Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta admitted his side lacked “energy” in their 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace — a performance that leaves Liverpool on the verge of clinching the Premier League title.
The Gunners had hoped for a morale-boosting win ahead of their Champions League semi-final clash with Paris Saint-Germain. However, a frustrating night at the Emirates saw Arsenal once again let a lead slip.
Jakub Kiwior headed Arsenal in front inside three minutes, but Eberechi Eze equalised with a well-taken volley in the 27th minute. Leandro Trossard restored Arsenal’s lead before half-time, only for Jean-Philippe Mateta to strike late with a lofted finish past David Raya in the 83rd minute.
The result leaves Arsenal 12 points behind league leaders Liverpool with only four games remaining. A draw or win for Arne Slot’s side against Tottenham on Sunday will officially crown them champions, equalling Manchester United’s record of 20 English league titles.
Despite their title hopes having faded in recent weeks, Arsenal had turned their attention to a historic first-ever Champions League triumph. Yet, Arteta admitted the display against Palace was far from the level needed for their upcoming European showdown.
“We are disappointed with the result and performance. We didn’t find enough consistency in actions to dominate the game,” said Arteta. “We gave the ball away in simple ways and we were late in everything. We have to do much better.”
The draw marked Arsenal’s ninth this season after taking the lead — a Premier League record since Tottenham’s 2007-08 campaign. In total, they’ve dropped points in 13 of their 34 league games.
With several key players out injured, Arteta welcomed the extended break before facing PSG. “It is nice to have a long gap. We need it and we need players back to full strength. We have the most important game of the season in six days. We need to get our energy back.”
Palace, meanwhile, rotated their squad ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa. Even without starting key attackers Mateta and Ismaila Sarr, they delivered a spirited performance.
Manager Oliver Glasner praised his team’s resilience: “It was not our goal to decide the title, it was our goal to win the game. A draw is a very good result. More important is the performance. We are back on the track. We wanted to show our identity and personality.”
