Sloppy Arsenal’s Top Four Bid Rocked By Palace
Unai Emery insists Arsenal can still finish in the Premier League’s top four despite a shock 3-2 home defeat to Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Emery’s side paid the price for a defensive horror show at the Emirates Stadium that leaves their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League via the domestic route hanging in the balance.
The Gunners, who can also reach Europe’s top club competition by winning the Europa League, fell behind to Christian Benteke’s first goal for a year before Mesut Ozil equalised early in the second half.
Shkodran Mustafi’s blunder allowed Wilfried Zaha to put Palace back in front.
James McArthur took advantage of more woeful Arsenal defending to make it three. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reduced the deficit, but it was too late to stop Palace’s first league win at Arsenal since October 1994.
“It’s a big frustration because it was a big opportunity. At the set pieces, we didn’t work and weren’t as strong as we have been,” Emery said.
“Their second goal was very bad for us and took away our confidence.”
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