Arsenal 2-2 Crystal Palace: 3 reasons why the Gunners only managed a draw

Arsenal and Crystal Palace engaged themselves in an entertaining 2-2 stalemate which was glittered with its fair share of controversy. The draw meant that the Gunners remained four points off the UEFA Champions League places with the Eagles just one behind them.

The hosts started the game well and immediately dominated possession. They moved the ball around confidently and garnered a string of set-pieces. Consequently, the Gunners capitalised on a corner from the right flank when Sokratis Papastathopoulos reacted quickest to Granit Xhaka’s knockdown in the penalty area to score the opener.

A minute later, David Luiz doubled Arsenal's advantage with a smart finish of his own, an opportunity that was created by another Nicolas Pepe corner from the right wing.

However, just after the half-hour mark, Calum Chambers tripped Wilfred Zaha in the box. Though Martin Atkinson initially booked the latter for simulation, he reversed his decision after the intervention of VAR. Luka Milivojevic converted the resulting spot kick to half the deficit.

After the restart, the Eagles raced off the blocks and were rewarded for their perseverance seven minutes into the second period. Jordan Ayew got on the end of an exquisite James McArthur cross to restore parity and set up a titanic finish.

Moments before the full time whistle, Sokratis rippled the net, thereby sending the Emirates into delirium. Arsenal's ecstasy was shortlived though as VAR overturned the goal for a foul committed by Chambers in the build-up.

That final bit of drama adorned a game that had alternated between the manic and the serene with the former reigning supreme at the end.

Here is a look at three reasons why the Gunners could only manage a point against Palace.

#3 Crystal Palace uncharacteristically unravel from set-pieces

Sokratis scored the opener from a set-piece.

Over the past couple of seasons, Crystal Palace have strengthened their reputation as a team capable of withstanding physical pressure and coming up trumps. Subsequently, they’ve been extremely good at defending set-pieces and making the most of them at the other end.

However, on Sunday, they uncharacteristically went to sleep frequently when the Gunners whipped in set-pieces and shipped two avoidable goals in the process.

The opener came about when Wayne Hennessey was guilty of flapping at a corner. The goalkeeper ended up in no man’s land and the ball floated high in the air. Xhaka rose highest to nod the ball down for Sokratis, who controlled it with his first touch before unleashing a controlled finish past Patrick van Aanholt guarding the front post.

In the space of a minute, Luiz exploited the visitors’ slack defending when he was accorded the freedom of the six-yard box to bulge the net. The Brazilian got in behind his marker and his run dovetailed excellently with Alexandre Lacazette’s flick at the near post.

Palace very nearly conceded another from a corner when Sokratis scored deep into the game. However, VAR came to the Eagles’ aid to deny the hosts a late winner.

Apart from those set-pieces and one half chance for Lacazette in the first half, Arsenal barely created anything of note and that particular aspect might make Palace rue their catastrophic defending a tad more.

Had they not given away a couple of cheap goals, Roy Hodgson's side could’ve just left North London with three points firmly tucked in their kitty.

Also check out:Premier League EPL fixtures Champions League Schedule

#2 Arsenal succumb to Crystal Palace’s tactics in the second half

Hodgson shuffled his tactical pack for the second half and came up trumps

Arsenal began the game well and looked on course to imposing their identity as the night went on, thereby creating a circumstance where they would’ve hoped to cruise to victory. Moreover, two early goals meant that the Gunners had the wind in their sails, making Palace’s task even more tedious.

Yet, after the break, the visitors altered their game-plan slightly and that worked a charm as the Eagles rallied to secure a hard-fought point.

Palace showed immense application to press the ball in midfield, thereby restricting the amount of time Dani Ceballos, Matteo Guendouzi and Granit Xhaka enjoyed earlier. Additionally, they were willing to bite into challenges, meaning that the game became extremely scrappy and that ultimately rid the Gunners of any passing rhythm in the second half.

Furthermore, the away side showed plenty of desire to get runners in behind the Arsenal rear-guard, a ploy that directly led to Palace’s equaliser as McArthur got goal-side of Xhaka before clipping in a delightful cross.

Xhaka's substitution in the second half and his reaction is also something that seemed to leave a sour taste in the mouth of Arsenal fans and will no doubt be discussed as the days go on.

In the past couple of seasons, the Eagles have earned themselves a reputation of rattling the established order, courtesy a combination of grit, determination and tactical astuteness.

Fortunately for Roy Hodgson's charges, all of those aspects came to the fore on Sunday, thereby enabling them to emerge from the Emirates with a point.

#1 The agony and the ecstasy of VAR

Arsenal was sensationally denied a goal by VAR

Ever since the start of the season, not many facets of Premier League football have had as many eyes trained on them as VAR, which is quite funny considering it isn’t even something that can be influenced directly by players.

On Sunday, the system showcased the two edges to its sword with Arsenal getting scythed on both occasions.

Early in the game, Wilfried Zaha went over Chambers’ challenge in the box. Initially, the referee waived away the penalty appeals and instead showed the Ivorian with a yellow card. However, on further inspection, VAR found the English defender culpable of dangling out an unnecessary leg, meaning that he had made sufficient contact with Zaha. Thus, in light of the awarding of the penalty, technology had solved the problems it was meant to.

A little later though, all that went out of the window when VAR ludicrously ruled out Arsenal’s potential winner.

After a melee in the box, the ball fell to Sokratis, who lashed his shot beyond the outstretched arms of Hennessey. However, a second earlier, Chambers had been tackled to the ground, thereby creating a scramble wherein the defenders and the attackers were involved in niggly attempts at winning possession.

Somehow though, VAR thought that there existed enough evidence to overturn Martin Atkinson’s original call, despite their seeming to be awful little in the challenge.

More absurdly, the referee decided to trust a set of officials sitting miles away with such a crucial decision, even though he boasted the luxury of walking towards the screen on the touch-line and deciding for himself.

And, moving forward, that could be something the Premier League could look at, especially with the referee on the pitch being in a better position to come to a conclusion.

Hence, through the course of the game, the two sides of the VAR coin had been laid bare for everyone to witness. While it worked a treat in the first instance, its shortcomings reared its ugly head for the second circumstance.

As for the TV monitor just beyond the pitch, maybe referees could use it a touch more. After all, that screen has seen just a little less action than Mesut Ozil so far this season.