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

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

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

Formation 4-4-2

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

Formation 4-5-1

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

Post update
Match ends, Arsenal 2, Crystal Palace 2.
90'+8'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Arsenal 2, Crystal Palace 2.

90'+7'
Booking
Matteo Guendouzi (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+6'
Post update
Foul by Matteo Guendouzi (Arsenal).
90'+6'
Post update
Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+5'
Post update
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Joel Ward.
90'+5'
Post update
Hand ball by James McArthur (Crystal Palace).
90'+4'
Substitution
Substitution, Crystal Palace. James McCarthy replaces Cheikhou Kouyaté.
90'+2'
Post update
Foul by Sokratis (Arsenal).
90'+2'
Post update
Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick on the left wing.
90'+1'
Post update
Sead Kolasinac (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+1'
Post update
Foul by Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace).
90'+1'
Post update
Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Sokratis.
90'+1'
Post update
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.
89'
Post update
Foul by Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal).
89'
Post update
Joel Ward (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
89'
Post update
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Wayne Hennessey.
89'
Post update
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.
88'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Nicolas Pépé.
87'
Post update
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by James Tomkins.

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474 comments

What a complete joke VAR is. If you don’t get the referee to look at the chalked off winner for Arsenal, what’s the point? Even Crystal Palace weren’t complaining and took the goal on the chin.

It’s been demonstrated effectively in the Rugby World Cup for the ref to talk to the 4th official and see it on the big screen for all to see. Why can’t we do it in football?

Complete joke!
Emery doesn't have a clue.

Arsenal fans can whine about VAR, but you have bigger problems than that. Even a late win here would have been papering over the cracks.

Poor manager, poor side.
Bloody hell ARSENAL what happened there 2 up in 10 minutes and you pull the self destruct button again??
Does Emery actually know what he's doing???
Wenger in?
United fan here. Zaha is offside for the penalty, Pepe is fouled for the second Palace goal and literally only the die hard bias of certain fans believe that Chambers did anything other than get repeatedly fouled for the incorrectly ruled out goal. VAR is supposed to correct these things, NOT MAKE THEM WORSE!
2-0 and we threw it away,Emery is tactically useless and has no clue what formation to play, our front three had no service, instead we have Xhaka in midfield who gives nothing to the team, the football was so negative and we are going backwards as a team, we will not finish top four, the sooner Emery goes the better, we have a good team, but not the manager. It's going to be a long season
2 goals up after 9 minutes….

…..But you just knew!

Well played Palace against the “Club in Transition”
Toothless.

Xhaka as a captain is not awe-inspiring at all and will not make opposition players quake.

Arsenal need someone to get into the dressing room and tell a few give truths as captain and coach.

One they get rid of their soft underbelly, they might be surprised to see how they'll be able to challenge for something more than the top 6.

Resilience and grit required.
A little praise for our Roy. He may be old in the tooth but he knows how to work miracles with very limited resources. COYP?
2 goals we scored. I didnt celebrate. I knew what would happen. Same all story. Well done CP.
Xhaka has a lot of making up to do. Disgraceful show of petulance from the captain of Arsenal Football Club. His sense of entitlement coupled with his hubris is shameful. There have been great captains of his club before him and he isn't fit to lace their boots. Football fan not an Arsenal supporter.
Basically:
1. EMERY OUT
2. VAR OUT
3. ENGLISH REFEREES OUT
You’d think that with Sokratis in the team that Arsenal fans would be a little more philosophical.
Ramsay Arsenal thru & thru allowed to leave Xhaka made captain. Any entrepreneur making such errors would be soon out of business
Who going to leave first Emery or Özil.
Votes below. Up for Emery down for Özil
With each passing week, Arsenal are making United fans feel slightly better about their situation.
The fans booing were wrong,but Xhaka should be sacked. Shouting "F....k off!" to the fans, over and over in full view of millions of kids, is hardly the stuff of a captain. Heard he threw his shirt down in the tunnel too.

Pay up his contract and call him a taxi tonight. Send a message.

Answer your critics (however harsh) with the ball, not your foul mouth. Especially if you're the captain!
BBC wont let me post ridiculous.

Congrats to Palace for fighting back. They did well.

Onto Arsenal- we were pathetic and lost a 2 goal lead. This was embarrassing.

Onto VAR- NO consistency and a baffling decision to rule out a legit goal imo. I am sorry but todays VAR biasedness baffles me and I am not allowed to say what we all think about this decision.
Arsenal are just an utter shambles. Kroenke go and take emery with you. Joke of a club now.

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