Arsenal 2-2 Crystal Palace: Mateta leveller leaves Liverpool one point from glory

Only a Palace victory at Emirates Stadium would have secured Liverpool their 20th top-flight crown without playing in midweek, but a truly remarkable set of results are now required to deny Arne Slot's side, who can wrap up the title at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Palace never led but were the better side for long stretches, responding to Jakub Kiwior's early opener with a fine Eberechi Eze goal before working hard to cancel out Leandro Trossard's strike shortly before half-time.

The second equaliser did not arrive until seven minutes from time and came in bizarre fashion as Saliba gifted the ball to Palace substitute Jean-Philippe Mateta, who saw David Raya off his line and executed a sublime lob that clipped the crossbar on its way in.

The draw means Arsenal are 12 points off the pace with only four matches to play, while Palace are still 12th but a point closer to the European places and with an FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa still to come on Saturday.

Oliver Glasner's side should not lack confidence heading into that encounter, having given Champions League semi-finalists Arsenal a stern examination ahead of their own big match against Paris Saint-Germain next week.

A point at the EmiratesThe focus turns to Wembley.#CPFC // #ARSCRY pic.twitter.com/R8QrQKzGIL

— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) April 23, 2025

Arsenal have only lost three times in the Premier League this season, once more than Liverpool, yet the title race is all but run with four matches still to play.

That is because the Gunners have drawn 13 times, including in nine matches like this one in which they had earlier led.

Not since Tottenham also drew nine times after leading in 2007-08 have a team thrown away so many points in this manner, and Arsenal would still be hot on Liverpool's heels had they held on to even a handful of those leads.