Arsenal striker, Alexandre Lacazette snatched a point from the jaws of defeat as Arsenal drew 2-2 with Crystal Palace on Patrick Vieira’s return to the Emirates Stadium.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s rebound gave Arsenal an eighth-minute lead but Palace staged an incredible second-half comeback as goals from Christian Benteke (50) and Odsonne Edouard (73) left former Gunners captain Vieira seconds away from victory at the club he won three Premier League titles at over a nine-year spell as a player.
Arsenal looked out of ideas after Kieran Tierney rattled the crossbar late on but, just when it seemed Palace had soaked up everything Arsenal could throw at them, substitute Lacazette rammed home a rebound in the fifth minute of stoppage time to salvage a point.
The draw extends Arsenal’s unbeaten league run to five games and prevents Palace from leapfrogging the Gunners in the Premier League table.
Mikel Arteta says his side started the match well but then became too passive and allowed Crystal Palace back into the match when they should have went looking for a second goal.
“We started the game very well, very dominant, very fluid. We deserved a goal and scored the goal, were in total control. After that we lacked composure, belief and maturity to manage the game.
“We didn’t enjoy that period. We changed a couple of things at half-time, we were better and controlled again, but then we gave the ball away, something you cannot do in this league.
“After that it was a difficult mountain to climb but credit to the team, they never gave up, the substitutes were magnificent, and we created three big chances and scored the goal I think we deserved right at the end.”
Patrick Vieira was full of praise for how his side played against Arsenal and felt Crystal Palace should have won the match, but admits his team will need to learn from the setback.
“It was so close, but we have been saying that a little bit too often. We have to learn from the games we played previously. I am really disappointed because the way the team came back in the second half, they deserved to win the game.
“I am frustrated for them; they were brave and showed character and to concede a goal like that I am disappointed for my players. We conceded those goals on set pieces on the second phases and we need to work on that. We have to pull our sleeves up and put our bodies on the line.
“We were really unlucky today; it is the way it is, but I believe there is more to come from the team to challenge even better. These games will make us stronger. A performance like that allowed me to be more demanding of the players and go back to the field and improve ourselves again.”
Source: Skysports
