manager spoke about tonight’s performance and the daunting prospect of going to play at Wembley in this weekend’s FA Cup semi-final:
Let’s see on Saturday. When you perform like this, it gives you confidence. If you do not change something, improve your play, this is what we need. We are looking forward to this game, it is a huge game for us. Drawing like we did today, can help us towards this approach. I was told the size of the pitch is the same as here, the grass should still be green. We know what we want to do, now it is finding the right tactics against their shape and perform as a team. This is how we will walk into Wembley.
Oliver Glasner
Gunners fail to capitalise on slip
Man City, by their own standards, have had a truly woeful season to the point where Champions League qualification still hangs in the balance.
Having dominated the Premier League for so long, when their levels nose-dived, Arsenal did not take advantage.
In fact, looking at the table, The Gunners have won the same amount of games as Pep Guardiola’s team this campaign.
It is debatable if they were ever in a title race if we are honest.
Avoiding the burning questions
Sky Sports, in their interview with Arteta post-match, failed to asked the question that every wanted to hear.
For the last few months, after every game he has been asked about whether they can catch league-leaders Liverpool.
On the day where they pretty much handed the title to Arne Slot’s side, the broadcaster failed to address the elephant in the room.
Fas up and down the country wanted to hear whether the Spaniard was finally conceding the title to their rivals.
Boss putting a brave face on it
Speaking with Sky Sports, Mikel Arteta gave his views on tonight’s performance and the title race with Liverpool:
Yes we are disappointed with the result and the performance. We started to give sloppy balls away. When you are not at your best, you can give the game away and it cost us two points. We know the stadards that are required in the Premier League and there are many aspects we should have done better today. We have to do much better.
Mikel Arteta
Palace have Villa in their sights
Drawing with Arsenal in North London will be a huge confidence boost for The Eagles heading into the FA Cup..
They head to Wembley to face Aston Villa this weekend and will feel they are more than capable of booking their place in the final.
With no injury concerns this evening, Oliver Glasner should be able to field his strongest starting XI for this mammoth game for the club.
Arteta knows cost of equaliser
Mikel Arteta cut a frustrated figure on the touchline.
While he felt his side were in control of the game in the main, when their lead is so slender, they run the risk of being punished.
When Mateta scored, the Spaniard seemed to know that was any feint hopes of winning the title over for another campaign.
Credit: Getty Sa magnifique Mateta
Jean-Philippe Mateta came off the bench to make all the difference at The Emirates this evening.
Despite only coming on in the 80th minute, he was awarded the man of the match award for his exploits.
He has been in superb form this season and could draw the interests of some big teams on the lookout for a striker.
Credit: Getty Credit: EPA Draws cost Gunners dearly
As was shown today, Arsenal have had far too many matches this campaign where they have struggled putting the game to bed.
The Gunners have drawn 13 games, compared to Liverpool’s 7 draws.
Just that stat alone shows how Mikel Arteta’s side could have been 12 points closer to the league leaders.
They need to learn from these experiences.
Credit: Alamy Eagle with pinpoint accuracy
After his superb goal, Mateta spoke with Sky Sports who asked what made him try a shot from such distance:
First of all, when I start on the bench, I saw he was very high. When I come on, I try and I score. I was scared it would hit the crossbar and I just waited until the end. Today we did it for our pride, we have struggled the last three games. Today was a good game for us. I think we have confidence now and hopefully we will win on the weekend.
Eagles show what Gunners are missing
All the talk amongst pundits at this time of the season is about where sides need to strengthen to push onto to better things next time around.
Two players shone for Crystal Palace this evening, who could answer many problems for Mikel Arteta.
Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta would slot in well to The Gunners side and make them far more potent in front of goal.
With both players having plenty of experience in the Premier League, you wonder why Arteta has his eyes firmly focussed on talent abroad.
Credit: EPA Reality dawns upon North London
Even the most ardent Arsenal fan was questioning their sanity claiming their side could still win the title this season.
However, drawing at home against Crystal Palace has reduced the requirement on Arne Slot’s Liverpool to just needing one point from their last five games.
Most knew this was done and dusted some time ago, now it is almost a mathematical reality.
FT: Arsenal 2-2 Crystal Palace
RIP Arsenal’s title challenge of 2024/25.
The only chance of winning the title now is if Liverpool lose all of their last five games and concede more than 12 goals in the process.
It lasted until four games from the end of the campaign.
They just could not put Crystal Palace to the sword this evening.
FT: Arsenal 2-2 Crystal Palace
The referee brings the game to a close in North London.
Crystal Palace have grabbed an impressive draw.
This will be seen as two points dropped for The Gunners.
Arsenal 2-2 Crystal Palace
90+8. Time is fast running out in this game.
The seats in The Emirates have emptied quicker than if someone had said Thierry Henry is signing invincibles DVDs outside the ground.
Crystal Palace just need to see this out for a well-earned point now.
Arsenal 2-2 Crystal Palace
90+6. Lerma launches a long throw into the box.
Mateta cannot get it under his spell and it goes out harmlessly for a goal kick.
It looks as though The Gunners are heading towards their thirteenth draw of the Premier League campaign.
Arsenal 2-2 Crystal Palace
90+4. With so much added time to play, you feel like there is another goal to come in this game.
The only questions is who will get it.
An Arsenal goal keeps a futile title race going, the visitors are looking to give themselves a boost before their trip to Wembley.
Arsenal 2-2 Crystal Palace
90+2. Mateta gets to the byline and squares it towards Sarr.
His effort was heading into the far corner but was superbly blocked.
Arsenal counter attack and it opens up for Martinelli in the box.
His slices his shot well wide of the target.
That is one of the downsides to the Brazilian’s game, all too often he shoots like a stormtrooper.
Arsenal 2-2 Crystal Palace
90. There is no fire from the home faithful right now.
You would expect them to be turning this into a cauldron of noise to spur their team on to get a winner.
It is more like the final stages of a Soccer Aid match with too many players out there running on empty.
We are going to have eight added minutes.
Arsenal 2-2 Crystal Palace
88. A draw in North London would fill Crystal Palace full of confidence heading into their FA Cup semi-final on the weekend.
Despite not seeing as much of the ball, they have been clinical with the limited amount of chances they have had.
It looks like The Eagles fancy getting a winner here.
Credit: Getty Arsenal 2-2 Crystal Palace
86. That Palace equaliser was like a 200-foot Tsuami, you could see it coming a mile off.
Arsenal just could not put this game to bed, despite their dominance in terms of possession.
They could be handing the Premier League title to Liverpool as it stands.
Nwaneri and Tierney come on for Lewis-Skelly and Odegaard.
Arsenal 2-2 Crystal Palace
84. Saliba gives the ball away to Mateta in a dangerous area.
For some reason, Raya is out on the left-hand side of his penalty area.
The French striker clips it towards the empty goal with Raya trying to track back.
It clips the underside of the bar on its way in to get The Eagles back on level terms.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
