Arsenal prevented Liverpool from being topped Premier League champions with out kicking a ball regardless of conceding a late goal in a 2-2 draw towards Crystal Palace.
Mikel Arteta’s gamers knew {that a} defeat on the Emirates would see Liverpool take the title, however the residence facet had been forward inside three minutes by Jakub Kiwior.
Eberechi Eze’s excellent volley from a nook hauled Palace stage earlier than Leandro Trossard scored his third aim in two matches to revive Arsenal’s benefit.
Arsenal appeared on target to take all three factors however a sloppy go by William Saliba allowed Palace substitute Jean-Philippe Mateta to strike with seven minutes left.
The Gunners are 12 factors adrift of Liverpool and, with solely the identical variety of factors obtainable throughout their remaining 4 matches, Arne Slot’s squad will seal the title with a draw towards Tottenham at Anfield on Sunday.
Arteta’s facet will now flip their consideration to subsequent week’s opening leg of their Champions League semi-final towards Paris Saint-Germain with Palace to face Aston Villa at Wembley on Saturday as they bid for a spot within the FA Cup ultimate.
Arsenal’s title problem has lengthy since pale, and for a 3rd consecutive season they give the impression of being set to complete as runners-up. However Arteta and his gamers may have been determined to keep away from handing the title to Liverpool by shedding towards Palace.
With their match towards PSG simply six days away, Bukayo Saka dropped to the bench, however Arsenal had been forward after simply 145 seconds.
Kiwior broke freed from the Palace defence to reach unmarked to Martin Odegaard’s free-kick to move residence simply the third aim of his Arsenal profession.
To their credit score, Palace responded properly, and former Arsenal man Eddie Nketiah headed huge from a nook earlier than scuffing a shot when he might need executed higher. However Palace had been quickly on stage phrases when Eze produced a second of magic.
Standing unmarked on the sting of Arsenal’s penalty space, Eze fired Adam Wharton’s pinpoint nook on the volley, into the bottom, and into the web, by way of the within of David Raya’s publish.
Palace had their tails up, and Nketiah almost put the guests forward after he wriggled freed from Kiwior solely to see his shot hit the Pole’s outstretched leg.
Thomas Partey’s suspension might see Mikel Merino, who was absent from Arsenal’s squad right here, revert to midfield for the sport towards PSG and permit Trossard to steer the assault.
And after his double towards Ipswich on Sunday, Trossard was again among the many scorers three minutes earlier than half-time when he picked up Jurrien Timber’s go and unleashed a shot which took a slight deflection off Maxence Lacroix’s studs previous Dean Henderson. The previous Brighton man goaded the visiting Palace followers by cupping his ear of their course.
After the break, Raya was known as into motion when he tipped over Justin Devenny’s effort after which denied Marc Guehi’s header from the ensuing nook.
On the different finish, Gabriel Martinelli had a aim chalked off after Timber didn’t maintain the ball in as he minimize it again for his teammate.
Substitute Saka’s side-footed volley from Martinelli’s cross was palmed over by Henderson with 10 minutes left, however there can be one other twist when Palace equalised moments later.
An informal Saliba noticed his tried go to Odegaard intercepted by Mateta, and the striker, having solely simply been introduced on, noticed Raya out of place earlier than he produced a chic end to chip the ball over the Spaniard’s head.
Eight minutes of harm time adopted however a nervy Arsenal noticed out the draw with Liverpool pressured to place the champagne again on ice.
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