Arsenal failed to secure a victory when they hosted Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium in the early hours of Thursday, April 24, 2025. The match, which ended in a 2-2 draw, dealt a significant blow to their title hopes in the Premier League.
The Gunners took the lead twice during the match, first with a goal from Jakub Kiwior in the 3rd minute and then through Leandro Trossard in the 42nd minute. However, Palace responded each time, with Eberechi Eze scoring in the 27th minute and Jean-Philippe Mateta finding the equalizer in the 83rd.
This draw comes at a crucial point in the season, just six days before Arsenal’s highly anticipated Champions League semifinal clash against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Thе fіrѕt lеg оf thе ѕеmіfіnаl will take рlасе at thе Emіrаtеѕ Stаdіum, аddіng furthеr іmроrtаnсе to Arѕеnаl’ѕ performance in the lеаguе.
Mikel Arteta did not hide his disappointment with his team’s performance. He expressed that the standard of play had dropped significantly, and the match highlighted several areas where improvement was urgently needed.
Drop in Standards
Arteta lamented the number of basic mistakes his team made throughout the game. He admitted that Arsenal struggled with consistency in controlling the match, which ultimately cost them valuable points.
The Arsenal boss credited Crystal Palace for their disciplined approach and for taking advantage of the Gunners’ weaknesses. The goals conceded showed that Arsenal’s defense was far from solid, as they failed to keep Palace at bay despite having a lead twice.
“We lowered our standards today, and credit goes to Crystal Palace. We had difficulty finding any rhythm or consistency in our play. We lost the ball too easily, and we were always late in our actions. I’m disappointed,” Arteta stated.
“We weren’t consistent enough in our efforts to dominate the game. This is part of football, and it’s what led us to drop two points.”
Arsenal Keeping Focus Amid Champions League Tension
While Arteta dismissed suggestions that his players were already thinking about the upcoming Champions League semifinal. He did acknowledge that the team was not in ideal physical condition for this match. Some key players were either absent or not fully recovered from injuries, and Arteta noted that his squad was stretched thin for the encounter against Palace.
“We’ve discussed the need to keep our focus sharp and not let our attention wander,” he emphasized.
“We have enough time to prepare for PSG, but today, we simply didn’t perform well enough to win the game. It’s nice to have a longer break now, as we really need it. We also need our players to get back to their best form.”
Arteta recognized that today’s result could be a challenging setback. Particularly as there were several areas where his team should have performed better. Despite the draw, he remained focused on the bigger picture. Stressing the need for improvement in the coming days as Arsenal sets their sights on the Champions League.
“This could be a tough one to swallow. In many aspects of the game, we should have done better today,” he concluded.
As Arsenal prepares for their European challenge, the team will need to regroup. And address the issues highlighted in this disappointing draw, ensuring they are in top form for the pivotal matches ahead.
