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FRIDAY | APR 25, 2025

Malaysian Paper

Lethargic Gunners Gunners

Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka (right) shoots at goal during his team’s match against

Crystal Palace. – REUTERSPIC

Arsenal lacked ‘energy’ in Palace draw, says Arteta as PSG loom large

M IKEL ARTETA admitted Arsenal have to get their “energy” back for the Champions League showdown with Paris Saint-Germain after a lacklustre 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace left Liverpool on the brink of winning the Premier League. Arteta’s side were hoping to warm up for their first Champions League semifinal appearance since 2009 with a victory over Palace at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday (3am Malaysian time). But Jakub Kiwior’s third-minute header for the Gunners was cancelled out by Eberechi Eze’s volley in the 27th minute. Leandro Trossard’s strike put Arsenal back in front three minutes before half-time, only for Palace substitute Jean-Philippe Mateta to loft a brilliant lob over out of position keeper David Raya in the 83rd minute. Second-placed Arsenal are 12 points adrift of Liverpool, and with only four matches left for the north Londoners, Arne Slot’s team will seal the title if they avoid defeat against Tottenham at Anfield on Sunday. Their title hopes effectively over several weeks ago, Arsenal were already focused on winning the Champions League for the first time. But the sloppy display against Palace was hardly ideal preparation for the showdown with French champions PSG, who have eliminated Liverpool and Aston Villa en route to the last four. “I am disappointed with the result and the performance. We did not have the consistency to dominate the game. “Yes, we were ahead twice, but we didn’t grab the game and control it in the way we would normally do because we were below the standards. “Hopefully the PSG match was not in their minds. We discussed that before (the 4-0 victory at) Ipswich, and it wasn’t there. We still have six days to prepare for that match. “We missed some players, and a lot of players that have not trained, were not able to do so today so we were very short. “We haven’t been able to see the

three games – two of them with 10 men – but we have to win many more.” Adding to Arteta’s concerns is an injury to Mikel Merino that gave the Spaniard out of the Palace game and could sideline him against PSG. Merino is a midfielder by

trade but has been operating as an effective makeshift striker after Arsenal were hit by injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus. “We will have to wait and

see as they were not able to be in the squad here,” said when asked if Merino and defender Ben White would be fit to face PSG. It was Arsenal’s ninth League draw in a match they were leading this season, the most by a team in a single campaign since Tottenham in 2007-08. The Gunners repeated failure to kill off opponents has resulted in 13 draws from 34 Leagues games, helping put Liverpool within touching distance of a record-equalling 20th English title. Likely to finish as Premier League runners-up for a third successive season, Arteta’s team hope to end their five-year trophy drought in memorable style in the Champions League. Arteta insisted they were not distracted by the chance to reach the final for the first time since 2006. But he conceded it would be useful for his injury-hit squad to have almost a week off before facing Luis Enrique’s men. “It is nice to have long gap, we need it and we need players back to full strength. We have the most important game of the season in six days. We need to get our energy back.” Crystal Palace will now look ahead to their FA Cup semifinal against Aston Villa on Sunday (12.15am Malaysian time). “It was an excellent performance,” said Palace manager Oliver Glasner. “When you have conceded 10 goals in the last two away games, and go one down very early on, it is a difficult situation.

games off for many reasons. It’s something that we have done much better in the past. “You have to win a certain amount of games (to win the League). We have only lost

“But we didn’t lose our heads, and we created so many chances. I am very proud of the players and how they performed.” – AFP/ The Independent

Pressure is pleasure for Swiatek

- Story on page 28

- Story on page 29

Rory raring to go

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