Despite taking the lead twice, Arsenal were unable to maintain their advantage against Oliver Glasner’s resilient Crystal Palace side. ..Continue Reading
Jakub Kiwior opened the scoring early in the third minute, but Eberechi Eze leveled the match in the 27th minute.
Leandro Trossard put Arsenal ahead again just before halftime, only for Jean-Philippe Mateta to secure a late equalizer in the 83rd minute.
A costly mistake by William Saliba at the back handed the ball to Mateta in a dangerous area, allowing the Palace forward to lob David Raya from distance and earn a point for his team.
As Arsenal prepare for their crucial Champions League semi-final first-leg against Paris Saint-Germain next week, fans remain divided over Saliba’s error, with some choosing to see it as an opportunity for him to regroup ahead of the big game.
One fan wrote on X: “Fair enough, Saliba cashing in on his mistakes ahead of PSG.”
Another said: “Saliba brother I hope you’ve got these mistakes out of your system before PSG.”
And another fan wrote: “Saliba’s mistake better mean a flawless two leg performance against PSG.”
But, other fans were genuinely worried about Saliba’s form, considering it’s not the first one he has made in recent weeks.
“Ben White better play CB cos I don’t understand Saliba,” one supporter wrote. “Same nonsense with Madrid, now with Palace, when our next match is PSG.”
Another said: “Saliba making another big mistake so close to PSG is the most worrying thing in this game.”
And another wrote: “Saliba has been very complacent and error-prone recently.
“Got bullied by Budimir and while he was great at the Bernabeu gave Vinicius a goal. “Some of it is lack of intensity in games or nothing to play for but PSG are top pressing team very quick in transition.”
Saliba delivered a solid performance for much of the match, maintaining his usual poise and composure.
However, an error of such magnitude, which directly set up Mateta’s goal for Palace, overshadows his otherwise steady display and is something he must eliminate ahead of the PSG clash.
Despite the mistake, the Frenchman showed some impressive stats, including five clearances, two blocks, two interceptions, and two tackles, contributing to Arsenal’s defensive efforts.
Additionally, he recorded a remarkable 179 touches, completed 162 out of 165 passes, and even managed to get a shot on target, underlining his overall impact in the game.
