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2015-16 Barclays Premier League

Full-time: Arsenal 1-1 Crystal Palace

  • Yannick Bolasie beats Petr Cech at his near post to seal a draw for Crystal Palace, who move nine points clear of relegation danger
  • Arsenal looked to be heading to a narrow victory courtesy of a first-half header from Alexis Sanchez
  • Emmanuel Adebayor could have netted a stoppage-time winner against his former club, only for Wilfried Zaha to hesitate under pressure from Gabriel
  • Fourth-place Gunners miss the chance to leapfrog Manchester City back into third and now sit only four points ahead of Manchester United, albeit with a superior goal difference
  • Arsene Wenger's side have now won just two of their last six home Premier League matches
Yannick Bolasie
Yannick Bolasie is embraced by manager Alan Pardew after his second-half equaliser against Arsenal AFP

That is all from us for now, but IBTimes UK will have reaction from both managers later this evening. We will also be back tomorrow night to bring you live coverage of events at the Britannia Stadium, where Tottenham will seek to capitalise on Leicester's dropped points against Stoke.

Until then, goodnight.

Another frustrating outing for Arsenal, who have now won just two of their last six Premier League home matches. They miss the chance to go back above Manchester City into third and are left only four points clear of Manchester United with five games remaining. Next up is the visit of Tony Pulis and West Brom.

As for Palace, a fifth point in seven days sees them edge closer to the magical 40 mark. They are now nine clear of the relegation zone and should be safe barring an unlikely sequence of events. Pardew's side travel to Old Trafford in midweek before heading to Wembley for their FA Cup semi-final against Watford.

Full-time

Arsenal 1-1 Crystal Palace

Costly hesitation from Zaha, who races through after a bad error from Koscielny. Adebayor has a tap in against his former club if he squares it quickly, but the subsequent delay allows Gabriel to move across and bail out his centre-back partner with a crucial tackle.

Four minutes of added time to be played.

Arsenal struggle to break down Palace's committed rearguard but win an opening from a set-piece as the sluggish Adebayor fells Ramsey. Gabriel heads Ozil's free-kick straight at Hennessey.

At the other end, Sako shoots well over and Gabriel makes a good block to fend off a cross from Bolasie.

Wenger responds to that setback by replacing Elneny with Walcott.

Out of nothing, Palace are level and it is not a goal that Cech will want to see again in a hurry. Bolasie drifts in from the left and goes beyond Coquelin before rifling a low effort from 20 yards that squirms past the experienced goalkeeper and in at the front post.

All square with less than 10 minutes remaining.

Yannick Bolasie
Getty

Goal: Arsenal 1-1 Crystal Palace (Yannick Bolasie)

Two half-chances for Arsenal go begging as Giroud fails to test Hennessey and Sanchez misses the target.

Cech makes his first real save of note to tip over the crossbar after Sako makes a good connection with Cabaye's corner. The Frenchman's second delivery is poor and easily headed away by Elneny.

Wenger opts for a double change as Iwobi and Welbeck are replaced by Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud.

Pardew sends on Zaha for Puncheon.

Welbeck demonstrates a nifty change of pace that leads to him being clattered late by Dann. Yellow card.

Ward can't cut out Bellerin's deep cross but Sako is on hand to prevent Monreal from hitting the target with a half-volley at the back post.

Sanchez comes agonisingly close to adding to his and Arsenal's tally. After Monreal is knocked down by Ledley, Ozil shows great awareness to spot that his teammate has stolen a march on Souare and flights in a perfect quick free-kick that is glanced centimetres wide of the post.

Slack defending from Ward, who allows Sanchez to drift in behind him and nod Ozil's cross wide of the back post.

Palace survive by the skin of their teeth when Adebayor's attempted clearance from a free-kick ricochets off Sanchez and leads to Hennessey making another smart close-range stop to thwart Welbeck.

Elneny looks to drive home the rebound but Delaney blocks and the ball is eventually cleared.

The boos ring out around the Emirates as Adebayor replaces Wickham. Perhaps that will liven things up a bit.

Souare looks to release Bolasie with a punt downfield but the DR Congo winger is penalised for backing in on Monreal. Adebayor is receiving instructions from Palace assistant Keith Millen and will soon enter the fray to an inevitably hostile reception.

A painful but accidental clash of heads between Gabriel and Wickham leaves the Palace striker in a daze. The physios are waved away and he will be able to continue.

A cynical trip from Ledley on Sanchez earns the Welsh midfielder a yellow card. Ozil's curled free-kick drifts over the wall and just wide of Hennessey's left-hand post.

Bellerin attempts to turn the screw with a low pass that is put behind by Delaney. A cleverly worked corner from Ozil and Elneny ends with Iwobi failing to make contact with a chipped Coquelin cross.

The Nigerian then releases Welbeck with a backheel, but Hennessey easily holds his shot from a tricky angle. Sanchez was hoping he would deliver that to the back post.

The ball almost falls kindly for Welbeck inside the Palace box, but Dann clears at the vital moment.

The second half is off and running. No changes from Arsenal, but Pardew has sent on Bakary Sako in place of Jedinak.

Far from a vintage first half of football from Arsenal, who dominated possession but did not register a single shot on target until the 43rd minute. They have kept their cool, however, and deservedly lead at the break.

Half-time

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal take the lead on the stroke of half-time. After an initial attack breaks down, Dann and Jedinak get themselves into all sorts of bother and that allows Welbeck to chip a lovely pass towards Sanchez.

The Chilean gets ahead of Souare and beats Hennessey to the punch to head into an empty net. A poor goal to concede from Palace's point of view.

Alexis Sanchez
AFP

Goal: Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace (Alexis Sanchez)

A decent chance at the other end too as Puncheon wins a free-kick in a good area on the right-hand side. Wickham wins his wrestling match with Gabriel but can only head Cabaye's searching ball wide.

Two minutes of added time signalled at the end of the first half.

Palace are carved open by a swift exchange between Sanchez and Ozil. Thankfully for them, Hennessey comes out to thwart the German playmaker with a point-blank save.

That was definitely the best chance of the match so far.

Rather than giving another corner, referee Roger East awards a free-kick for that challenge from Gabriel on Dann. The Palace centre-back looks to be in quite some discomfort and will require treatment.

Welbeck proves too quick for Dann and an awkward foul leads to a free-kick in a dangerous position that Sanchez deflects off the wall and wide.

Wickham heads away the corner and Sanchez then looks to play a neat one-two with Gabriel but Dann is able to clear.

Palace win a corner of their own when Joel Ward's cross from the right is deflected behind. Koscielny clears and the whistle blows as Ledley is deemed to be blocking off Cech.

Sanchez gets to the byline and looks to pick out a red shirt, but his low pull-back is blasted away by Jason Puncheon.

The Chilean then wins a corner that is taken by Ozil and headed just wide of the near post by Koscielny.

Almost an opening for Arsenal as Nacho Monreal's inviting cross slips through the feet of Welbeck. It falls to Sanchez, who clearly was not expecting it and his miscontrol allows Ledley to clear into touch.

Some very casual defending from Dann with Iwobi closing in leads to another Arsenal corner. Ozil tries to find Welbeck, but Jedinak gets the ball away from danger.

Souare is one of the few full-backs that Sanchez does not have for pace and the Senegalese international brushes him off after impressive work from the skillful Iwobi.

Arsenal win a corner that is swiftly cleared by a thumping header from the towering Mile Jedinak. Not many highlights from this opening 25 minutes, it must be said.

It's certainly been a sharp comedown from the late drama between leaders Leicester and West Ham earlier on.

Coquelin floats a lofted pass through to Sanchez, who looks to beat Hennessey under pressure from Souare before the offside flag is correctly raised. Palace held a very good line there.

Cabaye concedes a free-kick with a mistimed sliding challenge on Coquelin. Ozil's delivery is disappointing and a long-range drive from Elneny is deflected over.

The resulting corner initially causes Palace a problem before Wickham hacks clear.

Finally Palace look to move forward on the counter through Yannick Bolasie, who utilises his trademark pace to burst down the right-hand flank. His ball towards Wickham is turned behind, leading to a corner that is initially punched clear by Cech before Scott Dann heads Souare's cross wide.

The Emirates is bathed in late afternoon spring sunshine but the atmosphere leaves a lot to be desired. Still goalless and Arsenal are dominating possession.

Arsenal continue to probe patiently and some stylish build-up play involving Alex Iwobi, Sanchez and Ozil ends with a floated cross from Hector Bellerin that is comfortably taken by Wayne Hennessey.

The visitors are being penned back deep inside their own half early on but Pape Souare and Damien Delaney stand firm to block respective crosses from Elneny and Ozil.

Lax marking from Palace's wall of defenders allows Francis Coquelin to pick up possession unchecked. He tries to play in Ozil, but the ball is overhit and trickles harmlessly out of play.

Ozil puts just a little too much pace on a defence-splitting pass that Welbeck struggles to control. Plenty of numbers behind the ball for Palace, as you might expect.

Arsenal quickly settle into a smooth passing rhythm that is only momentarily disrupted by Wickham winning a free-kick in dangerous territory.

It comes to nothing and Yohan Cabaye then has to be alert to block Mohamed Elneny's drive.

The first half gets underway in north London. Arsenal, in their customary home strip, are kicking from left to right. Palace are in white shirts with blue shorts and socks.

Alan Pardew makes two alterations after struggling Palace finally registered their first top-flight win of 2016 and eased any lingering relegation fears with a 1-0 triumph at home to Norwich last weekend.

Connor Wickham returns to replace the injured Dwight Gayle, while Joe Ledley comes in for Wilfried Zaha following a goalless draw with 10-man Everton in midweek. Ex-Gunners striker Emmanuel Adebayor is on the bench.

Connor Wickham
Getty

Just one change from Arsenal following last week's eventful visit to Upton Park, a match that saw the Gunners claim a late 3-3 draw through Laurent Koscielny after initially leading 2-0 courtesy of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.

Petr Cech is back in goal and David Ospina drops to the bench. Kieran Gibbs' place among the substitutes is taken by Joel Campbell.

Crystal Palace: Hennessey, Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souare, Puncheon, Jedinak, Cabaye, Ledley, Bolasie, Wickham

Subs: Speroni, Mariappa, Kelly, Lee, Sako, Zaha, Adebayor

Arsenal: Cech, Bellerin, Koscielny, Gabriel, Monreal, Coquelin, Elneny, Iwobi, Ozil, Sanchez, Welbeck

Subs: Ospina, Mertesacker, Chambers, Ramsey, Campbell, Walcott, Giroud

Hello and a very warm welcome to IBTimes UK's latest live coverage of the Premier League. Leaders Leicester are still in action against West Ham and a much-changed Liverpool XI are coasting at Bournemouth, but later this afternoon our attention turns to the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal host Crystal Palace in a London derby.

Arsene Wenger
Getty

Stay tuned for an injury update and breaking team news in addition to confirmed lineups and live updates throughout the match...