Arsenal’s winning run ends at Palace, Chelsea win big
LONDON: Arsenal’s 11-game winning run ended in a 2-2 Premier League draw at Crystal Palace on Sunday as two penalties by Luka Milivojevic earned the hosts a battling point.
Palace captain Milivojevic, who missed a penalty at Everton last week, converted one just before halftime, after Shkodran Mustafi tripped Cheikh Kouyate, the South London side’s first goal at home in five games this season. Granit Xhaka equalised with a fierce free kick early in the second half and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored a controversial second for Arsenal five minutes later.
Milivojevic’s second penalty six minutes from time earned Palace a point to move Roy Hodgson’s team up to 14th.
Arsenal, who had won 11 successive games in all competitions, stayed fourth but lost ground on London rivals Chelsea who crushed Burnley 4-0.
“I didn’t have doubts, but you feel some pressure after last week when I missed,” Serbian international Milivojevic said.
“I got good power to both and shot both very well so I’m very happy.”
His manager Roy Hodgson was among those who felt Arsenal’s second goal should have been disallowed for handball by Alexandre Lacazette.
“I’m not even happy to end up with one point especially when you see how clear the handball was,” he said. “It was tough to concede an equaliser after working so hard for the 1-0 lead.
“I thought the attitude of the players and the way we got in control of the game again after going behind, it was a very deserved equaliser. I’m very happy with the performance. I’m just a bit sad it didn’t give us the three points.”