Premier League: Late Lacazette strike salvages Arsenal draw on Vieira’s return with Crystal Palace

Patrick Vieira nearly enjoyed a dream return to Arsenal but Alexandre Lacazette’s 96th minute equaliser salvaged a 2-2 draw for the Gunners against Crystal Palace on Monday.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s seventh-minute strike gave the hosts the perfect start. But a five-game unbeaten that had lifted the mood around the Emirates looked set to be punctured as Christian Benteke and Odsonne Edouard struck in the second-half to give the Eagles a deserved lead.

Vieira’s men failed to hold out, though, as with seconds to spare Lacazette scrambled home from a corner.

“It was so close but we have been saying that a little bit too often,” said Vieira, whose side have drawn five of their eight league games this season.

“I am really disappointed because the way the team came back in the second half, they deserved to win the game.”

A share of the spoils moves Arsenal up to 12th, but the performance did little to suggest they will trouble the contenders for places in next season’s Champions League come the end of the season.

A run of 10 points from a possible 12 had eased an early season crisis at Arsenal after their worst start for 67 years. That upward curve looked set to continue early on as Aubameyang was in the…

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