Mikel Arteta is learning all the time but the manner Arsenal squandered an excellent start to be deservedly pegged back by Crystal Palace was hardly anything new. They were in total control for the first third, leading through a smartly conceived goal by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but tailed off sufficiently to let Jordan Ayew to equalise and worse was to come.
The defining picture of this game will be Aubameyang’s sickening 65th-minute challenge that made contact with Max Meyer’s lower leg, which appeared to bend slightly under the force. Meyer was able to hobble away but it rightly earned Arsenal’s captain a red card after a VAR check and, while a draw was ultimately fair, Aubameyang’s imminent suspension will do nothing for Arteta’s hopes of drilling some long-absent consistency into his team.
Written by Nick Ames at Selhurst Park
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jan/11/crystal-palace-arsenal-premier-league-match-report under the title “Aubameyang scores and sees red but Arsenal earn draw at Crystal Palace”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
