Arsenal 2-2 Crystal Palace: Gunners surrender two-goal advantage as Granit Xhaka booed off

Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka was involved in an angry confrontation with his own supporters as Crystal Palace came from two goals down to earn a point in an ill-tempered atmosphere at Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners were two up inside nine minutes as Sokratis Papastathopoulos and David Luiz took advantage of poor defending at corners - but it was all downhill from there for Arsenal and manager Unai Emery.

Palace pulled one back before half-time when Luka Milivojevic scored from the spot following a VAR intervention after referee Martin Atkinson had initially shown Wilfried Zaha a yellow card for diving in a tangle with Calum Chambers.

And Palace were level seven minutes after the break when Jordan Ayew headed in James McArthur's cross at the far post.

The game turned toxic just after the hour when Xhaka was substituted to roars of delight from Arsenal's fans, the newly-appointed captain reacting angrily to jeers at his slow departure by waving and cupping his ear sarcastically to the home support, exchanging words before taking off his shirt and disappearing down the tunnel.

Arsenal's frustration and misery was complete when another VAR intervention infuriated Emirates Stadium and denied the Gunners victory after Sokratis scored from close-range late on.

As the players returned to the centre circle, referee Atkinson was involved in more debate with Stockley Park, where an apparent foul by Chambers on Milivojevic was detected, causing widespread anger inside an arena that was already boiling over.

Xhaka lays bare Emirates frustration

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Arsenal 2-2 Crystal Palace: Xhaka was wrong - Emery

Xhaka was a contentious choice as new Arsenal captain - and his behaviour here did nothing to suggest it is a role that suits him.

His own performances raise questions about his suitability but his petulant, goading reaction to his 61st-minute substitution by youngster Bukayo Saka only played into the hands of those who believe he does not have the character for the role.

Of course, it will have hurt a proud professional to hear the mixture of delight and sarcasm that greeted his number coming up, but his response was provocative and met with loud condemnation from Arsenal's fans.

Arsenal had conceded a two-goal lead so there was a sense of urgency that was not reflected in his slow stroll towards the technical area, anger growing with every laboured stride.

He then waved his arms towards Arsenal's fans before foolishly cupping his ear and going through the most cursory of gestures with Emery, also appearing to exchange words with supporters. Xhaka then took off his shirt and went straight down the tunnel.

It summed up the discontent lurking close to the surface at Arsenal, with further evidence provided by the loud chants for exiled German star Mesut Ozil as they fought in vain for the winner.

Arsenal are in fifth but a gap is now opening up - four points to Chelsea in fourth - and this was another display that exposed their fragility and soft centre as that early advantage was cast aside.

This was another unsatisfactory 90 minutes for Emery and Arsenal.

Palace show grit once more

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Arsenal 2-2 Crystal Palace: Palace did a 'fantastic job' - Hodgson

This draw continues Palace's fine start to the season as they enjoy a top-six place after this battling point.

Manager Roy Hodgson will be mortified at conceding those two early goals from corners but will also be delighted at the way Palace dug deep and showed great reserves of resilience to fight back.

It was inevitable Zaha would be a central figure after Arsenal's summer pursuit of the player fell flat and he reluctantly stayed at Selhurst Park when a move to Everton failed to materialise.

And so it proved in the incident that changed the game just after the half hour as he was initially cautioned for diving before VAR correctly ruled he had been dragged down by Chambers.

This was all the encouragement Palace needed, playing on Arsenal's nerves and plundering the equaliser through Ayew.

Hodgson himself accepts Palace are unlikely to stay in this lofty position but there is certainly enough experience and threat in this side to ensure they will not have any serious concerns at the wrong end of the Premier League table.

Man of the match - Luka Milivojevic (Crystal Palace)

Zaha and Milivojevic combine for penalties - the stats

Arsenal had won 49 consecutive Premier League games after going two goals ahead but they have now dropped points in the last two games where they have led by two.
Since returning to the top flight in 2013-14, Crystal Palace have won (48) and scored (39) more penalties than any other side in the Premier League.
Just 106 seconds separated Arsenal's first two goals.
Alexandre Lacazette has been directly involved in 29 Premier League goals for Arsenal at the Emirates - a tally bettered only by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (30) since the Frenchman's debut in August 2017.
Since his Premier League debut in February 2017, Crystal Palace midfielder Luka Milivojevic has scored 21 penalties - more than twice as many as anyone else in that time.
Since returning to Palace in 2014-15, Wilfried Zaha has won a joint-high 16 penalties in the Premier League.
Eagles striker Jordan Ayew has scored four goals in his last eight Premier League games, which is as many as he managed in his previous 34.

What's next?

Arsenal travel to Anfield to face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup fourth round on Wednesday (19:30 GMT), before hosting Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Crystal Palace host Leicester City in the league on Sunday (14:00 GMT).

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Arsenal

1Leno
21ChambersBooked at 51mins
5Papastathopoulos
23David Luiz
3TierneySubstituted forKolasinacat 75'minutes
19Pépé
29GuendouziBooked at 90mins
34XhakaSubstituted forSakaat 61'minutes
8Ceballos
14Aubameyang
9Lacazette

Substitutes

2Bellerín
11Torreira
16Holding
26Martínez
31Kolasinac
35Martinelli
77Saka

Crystal Palace

13Hennessey
2Ward
5Tomkins
24Cahill
3van Aanholt
10Townsend
8KouyatéSubstituted forMcCarthyat 90+4'minutes
4Milivojevic
18McArthur
11Zaha
9J AyewSubstituted forBentekeat 81'minutes

Substitutes

6Dann
7Meyer
15Schlupp
17Benteke
19Henderson
22McCarthy
34Kelly

Referee:: Martin Atkinson
Attendance:: 60,345

Match Stats

Home TeamArsenalAway TeamCrystal Palace

Possession: Home56%; Away44%

Shots: Home15; Away10

Shots on Target: Home6; Away4

Corners: Home12; Away5

Fouls: Home18; Away9

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Arsenal 2, Crystal Palace 2.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+8'

Second Half ends, Arsenal 2, Crystal Palace 2.

Booking

Posted at 90'+7'

Matteo Guendouzi (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 90'+6'

Foul by Matteo Guendouzi (Arsenal).

Posted at 90'+6'

Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+5'

Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Joel Ward.

Posted at 90'+5'

Hand ball by James McArthur (Crystal Palace).

Substitution

Posted at 90'+4'

Substitution, Crystal Palace. James McCarthy replaces Cheikhou Kouyaté.

Posted at 90'+2'

Foul by Sokratis (Arsenal).

Posted at 90'+2'

Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 90'+1'

Sead Kolasinac (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+1'

Foul by Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace).

Posted at 90'+1'

Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Sokratis.

Posted at 90'+1'

Attempt blocked. Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Christian Benteke with a headed pass.

Posted at 89'

Foul by Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal).

Posted at 89'

Joel Ward (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 89'

Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Wayne Hennessey.

Posted at 89'

Attempt saved. David Luiz (Arsenal) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Alexandre Lacazette.

Posted at 88'

Attempt blocked. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Nicolas Pépé.

Posted at 87'

Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by James Tomkins.

Posted at 86'

Foul by Bukayo Saka (Arsenal).

Posted at 86'

Andros Townsend (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 84'

VAR Decision: No Goal Arsenal 2-2 Crystal Palace.

Posted at 83'

GOAL OVERTURNED BY VAR: Sokratis (Arsenal) scores but the goal is ruled out after a VAR review.

Posted at 83'

Foul by Calum Chambers (Arsenal).

Posted at 83'

Luka Milivojevic (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 83'

Attempt missed. Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Nicolas Pépé with a cross following a corner.

Posted at 82'

Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Gary Cahill.

Substitution

Posted at 81'

Substitution, Crystal Palace. Christian Benteke replaces Jordan Ayew.

Posted at 80'

Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Sokratis.

Posted at 79'

Matteo Guendouzi (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 79'

Foul by Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace).

Posted at 78'

Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 78'

Foul by Cheikhou Kouyaté (Crystal Palace).

Posted at 76'

Foul by Sead Kolasinac (Arsenal).

Posted at 76'

Andros Townsend (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution

Posted at 75'

Substitution, Arsenal. Sead Kolasinac replaces Kieran Tierney.

Posted at 74'

Foul by Matteo Guendouzi (Arsenal).

Posted at 74'

Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 73'

Attempt missed. Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Patrick van Aanholt.