Postpublished at 10:50 British Summer Time
Charlotte Coates
BBC Sport
Bold, Leo, bold.
The table doesn't lie and all that...
Summary
Premier League reaction as Arsenal draw 2-2 with Crystal Palace
The result means Liverpool are now just one point away from the Premier League title
It was Arsenal's 13th draw of the league campaign with Mikel Arteta's side 12 points behind Liverpool with four games remaining
Reaction: 'Arteta will be furious'
In other football news, Eddie Howe has returned to Newcastle training after recently been hospitalised with pneumonia
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Postpublished at 10:50 British Summer Time
get involved Get Involved - 'Have Arsenal actually ever been in the title race this season?'published at 10:49 British Summer Time
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Have Arsenal actually ever been in the title race this season? I feel like the club tried to talk its way into the title race, but the table has always told a different story.
Leo
Postpublished at 10:46 British Summer Time
Charlotte Coates
BBC SportIt is incredible seeing the amount of points Arsenal have won since 2022-23. Just one less than Man City!
But, still, no title to show for it.
It's hard work being a football fan, isn't it?!
No title to show for Arsenal's dominancepublished at 10:41 British Summer Time
FT: Arsenal 2-2 Crystal Palace
Image source, Getty ImagesLast December marked five years since Mikel Arteta took charge of Arsenal.
There has been a marked improvement in Arsenal's performances since the Spaniard returned to Emirates Stadium as their manager, but a lack of silverware will frustrate Arteta, his players and the fans alike.
The FA Cup in 2020 remains the only major silverware in Arteta's tenure and they have come short in the Premier League regularly despite challenging for the title.
The Gunners are on course to finish runners-up in the league for the third time running and are only one point behind Manchester City in terms of points collected since the 2022-23 season.
Manchester City have 241 point since the start of 2022-23 season with Arsenal on 240.
Liverpool, who have only collected 228 points during that period, are now one point away from a Premier League title.
Points in the Premier League since 2022-23:
- Manchester City - 241 points
- Arsenal - 240 points
- Liverpool - 228 points
Postpublished at 10:38 British Summer Time
If Mikel Arteta is "not the guy" to bring the Champions League or Premier League to the Emirates then who is?
get involved Get Involved - 'Arteta is not the guy that will win a Prem or UCL'published at 10:36 British Summer Time
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Don't understand all the praises for Arteta. He has done the minimum expected of a manager that has spent six years at a "big club" and spent hundreds of milions, and the only trophies he has to show for it is a single FA cup and two Charity Shields. Don't get me wrong, winning anything as a manager in England should be congratulated. However, he is not the guy that will win a Prem or UCL. It's unfortunate because there is some good talent at Arsenal and before they know it, they will be approaching 30 and looking at the lack of accolades and want to leave for a team that actually wins trophies.
Anon
get involved Get Involved - 'Liverpool side had a ruthless streak, unlike this Arsenal side'published at 10:34 British Summer Time
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Read an interesting point earlier about Arsenal and Arteta being to emotional and honestly it’s spot on, they really are. They are a lot like the Liverpool sides under Klopp, however when it mattered most that Liverpool side had a ruthless streak in them e.g the champions league final against Spurs and then winning the premier league the season after and winning 26 and drawing 1 in the opening 27 games- ruthless, when it mattered unlike this Arsenal side.
Anon
Postpublished at 10:30 British Summer Time
Charlotte Coates
BBC SportI agree with you there, Paul.
Liverpool can still reach 94 points this season, which would be the fifth-highest in the Premier League era.
Most of the chat has been about Arsenal's failures this season but what about Liverpool's success?
get involved Get Involved - 'Not even sure people actually realise how good Liverpool have been'published at 10:24 British Summer Time
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All these comments and not even sure people actually realise how good Liverpool have been this season, lost only two games and those were to two teams who have been playing great football most this season. Been top since 2nd Nov and kept going and going and now only 1 point away of winning there second Premier league in five seasons. Great achievement!
Paul
get involved Get Involved - 'Arteta would be deemed a god if we improved this season'published at 10:22 British Summer Time
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To assess Arsenal's season without taking into account long-term injuries variously to Saka, Havertz, Jesus, White and Gabriel, not to mention extended ones to Odegaard and Martinelli, is ridiculous. With a full break this summer and one or two major recruits, they will be a very different force next year.
Jon
Our most creative player was injured for half the season and hasn’t looked the greatest since he’s come back. Our number 9 injured again after finding some form. And our best player injured for half the season. Arteta would be deemed a god if we improved this season. Always shifting goal posts for Arsenal
Louis
Was at the emirates last night and can wholeheartedly say that no one was up for it - including us fans. Most were thinking get through this without any injuries. Mark my words we’ll be up for PSG. And by the way Arsenal have had the best total points tally over the last three seasons combined - a league title is coming
Anon
Postpublished at 10:18 British Summer Time
Charlotte Coates
BBC SportWhen your team is going for the title and they draw too many games, it's extremely frustrating. You start to look at what could have been.
What can be done at Arsenal to turn these draws into wins? Is it all down to signing a striker or is more needed?
Arsenal have failed to protect leadspublished at 10:15 British Summer Time
FT: Arsenal 2-2 Crystal Palace
The game against Crystal Palace also saw Arsenal giving up a winning position - something that has become a norm for Mikel Arteta's side this season.
It was Arsenal's ninth Premier League draw in a match they were leading in this season, two more than any other side.
It is the most by a team in a season since Tottenham in 2007-08.
It means that the Gunners have dropped 18 points from a winning position this campaign - compared to Liverpool's 11.
That is not enough points to overturn their deficit to the leaders but it would have made the title race a lot more interesting had Arteta's side held on to those wins.
Postpublished at 10:10 British Summer Time
Charlotte Coates
BBC SportI think you're spot on there, Alex.
I tipped Arsenal at the start of the season to win the league despite Man City's dominance. I just thought City couldn't win forever and I was right.
I was wrong on who would capitalise on that though.
get involved Get Involved - 'Arsenal spent so much time obsessing over Man City that they let Liverpool in through the back doorpublished at 10:08 British Summer Time
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Arsenal spent so much time obsessing over Manchester City that they let Liverpool in through the back door. As the team that's been primed to capitalise on a slip up from City over the past few years, it's unacceptable for the league season to have gone the way it has for Arsenal. The Champions League is now must-win to salvage anything other than another season of being the bridesmaid and not the bride for Arteta and Co.
Alex, Basingstoke
Postpublished at 10:06 British Summer Time
Charlotte Coates
BBC SportSmashing job as always Joe!
He'll be back later on, but for now, you're stuck with me.
Let's carry on with the Arsenal chat, shall we?
Postpublished at 10:00 British Summer Time
Joe Rindl
BBC SportNow that is really good news.
Right, Charlotte's going to take over the live.
What a morning stint we've had together. Arsenal chat, draw statistics and historical city building time frames.
Who knows what I'll return to in the afternoon. See you in a bit.
Eddie Howe has returned to dutypublished at 09:57 British Summer Time
Newcastle v Ipswich (Sat 15:00 BST)
Quick detour from Arsenal and Arteta - Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has returned to duty. A statement from the club read:
"Newcastle United are delighted to confirm that Eddie Howe has returned to his duties at the club’s Training Centre.
"Eddie had recently been hospitalised with pneumonia and has now returned to work after a period of recovery.
"We thank supporters for their warm wishes."
Howe missed three games - against Manchester United, Crystal Palace, and Aston Villa - due to pneumonia. Newcastle won two of those games under the stewardship of assistant manager Jason Tindall. He will now be able to oversee his team against Ipswich this weekend.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 09:54 British Summer Time
Joe Rindl
BBC SportI've got hooked on stalemate statistics now!
The record for most draws in a single 38-game Premier League season is 17, and that's held jointly between Newcastle (2003-04), Aston Villa (2006-07 and 2011-12) and Sunderland (2014-15).
Arsenal have 13 draws after 34 games.
Another title is likely to pass them by...
Far too many draws hurting Arsenalpublished at 09:50 British Summer Time
FT: Arsenal 2-2 Crystal Palace
Image source, Getty ImagesArsenal have also failed to convert draws into wins this season - another reason why they have failed to keep pace with Liverpool.
Their 13 draws this season is more than any other team in the Premier League, except Everton, who have one more.
In their past four outings, they have been held by Everton, Brentford and Crystal Palace.
Brighton, in 10th, and 12th-placed Palace have played out 12 draws each this season.
"We haven't been able to see the games off for too many reasons and the margins have been too small," Arteta said when asked about their 13th draw of the season yesterday.
"Sometimes it's credit to the opposition and sometimes it's because we played five times with 10 men. There are a lot of factors."
Postpublished at 09:48 British Summer Time
Joe Rindl
BBC SportCheers Michael and Gav.
I've found another Arsenal draw stat.
Last night's was Arsenal's ninth Premier League draw in a match they were leading, two more than any other side this season.
If you're a Tottenham fan following this morning don't get too smug though. Your side holds the all-time draws-after-leading single-season record. (2007-08)
