Source : ABC NEWS
Arsenal has kept Liverpool’s Premier League title-winning champagne on ice but only just as it was twice pegged back to draw 2-2 at home by Crystal Palace.
First-half goals by Jakub Kiwior and Leandro Trossard looked like being enough for a lacklustre Arsenal against a lively Palace side which earlier equalised with an Eberechi Eze volley.
But there was a late twist as Palace substitute Jean-Philippe Mateta pounced on a lazy pass at the back from William Saliba, leaving intended recipient Martin Ødegaard sprawled on the turf as Mateta produced a superb chipped finish over Arsenal keeper David Raya from outside the box in the 83rd minute.
The draw left second-placed Arsenal on 67 points with four games remaining, meaning it can only match the 79 of Liverpool, which still has five games to play.
Had Arsenal lost, Liverpool would have won the title but they can now seal it with just a draw against Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Sunday (Monday morning AEST).
Both Arsenal and Palace have huge cup semifinal games looming: Arsenal in the Champions League at home to Paris St Germain next Tuesday and Palace this Saturday against Aston Villa in the FA Cup.
Twelfth-placed Palace could have been excused if they were distracted by what will be the biggest game of their season.
Instead, it was Arsenal who were off the pace as they drew for the 13th time in the league this season and fifth time in eight — a statistic that has allowed Liverpool to all but mathematically wrap up a record-equalling 20th English title.
Palace, who left key players Mateta and Ismaila Sarr on the bench but still fielded Eze, will have taken great heart from their display as they prepare for Villa.
Eze took his goal brilliantly, connecting with Adam Wharton’s corner to bounce a volley in off the post past Raya.
But the best was saved to last as Mateta, still wearing the protective covering on his ear badly gashed in the FA Cup fifth-round tie against Millwall, swooped after Saliba missed captain Ødegaard’s direction for a back pass to the goalkeeper and the Palace man lofted a sensational shot over Raya.
If Liverpool can avoid losing to Spurs, they will lock up their first title since breaking a 30-year drought in 2020 and end Manchester City’s run of four straight.
Reuters
