Yannick Bolasie struck late for Crystal Palace to secure a draw after Alexis Sanchez had given the hosts the lead with a looping header.
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Wenger’s men are still fourth in the table, occupying the last of the automatic Champions League places on offer to English clubs, but Manchester United are just four points behind in fifth with five games remaining. “They managed to score from a counter-attack at the end and it’s very disappointing for us”.
For all Arsenal’s dominance, Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey didn’t have to make a save for much of the first half.
“Despite the high level of possession we had, we didn’t create enough chances”, Wenger said.
The danger was that Arsenal could pick the south Londoners off and Welbeck and Alex Iwobi both missed early chances as the Gunners took advantage of the extra space. They have a habit of dominating possession but not making it count by taking their chances, and they are now dangerously close to missing out on top four.
“We have got big games coming up, we’re going to Arsenal, Manchester United and the [FA Cup] semi-final so we can lean on his experience of those type of games”. We lacked a change of pace and our passing was a bit slow.
Alan Pardew’s men struggled to get up the pitch and were wasteful with their passing, allowing Arsenal to spend virtually the entire first period camped inside their opponents’ half of the field.
“We have been flat out to prepare for our next games so, really and truly, if you asked me at the start of the week, I would say I have been too busy to really enjoy that win against Norwich”.
“But he’s so important to us and I thought one moment could lift him, and I think that moment will lift him because it was a great goal”.
“I genuinely felt after the equaliser that it might be us that won it”. That’s not a deficiency in the game plan or a deficiency in the manager.
Palace moved to 39 points, but stayed 16th.
“I don’t think (losing focus) will be a problem at Old Trafford”.
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“We’ve been talking about the situation where if any of the teams ahead of us slip, we need to get three points but unfortunately we’ve not been able to do that. I’ll be disappointed if we finish lower than 15th”.
