While Arsenal fans are still buzzing over the club’s thrilling run to the Champions League semi-finals, it’s hard to ignore what’s happening on the home front.
In the Premier League, things have taken a pretty sharp turn.
After another frustrating draw at the Emirates, it feels like Liverpool’s title to lose now.
All Liverpool need is a single point at home against Tottenham this weekend to wrap it up.
With four games still to go, it’s less a title race and more of a leisurely stroll across Stanley Park.
Who knows? Maybe Arsenal might even send over a “congrats” bouquet—especially given how generous they’ve been lately.
Palace Came to Play
Crystal Palace weren’t just there to make up the numbers.
Under the watchful eye of coach Oliver Glasner, they looked sharp, spirited, and fully up for it—even with some of their key players rested.
They came from behind not once, but twice, and probably should’ve won.
By the final whistle, it was clear: Palace were the better team on the night.
That doesn’t let Arsenal off the hook.
By the time they play again in the league next Saturday, they’ll have only managed four wins in three months.
A tough stat to swallow for a team that looked unstoppable after hammering Manchester City 5–1 back in early February.
All Eyes on Europe
Now, it’s pretty much Champions League or bust for Mikel Arteta’s men.
They’ll need to find their fire again, and quickly.
Maybe that incredible performance against Real Madrid can light the spark, because Paris Saint-Germain are heading to North London next Tuesday—and that’s a whole different kind of showdown.
Early Promise, Missed Opportunity
The night actually started brightly for Arsenal.
Jakub Kiwior scored just three minutes in, heading home from a well-delivered Martin Ødegaard corner.
That should’ve set the tone. But Palace didn’t wilt.
Even with players like Eze and Mateta starting on the bench, they kept coming.
Leandro Trossard restored Arsenal’s lead just before halftime, but even that wasn’t enough to put the game to bed.
And two minutes after coming on late in the match, Jean-Philippe Mateta left a lasting impression with an outrageous 30-yard chip off the bar.
It was a beauty—and a nightmare moment for Arsenal’s back line.
Tactical Choices, Risky Results
Arteta clearly had one eye on the Champions League when he left Bukayo Saka out of the starting lineup.
Saka took a knock to his Achilles against Ipswich over the weekend, so perhaps it was precautionary.
Still, the decision left Arsenal a bit disjointed, especially as Palace pressed high and created real problems.
Palace had rotated as well, with one eye on their FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa at Wembley this weekend.
But despite the changes, they showed urgency and intent, creating an open and entertaining first half, albeit one full of careless errors from both sides.
Goals, Misses, and One Brilliant Volley
Eberechi Eze’s equalizer in the 27th minute was a textbook finish.
A corner dropped perfectly to him at the edge of the box, and his volley was inch-perfect—low, bouncing into the post and in.
It was straight off the training ground and executed to perfection.
Arsenal hit back through Trossard soon after, but that only temporarily stemmed the tide.
Palace had several more opportunities.
Ismaila Sarr, Justin Devenny, and Marc Guéhi all came close as Arsenal’s defence—and goalkeeper David Raya in particular—looked shaky under pressure.
Chaos at the Back, Mateta Strikes
With just minutes left, Palace finally made one of their chances count.
A mix-up between Ødegaard and Saliba gifted Mateta the ball, and the French striker didn’t waste the opportunity.
He took a glance, spotted Raya off his line, and executed a sublime chip from distance. Game tied, Emirates stunned.
And just like that, the momentum—and maybe even the Premier League title—shifted even further toward Merseyside.
So, What’s Next?
For Arsenal, the focus shifts completely to Europe.
Tuesday’s clash with PSG will be massive—both for morale and for silverware hopes.
Domestically, they’ll need to regroup fast if they don’t want to end the season empty-handed.
Crystal Palace, on the other hand, are heading to Wembley with wind in their sails.
They’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain.
If they can play like this against Villa, they might just be in for a cup final appearance.