Anxious Arsenal have to settle for a point after piece of Mateta magic for Eagles

London derby action. Pic by @JTaylorSport

Arsenal 2 Crystal Palace 2

Their league title hopes over, Arsenal's main business remains next Tuesday night when Paris Saint-Germain roll into north London for the Champions League semi final.

However, they had to settle for a London derby draw with Crystal Palace - who have different, and no less important, ambitions of their own. Eagles' substitute Jean-Philippe Mateta clipped in a leveller late on with some effortless class: a moment across a game which lacked a certain spice and vitality.

First half goals from Jakub Kiwior and Leandro Trossard for Arsenal owed much to the brief inattentiveness of Palace, who have one eye on their FA Cup semi final this Saturday against Aston Villa. The south Londoners responded with a fine strike by Ebere Eze, the buoyant performer who is limbering up well for the Wembley showpiece. That, along with the impact of Mateta - poised to be a major cup figure too - demonstrated a nod to real excellence which will please manager Oliver Glasner.

Mikel Arteta, meanwhile, will be frustrated at the concession of the late goal and the denial of all three points. The Arsenal boss will be more relieved at the lack of injuries sustained as the league campaign withers to a close for the second placed Gunners, trudging in behind champions-elect Liverpool.

While Palace brought their usual vociferous support up to north London, there was a sense that the club's Premier League endeavours were essentially over for the season, with the focus very much on the semi final. The Eagles may be taking flight to Wembley, although a 3-2 League Cup exit at the Emirates back in December perhaps still rankled.

Those who made the short journey up from south east of the capital, unsurprisingly, reminded their opponents that they were "going to Wembley." Hope is in the air at Selhurst Park. The cup remains a strong possibility of the Eagles' first ever major trophy: a quite astonishing statistic.

With Palace straddling mid table, the league doesn't seem particularly important, especially in light of losing ten goals in recent defeats against Newcastle United and Manchester City. And that much seemed obvious as early as the third minute when a deep lapse in defensive concentration allowed Arsenal to go in front.

A powerful header from twelve yards out by Kiwior - the Polish centre half was completely unmarked to fasten on to the free kick by Martin Odegaard, saw the Gunners ease any early nerves.

Arsenal enjoyed early initiative, with ex-Gunner, Eddie Nketiah, foraging in a solo striking role for the visitors. But the hosts shilly-shallied themselves to allow Palace to level. Another set piece move.

Eze is the last player a team with any positional nous should leave unmarked. Yet Arsenal managed to do so in the 27th minute, the Eagles' effervescent winger volleying Adam Wharton's corner past a raft of bodies and into the net. The goals at each end were easily preventable.

As was the third of the evening, another gift to the Gunners with four minutes to half time. From a neat build up, Trossard forced his way past the lax attentions of both Jefferson Lerma and Max Lacroix before sliding a left foot shot which nestled into the corner of Palace keeper Dean Henderson's net. A neat finish it may have been, but a goal which Glasner is sure to feel could have been thwarted.

Arsenal began the second half with more initiative with Palace, who were content to rely on their usual counter attacking characteristics. Still, with a conclusive third goal elusive, Arteta sent on Bukayo Saka for Raheem Sterling to add some zest to the attack, as well as giving the England star valuable game time ahead of the Champions League tie against PSG.

Palace offered occasional cause for Arsenal concern. Midfielder Justin Devenny forced Raya into a finger tip save with a header, after the Northern Ireland international stole into the hosts' penalty area. For Nketiah, though, it transpired to be a frustrating night back on former soil, but he was afforded a warm reception from the Arsenal support when eventually replaced by Jean Philippe Mateta. What a master stroke from Glasner it turned out to be.

Arsenal could have added a third only for Saka to be denied - the young Gunner hit a superb volley from close range only for Henderson to parry over the bar.

It was a moment which galvanised Palace - and with eight minutes to go, they equalised in style.

Under pressure, William Saliba inexplicably passed straight to Mateta who, with his first touch, clipped the ball tantalisingly over Raya. A piece of impudence which delighted Glasner and the travelling fans.

Palace will, on balance, be the happier of the capital clubs. A hard working display with touches of elan leaves them nicely poised for Wembley.

Gunners: Raya, Saliba, Kiwior, Partey, Odegaard (Nwaneri 86), Rice, Martinelli, Timber, Trossard, Sterling (Saka 59), Lewis-Skelly (Tierney 86)

Eagles: Henderson, Mitchell, Lacroix, Guehi, Lerma, Wharton (Hughes 62), Devenny (Esse 80), Nketiah (Mateta 80), Eze (Sarr 62), Munoz, Kamada