London rivals Arsenal and Crystal Palace played to an entertaining 2-2 draw in the Premier League on Wednesday evening.
The Gunners started Bukayo Saka on the bench and left Mikel Merino out of the match day squad, while Raheem Sterling was given a start.
Jakub Kiwior got the hosts off to the perfect start on three minutes through a thumping header into the bottom corner from Martin Odegaard’s free-kick.
However, the Eagles responded three minutes before the half-hour mark as Eberechi Eze volleyed home in off the post after getting on the end of Adam Wharton's corner.
Eze went close to a getting a second goal a few moments later with a curler outside of the area, but he was expertly denied by goalkeeper David Raya.
Leandro Trossard put the host back in front just before the interval after coming inside of Jefferson Lerma and Maxence Lacroix before firing beyond goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
Arsenal could’ve gone further ahead two minutes into the second half from a floating free-kick by Odegaard, but Lacroix tracked back and produced a strong clearance.
The Eagles looked to level matters for the second time in the match through a smart delivery to the area by Tyrick Mitchell, but Lerma steered well wide of the mark.
Manager Mikel Arteta turned to the bench in the 60th minute and decided to introduce Saka in the place of veteran attacker Sterling.
Arsenal added another goal ten minutes later when Gabriel Martinelli tapped in a cutback from Jurrien Timber, but it was disallowed as the ball was out of play before the cross.
The reprieve livened up the visitors, who levelled seven minutes from time after Jean-Philippe Mateta picked up a stray pass from William Saliba and lobbed over Raya.
With eight minutes additional time, the Gunners almost had the winner courtesy of a snap-shot by Martinelli from a throw-in by Kieran Tierney but he found the side-netting as the encounter ended all square.
