Liverpool Edges Closer to Title Glory
Arsenal dropped vital points in the Premier League title race after drawing 2-2 with Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium, as a crowd of 60,167 witnessed the Gunners surrender the lead twice on Wednesday 23 April 2025, which leaves them trailing league leaders Liverpool by 12 points with just three matches remaining in the season, giving Liverpool a clear chance to secure the title with a draw against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday at Anfield, where a single point would confirm their 20th league crown and equal Manchester United’s record.
Arsenal Rotate Ahead of European Clash
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta faced a tactical balancing act with the Champions League semi-final first leg against Paris Saint-Germain looming on Tuesday, and with the need to rest players, Arteta left Bukayo Saka on the bench after the winger suffered an ankle knock during the weekend win over Ipswich, while both Mikel Merino and Ben White were absent from the squad due to undisclosed injuries, and when asked about their availability, Arteta stated, “We will have to wait and see as they were not able to be in the squad here,” underlining the uncertainty surrounding his key players.
Early Lead for Arsenal
Arsenal made an immediate impact in the third minute when Jakub Kiwior rose to meet Martin Ødegaard’s free-kick and planted a precise header past Dean Henderson to give the home side an early advantage, although Crystal Palace soon found their rhythm and responded in the 27th minute when Adam Wharton delivered a clever clipped ball to Eberechi Eze, who volleyed his effort into the ground and saw it bounce off the post and into the net to level the score.
Trossard Strikes Before Half-Time
The Gunners regained the lead in the 42nd minute when Leandro Trossard, leading the attack in place of the rested Saka, picked up a pass from Jurrien Timber and squeezed a low shot into the bottom corner past Henderson, with the Belgian forward now scoring his fourth goal in four league matches, a tally that matches the total he registered in his previous 31 appearances, and his continued form will likely see him start again in the Champions League semi-final with Thomas Partey suspended and Mikel Merino still a doubt.
Figure 1: Trossard scores the second goal
Mateta Punishes Arsenal Mistake
Arsenal looked to see out the win but handed Palace a lifeline in the 83rd minute when William Saliba misplayed a loose pass 25 yards from goal, allowing substitute Jean-Philippe Mateta to intercept and chip goalkeeper David Raya with a composed finish that brought the match level once more, and while Arsenal tried to respond, they were unable to create another clear opportunity before full-time.
Arsenal’s Draw Marks Their 13th of the Season
The draw marked Arsenal’s 13th in the league this season, which continues to impact their title hopes significantly, as these dropped points, combined with Liverpool’s consistency, have widened the gap at the top of the table, and although Arteta fielded a strong lineup with Trossard deployed centrally, the Gunners could not convert their early dominance into a decisive result, leaving them with minimal margin for error in the final stretch of the campaign.
Palace Focus on FA Cup
Crystal Palace, now firmly in 12th place and safe from relegation, turned in a committed performance as their attention shifts to the FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa at Wembley on Saturday, and manager Oliver Glasner continued to trust his 3-4-2-1 formation that has yielded results this season, though he initially left top scorer Mateta on the bench in a decision that paid off when the forward scored the equaliser late in the game.
Defensive Struggles but Attacking Promise
Despite Palace’s attacking persistence, defensive lapses in the first half allowed Arsenal to find space and create scoring chances, and although the Eagles defended more tightly in the second half, they missed opportunities to steal the win when Justin Devenny and Ismaila Sarr both rose for promising headers but failed to test Raya, showing Palace’s potential but also the areas Glasner must address before Saturday’s high-stakes cup clash.
Glasner Encouraged by Goals and Spirit
Glasner will take encouragement from the quality of both goals scored by his team, with Eze’s well-executed volley and Mateta’s clever finish standing out as examples of Palace’s growing composure in front of goal, and while improvement is still required defensively, especially against higher-tier opposition like Villa, the attacking intent displayed at the Emirates may provide momentum for their FA Cup ambitions.
Key Match Facts
- Score: Arsenal 2 (Kiwior 3′, Trossard 42′), Crystal Palace 2 (Eze 27′, Mateta 83′)
- Assists: Arsenal – Ødegaard, Timber; Palace – Wharton
- Venue: Emirates Stadium
- Attendance: 60,167
- Half-Time: Arsenal 2–1 Crystal Palace
- Full-Time: Arsenal 2–2 Crystal Palace
Upcoming Fixtures and Stakes
Arsenal will now prepare for a critical Champions League semi-final first leg against PSG in North London, while Crystal Palace will meet Aston Villa at Wembley in a bid to reach the FA Cup final, and with Liverpool needing just one point against Tottenham, Arsenal’s title hopes rest not only on their own performances but on results elsewhere in what promises to be a decisive few days across competitions.
