Mikel Arteta laments Arsenal slip as Liverpool close in on title

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta didn’t mince words after his side’s title hopes took a heavy blow in a dramatic 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace on Wednesday, admitting his team “dropped our standards” in a result that could all but hand Liverpool the Premier League crown.
The draw means that Liverpool only need a draw against arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday and the title could be decided before the Gunners next kick a ball in the league.
Jakub Kiwior gave Arsenal a dream start with a thumping third-minute header, but the early dominance didn’t last long. Eberechi Eze pulled Palace level with a sublime volley in the 27th minute, connecting sweetly with Adam Wharton’s whipped corner.
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Leandro Trossard briefly restored the home crowd’s optimism just before halftime, finishing coolly after a slick passing move. But it was Crystal Palace who had the final say, as substitute Jean-Philippe Mateta punished a rare William Saliba error in the 83rd minute, latching onto the loose ball and lofting it past David Raya from 30 yards out.
Arteta, visibly frustrated post-match, acknowledged the missed opportunity.
“We dropped our standards today and credit to Crystal Palace,” he said. “We struggled to find consency in the game. We gave the ball away in simple ways and we were late in everything we did. I am disappointed.”
Forward Leandro Trossard echoed his manager’s disappointment while shifting the focus ahead to a crucial week in Europe
“The quality today wasn’t there compared to our last game,” said Trossard, referencing their recent 4-0 rout of Ipswich.Story continues below this ad
“We were nowhere near that and we got punished. We need to raise the level with our big game coming up.”
That game is the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal clash against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, a match that now carries even more weight, as Arsenal look to salvage their season with continental glory.
“It will be good to have six days now and prepare for this (PSG) game with 100% focus,” Trossard added. “It will be a different performance.”