Arsenal all but confirmed Liverpool’s Premier League title triumph by dropping points at home to Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.
Jakub Kiwior’s early header put the Gunners in the lead, before Eberechi Eze equalised for the visitors.
Leandro Trossard’s scrappy effort reestablished Mikel Arteta’s team’s control prior to Jean-Philippe Mateta’s stunning long-range effort, which drew the game level once again.
Palace ultimately secured a 2-2 draw at the Emirates, with Liverpool now merely needing to avoid defeat at home to Tottenham on the weekend to confirm their title win.
Arsenal have dropped 18 points from winning positions this season
Alongside Martin Odegaard, Raheem Sterling produced a dismal display against the Eagles, although Arteta will have greater concerns to take away from this encounter.
His players clearly had next week’s Paris Saint-Germain tie on their mind, and many of them jogged through this match in second gear, reticent of injury fears.
However, Arteta will be worried about a certain statistic that has emerged in light of the clash in N5.
Arsenal have now dropped 18 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, more than the 17 they’ve dropped when ahead in the two previous campaigns combined.
What is usually such a water-tight operation when holding leads certainly hasn’t been that for Arsenal this season.
They’ve failed to close games out effectively, losing concentration late in matches, which has seen them put up 13 draws this season.
While there is certainly context that explains this around some of the recent dropped points, this is something Arteta will need to address going into next season.
Arsenal have missed Jorginho’s influence late in games
In the previous two seasons, Arsenal have often called upon Jorginho to close games out late on.
The Italian has the ability to take the sting out of an occasion, and help the Gunners control matches with his metronomic passing and composure in possession.
Thomas Partey has a tendency to lose his concentration in games that feel safe and when the points feel secured – Arteta would usually take him off for Jorginho in these game states.
However, the former Chelsea man has made just five substitute appearances in the Premier League, with the Spaniard favouring Partey for the entire 90 minutes on most occassions.
This has undoubtedly cost the Gunners at times.
Jorginho is expected to leave Arsenal at the end of the season when his contract expires, and Arteta will need to find a replacement who boasts some of the veteran’s key qualities.
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