After Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace on Wednesday, Michael Owen has some strong opinions about the team’s performance, especially concerning the actions of one key player.
The match ended in a disappointing result for the Gunners, who needed a win to keep their title dreams alive and secure second place in the Premier League.
However, they were held back by two equalizers from their London rivals, leaving fans and pundits alike questioning what went wrong.
A Costly Mistake and a Shared Blame
The turning point came when William Saliba made a costly mistake, gifting Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta a chance to score.
Saliba lost possession of the ball cheaply, and after a quick turn past Martin Ødegaard, Mateta chipped the ball over goalkeeper David Raya into the net for Palace’s second equalizer.
This moment stood out, particularly because it came just a week after Saliba had also been at fault for a goal against Real Madrid.
However, Owen didn’t just focus on Saliba’s error.
He also criticized Raya’s positioning, pointing out that the goalkeeper didn’t make the necessary adjustments to be in a better position to receive a pass from Saliba.
According to Owen, Saliba should have been more vocal in the dressing room, demanding more from Raya, especially when he needed his goalkeeper to be in a safer, more accessible position.
Raya’s Role and Saliba’s Frustration
Speaking on Premier League Productions, Owen explained that Raya tends to take large angles but should have sprinted back to reposition himself once Saliba was about to pass the ball.
“He was never going to be in the game,” Owen said, adding that Saliba’s frustration was justified.
“If I were Saliba, I’d be furious. He needs his goalkeeper to be ready to help him out in those situations.”
In Owen’s view, Saliba shouldn’t be left to deal with these challenges alone.
He suggested that in such critical moments, Raya should make himself a more reliable passing option for his defenders, ensuring that they have a safe choice when they’re under pressure.
The Pressure Mounts for Arsenal
Despite their solid defensive record in the league, Saliba and Raya will need to iron out their mistakes if Arsenal are to remain competitive on all fronts.
With a Champions League semi-final against PSG looming next week, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Arsenal must tighten up their game to progress further in Europe, and that includes cutting out costly errors like the ones they’ve made recently.
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown expressed concerns about the team’s “sloppiness,” especially in light of their recent struggles.
He emphasized that Saliba, in particular, needs to stay alert and avoid losing focus.
Keown pointed to a similar mistake that happened against Real Madrid when Saliba wasn’t sharp enough to react to a simple pass from the goalkeeper.
The Road Ahead for Arsenal
With 18 points dropped from winning positions in the 2024-25 season, Arsenal’s margin for error is shrinking, and their title hopes are slipping away.
As they approach critical games both domestically and in Europe, there’s no room for complacency.
Keown believes that Arsenal’s recent performances, especially in trying to “see out” matches, have led to a drop in concentration, which has cost them valuable points.
The pressure is on, and Arsenal must quickly find a way to shake off these lapses if they are to make a serious push for glory this season.