In a heart-stopping Premier League clash that will be remembered for seasons to come, Arsenal snatched victory from the jaws of a draw with a dramatic stoppage-time winner against London rivals Crystal Palace.
The Emirates Stadium erupted in the 93rd minute when substitute Eddie Nketiah pounced on a loose ball to secure a vital 2-1 victory for Mikel Arteta's side, keeping them firmly in the title race conversation.
Early Dominance and Missed Opportunities
The Gunners controlled proceedings from the outset, with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli causing constant problems for the Palace defence. Despite their dominance, the breakthrough proved elusive in the first half, with Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson making several crucial saves to keep the scores level.
Second Half Drama Unfolds
The deadlock was finally broken in the 55th minute when Declan Rice's perfectly weighted pass found Kai Havertz, who coolly slotted past Henderson to send the home fans into delirium.
Palace responded with characteristic resilience under manager Roy Hodgson, and their persistence paid off when Joachim Andersen rose highest to head home from a corner in the 78th minute, setting up a tense finale.
Stoppage Time Heroics
Just as the game seemed destined to end in a frustrating draw, Arsenal launched one final attack. Martin Ødegaard's clever through-ball found Nketiah, whose initial shot was parried by Henderson, only for the young striker to fire home the rebound and secure three priceless points.
The victory moves Arsenal to within two points of league leaders Liverpool, while Palace remain in mid-table security despite their battling performance.
Arteta praised his team's character post-match, stating: "This is the mentality we need. We never stopped believing, and that winner shows the spirit in this squad."
