Arsenal lacked “energy” in their 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace, as manager Mikel Arteta acknowledged the need for his side to regain focus ahead of their Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain. The match, which took place at the Emirates Stadium, was a disappointing outcome for Arsenal, leaving them 12 points behind leaders Liverpool with only four matches remaining.
The Gunners started the match brightly, taking the lead in the third minute through a header by Jakub Kiwior. However, Palace quickly responded with a stunning volley by Eberechi Eze in the 27th minute, leveling the score. Arsenal regained the lead shortly before halftime, with Leandro Trossard finding the net in the 42nd minute. Despite this, Palace fought back and equalized in the 83rd minute, as substitute Jean-Philippe Mateta lobbed the ball over goalkeeper David Raya, who was caught out of position.
This draw marked Arsenal’s ninth of the season, with their failure to close out games contributing to their inability to challenge Liverpool for the title. Arsenal had been hoping for a morale-boosting victory ahead of their first Champions League semi-final appearance since 2009. However, the lack of intensity and consistency against Palace left Arteta frustrated. The manager expressed disappointment with his team’s performance, stating that they struggled to dominate the game, particularly with simple ball giveaways and late reactions.
Arsenal’s focus has already shifted to the Champions League, with Arteta admitting that the upcoming clash with PSG is their most important match of the season. However, the lack of momentum from the Palace match was far from ideal preparation. Arsenal’s injury concerns also continue to mount, with Mikel Merino, who has been filling in as a makeshift striker due to injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, being sidelined for the Palace match and possibly missing the PSG encounter. Defender Ben White’s fitness is also in question, adding to Arteta’s concerns ahead of the European clash.
Despite their title hopes being all but extinguished weeks ago, Arsenal remain focused on securing a Champions League victory for the first time. With only a few matches left in the Premier League, they are set to finish as runners-up for the third consecutive season. However, Arteta is keen to ensure his team is fully prepared for PSG, and he emphasized the importance of regaining their energy ahead of the Champions League semi-final.
Arteta also highlighted the challenges faced by his squad, which has been decimated by injuries. The lack of available players has contributed to their struggles in maintaining high standards, and Arteta was clear that the team needs a break to recover and regroup. The week-long gap before the PSG match will give Arsenal a chance to rest and hopefully get some players back to full fitness.
Palace, on the other hand, put in a solid performance despite having an FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa on the horizon. Manager Oliver Glasner made the decision to rest key players like Mateta and Ismaila Sarr, yet his team still managed to put up a strong fight against Arsenal. Glasner was pleased with the performance, noting that while the result didn’t decide the title race, it was important for his team to show they were back on track after a challenging period.
