Arsenal fell to a third draw in four Premier League games at home to Crystal Palace as the two sides prepare for crucial cup matches in the coming days.
Jakub Kiwior's brilliant header from a free kick opened the scoring within the first three minutes. The Pole made a great run before nodding the Gunners in front.
However, it was another set piece that saw Palace level. Eberechi Eze volleyed an Adam Wharton corner past the helpless David Raya as the visitors capitalised on a complacent Arsenal side.
Arteta's men responded on the brink of half-time. Jurrien Timber played in Leandro Trossard, who put Arsenal back in front.
However, Jean-Philippe Mateta equalised with a stunning effort from outside the box. His chipped effort secured a point for the Eagles.
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Story of the Match
Both Arsenal and Crystal Palace have eyes on their respective semi-final games in the next seven days – this match was billed as a game with little to play for. Indeed, the team news told that story as Mikel Arteta made four changes to the team that dismantled Ipswich on Sunday. Palace also made four changes as Eddie Nketiah was given a rare start against his former club.
Arsenal have the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, while Oliver Glasner’s Palace make a trip to Wembley to face Aston Villa in the FA Cup. The Eagles will seek to book their place in the final and bid to win their first major trophy.
However, turning the attention back to tonight's clash at the Emirates Stadium and it was the Gunners who started the brighter of the two sides. Arteta knew that if his side could secure a victory today, then Liverpool’s inevitable title celebrations would be delayed until the weekend.
They may not have challenged Arne Slot’s near-perfect Reds, but they could at least force them to have to beat their North London rivals, Spurs, to clinch the title.
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Set-piece goals are flowing
Within the first three minutes, Kiwior had opened the scoring from a set-piece. The Polish centre back, who has more than filled the void left by the injured Gabriel Magalhaes, glanced a Martin Odegaard free kick beyond the glove of Dean Henderson. Two of the best sides in the Premier League from dead-ball scenarios were bound to produce a moment from such a position.
Palace had the best away defensive record in the Premier League before April, but that accolade has been eroded in the last three matches. Glasner’s Eagles have conceded a combined ten goals in their last two trips and had already been breached by Arsenal as the fans were filing into the Emirates.
In the 11th minute, Palace were close to grabbing an equaliser. Nketiah burst in behind Saliba before threading a cut back into the path of Justin Devenny, who had his certain tap-in thwarted by the outstretched toe of Kiwior. The Gunners could not afford to be complacent against the South-Londoners.
However, the Eagles had their equaliser just before the half-hour mark. Of course, it was a set-piece, although this was a stunning goal. Eze volleyed a Wharton corner past Raya and off the post, leaving the goalkeeper to kick the ball out of his net.
Eze was left completely unmarked on the edge of the penalty area and had an unusually large amount of time to strike his effort home. The Gunners had just faced Madrid and, well, this was a routine akin to that of Roberto Carlos and David Beckham’s routine against Mallorca.
The home team looked a fraction of the side that so convincingly beat Los Blancos home and away. If it were not for Kiwior’s block on an Nketiah shot in the 30th minute, Arteta’s men would be trailing to the visitors.
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Trossard again, ole ole
It appeared that Arsenal would need a moment of magic to break down this stubborn Palace defence, and that is exactly what they got. Timber drove into space before fizzing the ball into the feet of Trossard. The Belgian turned Jefferson Lerma and accurately placed an effort into the bottom corner of Henderson’s goal.
In a cagey encounter, it was the Gunners that went into the break holding a 2-1 lead.
Both sides brought on their rested players with half an hour to go. The cotton wool was taken off the likes of Bukayo Saka and Ismaila Sarr ahead of crucial fixtures for the two teams.
In the 67th minute, Raya flapped at another Palace delivery as Sarr almost made an instant impact. His head was a matter of inches away from connecting with the ball.
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Mateta stunner saves the day
Arsenal thought they had scored a third goal for a moment. Gabriel Martinelli tapped a Timber cross in from two yards out, but the ball was adjudged to have gone out of play beforehand. The replays shown suggest VAR made the correct decision.
However, it was Palace who would score the next goal. Jean-Philippe Mateta stunningly chipped Raya from over 30 yards out after Saliba made a rare mistake. The French striker’s golf-like chip would have served Rory McIlroy well at Augusta, let alone on a chilly night at the Emirates.
The game petered out from there on as the Gunners further wrapped up Liverpool's Premier League title.
Glasner will be delighted with his players. A 2-2 draw at the Emirates is a great result to take into their FA Cup semi-final on Saturday.
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Player of the Match: Jakub Kiwior
Some might label this a strange choice for player of the match, but Kiwior was superb for Arsenal. Without the Polish international, Palace would have taken all three points if not for his vital first-half interventions.
Kiwior also scored a fantastic goal, which was rather eclipsed by the two Palace managed to net.
Ahead of PSG, Arsenal can be confident in their defensive partnership.
