Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes suffered a major blow on Saturday as Crystal Palace twice came from behind to secure a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium, leaving Liverpool on the verge of clinching their 20th league crown.
The result means that Arne Slot’s Liverpool side, who sit 12 points ahead of second-placed Arsenal, need only a draw against Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Sunday to mathematically seal the title and match Manchester United’s record haul of 20 top-flight championships.
With both sides heavily focused on cup competitions — Arsenal in the Champions League semi-finals and Palace in the FA Cup’s last four — rotation was the order of the day, as managers Mikel Arteta and Oliver Glasner rested several key players.
Arsenal made a dream start in front of their home fans, going ahead in the third minute when Polish centre-back Jakub Kiwior met Martin Ødegaard’s precise free-kick with a powerful header past Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
Despite the early setback, Palace remained positive and attacked with intent. Their persistence paid off in the 27th minute through a well-rehearsed set-piece. Midfielder Adam Wharton floated a ball to the edge of the box, where Eberechi Eze met it with a bouncing volley that struck the post and trickled into the net, drawing the visitors level.
The Gunners reclaimed the lead just before the interval when Belgian forward Leandro Trossard latched onto a neat pass from returning defender Jurrien Timber. Trossard showed great composure to fire low into the corner, giving the home side a 2-1 lead at the break.
Palace, however, refused to lie down. Despite spurning good chances through headers from Justin Devenny and Ismaila Sarr, the South Londoners kept probing Arsenal’s defence and were rewarded for their efforts in the 78th minute.
A costly error from William Saliba handed the ball to Jean-Philippe Mateta, who had only been on the pitch for a few minutes. The French striker calmly chipped the ball over the onrushing David Raya from 25 yards out to silence the Emirates and secure a valuable point for the Eagles.
The draw adds further concern for Arsenal fans, not just because of the dropped points, but also due to the absence of key players Ben White and Mikel Merino. Manager Mikel Arteta declined to elaborate on their condition post-match, saying only: “We will have to wait and see as they were not able to be in the squad here,” when asked about their availability for Tuesday’s crunch Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain.
The result dents Arsenal’s domestic ambitions while boosting Crystal Palace’s confidence ahead of their FA Cup semi-final showdown. But most significantly, it sets the stage for a potential title coronation at Anfield on Sunday — one that could see Liverpool return to the summit of English football for the second time in six seasons.