Arsenal blow Crystal Palace lead to leave Liverpool on brink of title - 5 talking points

Liverpool's title celebrations remain on hold for now after title rivals were held by Crystal Palace, though they only need one more point. Defeat for Mikel Arteta's team would have seen Arne Slot's men crowned champions, but the champagne will remain on ice for now.

It took the Gunners less than three minutes to take the lead, with Jakub Kiwior escaping the Palace back line to head home a free-kick. The visitors had a chance to level things up shortly after, though, but Eddie Nketiah couldn't find the target against his former club after getting his head on a corner before .

Palace were level before the half-hour mark, though. Ebere Eze wasn't picked up on the edge of the box as a corner came his way, and the England international volleyed home off the post.

Just as it looked as though the scores would be level at half-time, Arsenal struck again. Jurrien Timber got forward well from right-back, and collected the Dutchman's pass before firing low into the corner of Dean Henderson's net.

Arsenal thought they had a third midway through the second half, but the ball had drifted just out of play before Jurrien Timber fed it across for a Gabriel Martinelli tap-in. And they were punished after a defensive mix-up allowed Jean-Philippe Mateta to take advantage with a deft chip.

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As long as it remained 2-1, Palace felt they had a chance. David Raya was called into action on more than one occasion, while a rare error from the keeper went unpunished as Ismaila Sarr couldn't get enough on a header from close range.

Mateta came off the bench for the closing stages, and caught William Saliba napping before lifting the ball over Raya to level the scores. Here are Mirror Football's talking points from the Emirates Stadium.

1. Liverpool have to wait

captain Virgil van Dijk suggested the Reds squad would be watching the Arsenal game together just in case a shock arrived and their status as champions was confirmed. Even he thought it unlikely, though.

“To be honest, I expect Arsenal to win at home but yeah, if it doesn't happen then I think it would be nice to be together," the centre-back said. "So however that may look, we will discuss in the next couple of days. But if Arsenal just win that game, what they probably expect they will do against a very good , then we have to do our job at the weekend.”

Sure enough, Arsenal avoided defeat. This means Liverpool can clinch the title in front of their own fans on Sunday, and few would bet against them.

2. Set-piece masters strike again

It feels like Arsenal's set-piece prowess comes into focus near enough every week, but there's a reason for that. The Gunners have seen countless players do the business from free-kicks and corners already this term, and Jakub Kiwior got in on the act for the first time on Wednesday.

Palace's defending left a lot to be desired, with Kiwior left all alone as Martin Odegaard swung in a free-kick from the left. The Poland international still had plenty to do, but how header beat Dean Henderson through sheer power alone on its way into the net.

Arsenal were a little less sure of themselves from defensive set pieces, with goalkeeper Raya not always at his best. They'll hope they've got that sloppiness out of their system in time for next week.

3. Kiwior active at both ends

Jakub Kiwior wasn't brought into Arsenal's starting XI to score goals - that was just an added bonus. What he was brought in to do is keep opposition strikers quiet, and that's exactly what heppened around half an hour in.

With Arsenal still rocking from Eze's equaliser, Nketiah spun in the box and looked certain to score. That was until Kiwior stuck out one of his long legs to get in the way.

PSG's attacking threat will be rather different to that provided by Palace, of course, though Kiwior's involvement ought to offer some encouragement to a player who has been an unused sub for so much of the campaign to date. Instead it was Saliba who might need a wake-up call, having followed his error in Madrid with another against Palace.

4. Question marks over Merino and White

"They could not be involved tonight," Arsenal manager said when asked why and Mikel Merino weren't involved against Palace. "If they could, they would have been but they are not fit."

Considering how much is at stake for the Gunners against Paris Saint-Germain next week, one might understand the decision to rest any player who carried any risk. The question, of course, is just how injured they are.

Arsenal have options at right-back without White, who hasn't been a regular starter since returning from injury. Merino's availability is a different matter, though, with Arteta's side looking light in midfield without the suspended Thomas Partey.

5. Bigger things to come for both

With limited options for the Paris Saint-Germain first leg, Leandro Trossard may well start as Arsenal's central striker. With that in mind, the way he took his first-half goal will surely encourage him and his manager.

will no doubt provide a threat on the break in North London, so it will be all about what Arsenal can do when they do have the ball. Finding space and finding the corners certainly comes under that category.

Arsenal weren't the only ones who might have had half an eye on the next game. Palace face in their semi-final on Saturday, and Oliver Glasner's rotation was a reminder of that, with Ismaila Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta among those to start on the bench.

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