Postpublished at 47 mins
Arsenal 2-1 Crystal Palace
Myles Lewis-Skelly is fouled by Justin Devenny, who goes into the book.
Leandro Trossard scored Arsenal's second goal
Crystal Palace twice came from behind to draw at second-placed Arsenal and leave Liverpool one point from being crowned Premier League champions for the second time in six seasons.
A draw against Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Sunday (16:30 BST) would now be enough for Arne Slot's side, who lead Arsenal by 12 points, to clinch their 20th league title - equalling Manchester United's record.
Both Arsenal and Palace's main focus is on their cup exploits, with the Gunners in the Champions League semi-finals and the Eagles at the same stage in the FA Cup - and both managers rested key players.
Arsenal took an early lead at Emirates Stadium when centre-back Jakub Kiwior planted an excellent header past Dean Henderson from a Martin Odegaard free-kick in the third minute.
Palace looked dangerous on the attack but vulnerable at the back, and Oliver Glasner's side equalised through a cleverly worked set-piece in the 27th minute.
Adam Wharton clipped the ball to the edge of the area and Eberechi Eze volleyed his shot into the ground and the ball hit the post before making its way into the net.
Leandro Trossard gave Arsenal the lead just before half-time when he picked up a pass from Jurrien Timber and squeezed a shot into the bottom corner.
The Eagles continued to push for an equaliser and had good opportunities with headers from Justin Devenny and Ismaila Sarr but neither could get a good contact on the ball.
Palace did level for a second time through substitute Jean-Philippe Mateta, when William Saliba gifted him the ball with a dreadful loose pass 25 yards out and the striker produced an excellent chipped finish over stranded Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.
Gunners fans will be concerned by the absence of Ben White and Mikel Merino from the squad, with boss Mikel Arteta declining to comment on what their injuries were.
When asked if they would be fit to face PSG on Tuesday, Arteta said: "We will have to wait and see as they were not able to be in the squad here."
Arsenal 'dropped the standards' in draw against Palace - Arteta
This match was always going to be tricky for Arsenal manager Arteta to navigate with Tuesday's Champions League semi-final first leg against Paris St-Germain looming.
And this draw, Arsenal's 13th in the Premier League, is one of the big reasons why the Gunners have fallen away in their title challenge.
Arteta picked a strong side six days before Luis Enrique's team come to north London, with Bukayo Saka on the bench as a precaution.
Saka was named as a substitute after he took a kick to his ankle in the win over Ipswich at the weekend, and Arteta played Trossard as a striker as he looked to try options before their season-defining game in Europe.
Trossard, who is likely to start in the central striking role next week as Merino - who missed this match through injury - will be needed in midfield because of Thomas Partey's suspension.
The Belgian produced an excellent touch for the second Arsenal goal - his fourth in his past four Premier League appearances, matching the amount he registered in his previous 31.
'Everything went how we wanted' - Glasner
Just like the Gunners, Crystal Palace's focus is now on a cup semi-final with Aston Villa the opposition at Wembley on Saturday.
The Eagles are safe in 12th position in the Premier League and their hopes of a path into Europe rest on winning the FA Cup.
Glasner was unlikely to change the 3-4-2-1 formation which has brought Palace some excellent results this season, though he did leave top scorer Mateta on the bench.
The Eagles defended poorly at times in the first half but did have opportunities to take all three points, which would have meant Liverpool wrapping up the title.
Devenny and Sarr both had good chances in the second half with close-range headers, but neither caused Arsenal keeper Raya problems.
Palace will need to defend better than at the Emirates if they are to reach the FA Cup final - but Glasner will surely be pleased with the goals his side scored.
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
33 | 24 | 7 | 2 | 75 | 31 | 44 | 79 |
| |
34 | 18 | 13 | 3 | 63 | 29 | 34 | 67 |
| |
34 | 18 | 7 | 9 | 66 | 43 | 23 | 61 |
| |
33 | 18 | 6 | 9 | 53 | 39 | 14 | 60 |
| |
33 | 18 | 5 | 10 | 62 | 44 | 18 | 59 |
| |
33 | 16 | 9 | 8 | 58 | 40 | 18 | 57 |
| |
34 | 16 | 9 | 9 | 54 | 49 | 5 | 57 |
| |
33 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 52 | 40 | 12 | 49 |
| |
33 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 48 | 45 | 3 | 48 |
| |
33 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 53 | 53 | 0 | 48 |
| |
33 | 13 | 7 | 13 | 56 | 50 | 6 | 46 |
| |
34 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 43 | 47 | -4 | 45 |
| |
33 | 8 | 14 | 11 | 34 | 40 | -6 | 38 |
| |
33 | 10 | 8 | 15 | 38 | 46 | -8 | 38 |
| |
33 | 11 | 5 | 17 | 48 | 61 | -13 | 38 |
| |
33 | 11 | 4 | 18 | 61 | 51 | 10 | 37 |
| |
33 | 9 | 9 | 15 | 37 | 55 | -18 | 36 |
| |
33 | 4 | 9 | 20 | 33 | 71 | -38 | 21 |
| |
33 | 4 | 6 | 23 | 27 | 73 | -46 | 18 |
| |
33 | 2 | 5 | 26 | 24 | 78 | -54 | 11 |
|
Manager: Mikel Arteta
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
Manager: Oliver Glasner
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Manager: Mikel Arteta
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
Manager: Oliver Glasner
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Premier League
All competitions
All competitions
All competitions
Arsenal have won their last five Premier League games against Crystal Palace, netting exactly five goals in both of the last two.
Having been unbeaten in four Premier League away games against Arsenal between 2019 and 2021 (W1 D3), Crystal Palace have lost their two league visits to the Emirates by an aggregate score of 9-1.
Arsenal have lost just three of their last 36 home Premier League matches (W26 D7), though two of those three have been in London derbies, both defeats to West Ham in December 2023 (0-2) and February this season (0-1).
Crystal Palace have won three Premier League London derbies this season, last winning more in a single top-flight campaign in 1990-91 (5).
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 42 home Premier League games when they’ve scored first (W36 D6), since losing 2-1 to Man City on New Year’s Day 2022. The Gunners have failed to win four times when scoring first at the Emirates this season (W8 D4), however, their most in a season since 2019-20 (5).
Crystal Palace have won their last two away Premier League London derbies, beating West Ham and Fulham 2-0 each time. That’s more wins than in their previous 22 away London derbies combined (W1 D11 L10). They last won three in a row between April 1995 and November 1997.
Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s worst month for Premier League points per game at the Emirates is in April (18 in 12 games, 1.5 points per game), losing more games in that month (4) than any other.
Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli has scored five goals in his last five Premier League games against Crystal Palace, while his six goals against the Eagles overall is his most against any opponent.
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has had a hand in seven goals in his last eight appearances at the Emirates (4 goals, 3 assists). In all competitions, only Bukayo Saka (15) and Kai Havertz (14) have more goals and assists combined than Rice on home soil for the Gunners this season (11 - 5 goals, 6 assists).
Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta has been involved in five goals in his last seven Premier League London derbies (4 goals, 1 assist), scoring in three this season against Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and West Ham. Only three Eagles players have scored in four games in one season – Andrew Johnson in 2004-05 (6), Jordan Ayew in 2019-20 (4) and Christian Benteke in 2020-21 (4).