In a high-stakes Premier League Matchday 34 clash, Arsenal hosted Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium, only to suffer a dramatic 2-2 draw that all but ended their faint hopes of winning the league title this season.
Despite dominating for large portions of the match, the Gunners once again faltered when it mattered most — a draw that silenced the nearly 60,000 home fans and all but confirmed Liverpool’s coronation as Premier League champions.
Dominant Head-to-Head Record and Home Advantage Wasted
Before kickoff, Arsenal had won their last six Premier League encounters against Palace, and with manager Mikel Arteta fielding his strongest XI, it was clear he had no intention of throwing in the towel on the title race — no matter how slim the chances were.
However, football can be cruel, and once again, Arsenal were left to rue their own errors in what should have been a straightforward three-point affair.
Instead, one moment of defensive madness turned a would-be victory into a costly two-point drop.
€80M Man Saliba Becomes Arsenal’s Title “Executioner”
Leading 2-1 in the 82nd minute, Arsenal looked poised to see the game out. But disaster struck from within.
French centre-back William Saliba, valued at €80 million, attempted a careless short pass inside his own box — which went straight to Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta.
The forward wasted no time, cutting inside and executing a clinical lob over the helpless Raya to make it 2-2.
This marked Saliba’s second high-profile blunder in just a week — having already gifted a goal to Vinícius Júnior during Arsenal’s Champions League clash against Real Madrid.
Two fatal errors in two massive matches — and just like that, Arsenal’s season crumbled at the hands of one of their brightest stars.
Title Dreams in Tatters — Only Mathematics Remains
The draw leaves Arsenal third in the table with 67 points after 34 games.
Even if they win all of their final four matches, they would only reach 79 points — a tally Liverpool have already reached with a superior goal difference of +10.
What’s worse? Liverpool still have a game in hand and face an out-of-form Spurs next. Should the Reds simply avoid defeat in that match, they would mathematically eliminate Arsenal from the title race with four games to spare.
Dominance on Paper, Collapse in Execution
Arsenal controlled 64% possession, attempted 18 shots with seven on target, and created multiple clear-cut chances.
But just like in several recent outings, they failed to kill off the match and paid the price for their mental lapses in key moments.
Despite strong performances from Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard, and flashes of brilliance from Martinelli, the Gunners could not put the game beyond doubt. And as has been the story of their season, defensive naivety under pressure once again cost them dearly.
From Title Favourites to a Team in Transition
This campaign was shaping up to be Arsenal’s statement of intent — and for a long time, they looked capable of finally reclaiming domestic glory.
But when the pressure mounted, cracks in depth, consistency, and mentality began to show.
Now, with the title virtually gone and top spot out of reach, Arteta must rally his young squad for a new, more realistic goal: securing second place and locking in Champions League qualification for next season.
What’s Next for Arsenal?
With Manchester City and Aston Villa breathing down their necks, even a top-two finish is no guarantee.
Arteta needs to refocus his side, shore up the defensive lapses, and restore belief — especially with major fixtures still to come.
A season that began with so much hope now threatens to end with disappointment unless Arsenal can rediscover their urgency and resilience.
A Turning Point, Not the End
This isn’t the end for Arsenal — it’s just another turning point in their long-term evolution under Arteta. Every great team must stumble before they rise.
The question is whether the Gunners will learn from this season’s collapse or continue to fall at the same hurdles.
With a young, talented core, Arsenal still have the tools to come back stronger. But they’ll need smarter squad management, sharper mental resolve, and better execution in high-pressure moments if they truly want to be crowned champions — not just contenders.
Because in the Premier League, titles aren’t handed out on potential — they’re earned, moment by moment, through grit, growth, and consistency.
