Palace’s Mateta punishes Arsenal muddle to leave Liverpool one point from title | Premier League

Liverpool’s coronation as Premier League champions will have to wait a few more days, although it’s only a matter of when, not if. In a match that could have represented a microcosm of their domestic season, Arsenal appeared to be heading towards a narrow victory against a dogged Crystal Palace side. Eberechi Eze’s brilliant volley had cancelled out Jakub Kiwior’s early opener but Leandro Trossard then restored the Gunners’ lead.

However, an uncharacteristic mistake from William Saliba allowed Jean-Philippe Mateta, on as a substitute, to equalise with seven minutes to play and secure a deserved point for Palace, who will now head to Wembley for their FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa on Saturday brimming with confidence.

Liverpool’s players had gathered to watch events unfold in north London knowing that a defeat would seal a record-equalling 20th league title with five games still to play. As it is, they have a 12-point lead and a vastly superior goal difference, with a draw against Tottenham on Sunday all that is required to make it official.

At least Arsenal – who look destined to end up as runners-up for a third year in row, having drawn nine games this season from winning positions and 13 in total – still have the consolation of their Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain next week.

“The game wasn’t grabbed like we normally do,” said Mikel Arteta, who revealed that Ben White and Mikel Merino are doubts to face PSG after being left out due to unspecified injuries. “We have to wait and see but they weren’t able to be in the squad tonight.”

Arteta insisted beforehand that, as well as delaying Liverpool’s title procession, Arsenal had an incentive to win this game to maintain the momentum of their victories against Real Madrid. Reports emerged just before kick-off that Arsenal have opened talks with Thomas Partey over extending his contract which expires in the summer having previously seemed set to depart – surely a reward for some consistently commanding performances in central midfield this season, even if his suspension from the first leg against PSG will give Arteta a headache.

Palace have previously played the role of party poopers when they famously came back from 3-0 down against Liverpool in 2014 to virtually assure Manchester City of the title. With one eye on their own big day out at Wembley, there didn’t seem to be much chance of history repeating itself this time – especially when Kiwior rose unmarked to head in Martin Ødegaard’s free-kick in the third minute.

Oliver Glasner, who complained that Palace had been put at a disadvantage after getting 24 hours less than Villa to prepare for their meeting on Saturday, was delighted with how his much-changed team refused to give up. “The response of the players was unbelievable,” the Palace manager said. “I’m very proud of them.”

Arsenal’s unbeaten record in all competitions stretches back to the end of February, although four draws in their previous seven Premier League matches had undermined any chance of catching Liverpool.

Declan Rice was inches away from doubling his side’s lead when he flashed a shot just wide but Palace had been more than holding their own when they summoned up a spectacular equaliser. Arsenal’s defenders didn’t seem to have noticed Eze on the edge of the box for a corner and he was picked out perfectly by Adam Wharton to volley the ball in off the post.

It could have been even better for Palace had Kiwior not been on hand to block Eddie Nketiah’s shot after another immaculate piece of skill from Eze to set him up. Suddenly Arsenal’s supporters were venting their frustrations. Yet after scoring twice at the weekend, Trossard continued his rich vein of form when he squeezed a shot past Dean Henderson via a deflection off Jefferson Lerma on the stroke of half-time to restore their lead.

The Palace goalkeeper needed treatment at the start of the second half when Nketiah clattered into him as he attempted to head away a free-kick but Henderson was able to continue. The introduction of Bukayo Saka off the bench on the hour drew almost as big a roar as either of the home side’s goals as Arsenal attempted to put the game to bed.

Justin Devenny spurned a massive opportunity for Palace to draw level again when he failed to make proper contact with an Ismaïla Sarr cross before David Raya denied Marc Guéhi from the resulting corner. Somehow Sarr could not get enough power behind his header after Daniel Muñoz headed another corner across the face of goal as Palace piled on the pressure.

Gabriel Martinelli thought he had settled matters when he touched in Jurriën Timber’s cross but VAR eventually ruled that the ball had already gone out of play. A stunning save from Henderson kept out Saka’s volley from close range and it was to prove vital as Mateta pounced on the ponderous Saliba’s error and chipped the stranded Raya to send the travelling supporters behind his goal home ecstatic.