Three things Arteta got wrong and two he got right as Arsenal draw with Palace

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Arsenal drew 2-2 with Crystal Palace thanks to Alexandre Lacazette's injury-time equaliser.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had given Mikel Arteta's side the perfect start as he volleyed home on the rebound after Nicolas Pepe brought a great save from Vicente Guaita.

It had been an energetic start from the Gunners, but Patrick Vieira's side found their way back into the game, with Aaron Ramsdale saving from Conor Gallagher on the stroke of half-time.

Palace continued to search for an equaliser from the restart, and it came when Christian Benteke punished a mistake from Thomas Partey.

Odsonne Edouard looked to have given his side the points when he fired home on 73 minutes – before second-half sub Lacazette equalised following a last-gasp corner.

Here, Daily Star Sport looks at the big calls made by Arteta, starting off with three he got wrong.

Lost intensity

Arteta made a bold selection call, with Nicolas Pepe brought into the side in place of Albert Sambi Lokonga as he opted for just one deeper midfielder in Thomas Partey.

The manager was rewarded with an energetic start from his attacking line-up that saw Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang fire Arsenal into the lead just eight minutes in.

After a one-two with Takehiro Tomiyasu, Nicolas Pepe brought a great save from Vicente Guaita with his brilliant strike to the fire post, and Aubameyang was quickly onto the rebound to volley home from a tight angle.

But Arsenal failed to build on their fine start, with intensity levels dropping midway through the opening period – and they paid the price as they conceded two second-half goals.

Half-time team talk

Arsenal increasingly sat back from the midway point in the opening period, with Palace ending the half as the better side as they searched for an equaliser.

Aaron Ramsdale saved brilliantly from Conor Gallagher in first-half-added time, and the interval couldn't come quick enough as it would be Arteta's chance to inject some enthusiasm back into his side.

But whatever he said in his half-time team talk, it didn't have the desired effect as Thomas Partey's mistake led to Christian Benteke's equaliser.

And the Gunners continued to give the ball away after Benteke's equaliser, with the home crowd becoming increasingly frustrated – and it was to get worse.

Midfield napping

After Thomas Partey's error in the lead-up to Benteke's equaliser, Lokonga got caught short before Odsonne Edouard gave Palace the lead.

Arteta had brought on Lokonga for Saka with the young winger struggling after being chopped down by James McArthur.

The Gunners boss had also brought on Lacazette by the time Edouard scored Palace's second.

But it was a change from his opposite number Patrick Vieira that turned the game on its head at this point, with substitute Michael Olise providing the assist for Edouard.

Lacazette winner

Arteta threw Lacazette in on search of a winner after Benteke's equaliser, and he gave Arsenal the attacking impetus they'd been lacking.

Lacazette linked up well with Aubameyang, although it looked like it was going to be to no avail until his last-gasp equaliser.

But once again he showed his worth to Arsenal as he slammed home in the dying second to ensure Arsenal stayed unbeaten in their last five Premier League games.

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Ramsdale's promise

Arteta's decision to drop Bernd Leno in favour of summer signing Aaron Ramsdale still looks a good one, with the 23-year-old having been key to their recent upturn in form.

Ramsdale had kept four clean sheets in his five starts for the Gunners before Monday's game, but couldn't make it a fifth shutout here.

But the 23-year-old had kept his side ahead on the stroke of half-time, when he saved brilliantly from Conor Gallagher's goal-bound volley.

And he's showing promise as Arteta builds for the future.

  • Arsenal FC
  • Crystal Palace FC
  • Premier League
  • Mikel Arteta

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