In a breathtaking Premier League spectacle at the Emirates Stadium on April 23, 2025, Arsenal’s title dreams flickered as they were held to a thrilling 2-2 draw by a relentless Crystal Palace, with Jean-Philippe Mateta’s exquisite 83rd-minute chip stealing the spotlight.
The result, a bitter pill for Mikel Arteta’s Gunners, left them 12 points adrift of leaders Liverpool, who now need just one point against Tottenham on Sunday to clinch the title, while Palace’s resilience shone brightly ahead of their FA Cup semi-final.
Arsenal ignited the match with a third-minute opener, Jakub Kiwior powering a header past Dean Henderson from Declan Rice’s corner, setting the Emirates alight. Palace, undeterred, responded with flair, equalizing in the 27th minute when Eberechi Eze unleashed a stunning volley from Adam Wharton’s clever corner, the ball ricocheting off the post to silence the home crowd. The Gunners clawed back the lead just before halftime, Leandro Trossard capitalizing on Jurriën Timber’s precise pass to arrow a deflected shot into the bottom corner, his eighth league goal this season, restoring hope for a crucial win.
The second half was a chess match of nerves and near-misses. Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli thought he had sealed victory, prodding home Timber’s cross, only for VAR to rule the ball out of play. Palace goalkeeper Henderson thwarted Bukayo Saka’s close-range volley with a stunning save, keeping his side in contention.
Then, in the 83rd minute, Mateta, introduced as a substitute, delivered a moment of genius. Pouncing on William Saliba’s errant pass to Martin Ødegaard, the Frenchman outmuscled the Arsenal captain and, spotting David Raya off his line, lofted a delicate chip from 25 yards that kissed the crossbar and nestled into the net, sparking delirium among Palace fans. The Emirates fell silent, the equalizer a dagger to Arsenal’s fading title hopes.
