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.
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The draw extends Arsenal’s unbeaten league run to five games and prevents Palace from leapfrogging the Gunners in the Premier League table.
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta said “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.
Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira said “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 of the way the team came back in the second half, they deserved to win the game. [Skysports]
