Chronicle EditorLondon. — Arsenal had to settle for a 1-1 draw at home to Crystal Palace after Yannick Bolasie struck a late goal in their Premier League clash yesterday to leave Arsene Wenger’s side looking over their shoulders in the race for a top four place.
Alexis Sanchez put the hosts ahead when he nodded home Danny Welbeck’s delightful dinked ball just before halftime but Bolasie equalised with a low drive from the edge of area that beat Petr Cech at his near post in the 82nd minute. Arsenal dominated possession with Sanchez and Mesut Ozil close to scoring from free kicks, while the Germany midfielder was denied from point-blank range by visiting goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey just before the Chile forward opened the scoring.
Bolasie’s leveller shook the fourth-placed home side and they were almost caught out again in stoppage time when only a last-ditch tackle from Gabriel Paulista stopped dangerous winger Wilfried Zaha in his tracks as he burst into the area.
Meanwhile, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp made 10 changes from the team that beat Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League and watched his experimental side overcome Bournemouth 2-1 in a low-key game in the south coast sunshine on Sun- day.
Both Liverpool goals came at the end of the first half, Roberto Firmino ending a superb move with a close range tap-in after 41 minutes before Daniel Sturridge made it 2-0 with a header from a Jordan Ibe free kick. Bournemouth replied in stoppage time when Josh King half-volleyed in from the edge of the box.
Before the kickoff flowers were laid on the pitch in memory of the Liverpool 96 fans who died at Hillsborough in April 1989. — Reuters.
Online Reporter