Arsenal closed the Premier League season with a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in a match that felt like a deliberate exercise in squad management. Gabriel Jesus opened the scoring in the 42nd minute after Gabriel Martinelli toe-poked the ball to him; Jesus broke past Jefferson Lerma and placed his near-post drive just beyond Dean Henderson.

Three minutes into the second half Noni Madueke added a second when he side-footed a volley from Martinelli’s corner to make it 2-0. Madueke was the most consistent attacking threat on the night and produced the game’s busiest offensive performance. Jean-Philippe Mateta pulled one back with a late header flick in the 89th minute, and Palace thought they had an equaliser in stoppage time only for it to be ruled offside.

Both clubs clearly prioritised upcoming fixtures. Arsenal had already secured the Premier League title and rested several regulars. Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, David Raya, Declan Rice and Gabriel were omitted from the starting lineup. The former three did not train on Thursday and each had individual programmes; Saliba and Raya were not called up. Gabriel entered as a second-half substitute.

Crystal Palace are also focused on the near future, preparing for the Europa Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday. The two sides used heavily rotated squads and a subdued tempo, with an emphasis on protecting fitness ahead of their cup finals.

Substitutions had impact: Kai Havertz, introduced at half-time, set up the Madueke goal shortly after coming on. Eberechi Eze received a standing ovation from the home fans when he entered. Madueke later suffered an apparent left leg issue and was replaced by Victor Gyökeres.

Match metrics underline Arsenal’s control: 61% possession to Palace’s 39%, expected goals 2.56 to 1.11, 17 total shots to 8, seven shots on target to three, and a pass accuracy of 89% versus 79%. The result completed a low-risk finish to the league campaign as both clubs now turn attention to major cup finals.

Arsenal edged a tense 1-0 victory over Burnley at the Emirates, a result that felt familiar in scoreline and closing-stage anxiety but carried fresh significance on the title run-in. Victory moved Arsenal five points clear of Manchester City, who must beat Bournemouth on Tuesday to take the title race to the final day.

“They will be relaxed,” Martin Ødegaard warned in his prematch program notes. “But tonight, it’s all about us.” The comment set the tone for a crowd that spent hours building intensity outside the ground and then maintained a wide-eyed mania throughout the match.

An unremarkable opening half gained momentum from a set piece. After two short corners from the same side, Bukayo Saka delivered an in-swinging cross in the 37th minute and Kai Havertz rose highest to head home. It was a straightforward finish and another example of Arsenal’s set-piece potency: it was the 19th different Premier League game in which Arsenal have scored from a set piece, matching the competition record, per Opta.

Mikel Arteta and set-piece coach Nicolas Jover again swapped positions at the edge of the technical area before dead balls, a small ritual that prefaced the decisive moment.

Player ratings (selected):
GK: David Raya—7.0: As much of a spectator as the 60,000 stuffed into the stands.
RB: Cristhian Mosquera—6.7: Spent precious little time defending.
CB: William Saliba—7.1: Breezed around the pitch with a sense of lofty authority.
LB: Riccardo Calafiori—7.0: Roamed widely.
DM: Declan Rice—7.9: The only source of ballast in Arsenal’s airy midfield.
CM: Martin Ødegaard—6.8: Flitted around the final third.
RW: Bukayo Saka—8.0: Tormented Lucas Pires.
ST: Kai Havertz—7.9: Brilliant leap to break the deadlock.
LW: Leandro Trossard—7.4: Found a way beyond Kyle Walker.

Subs included Piero Hincapié (72’ for Calafiori) 6.3, Myles Lewis-Skelly (73’ for Eze) 6.2 and Viktor Gyökeres (73’ for Havertz) 6.3. Zubimendi and Gabriel Martinelli appeared late.

Key statistics: possession 61% to 39%, xG 1.03 to 0.21, total shots 13 to 5, shots on target 3 to 0, pass accuracy 86% to 78%, fouls 7 to 16.

Arsenal held on for a 1–0 win after a dramatic stoppage-time incident at London Stadium. Early in stoppage time referee Chris Kavanagh signalled that Callum Wilson’s 95th-minute effort had crossed the line, but a lengthy VAR review followed and the original decision was overturned.

The review centred on contact between West Ham striker Pablo and Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya. Arteta was quick to gesture that Raya had been impeded. Replays showed Pablo with his arm across Raya’s chest just before the goalkeeper went to ground. The VAR process examined whether that contact affected Raya’s ability to claim the ball, which he had failed to hold initially.

A pitchside review was recommended and the referee judged that Pablo had unfairly impacted Raya’s ability to claim the ball. The match report from the scene read: “After review, West Ham number 19 commits a foul on the goalkeeper. Final decision is direct free kick.” The decisive ruling removed what would have been a late equaliser for West Ham and left Arsenal in control as the final whistle followed.

The outcome carried wider consequences for both clubs. Awarding the goal would have reopened the Premier League title race by inviting Manchester City back into contention, while striking it out left Arsenal in a stronger position and further eroded West Ham’s survival prospects. Arsenal were subsequently awarded a free kick from which they closed out the game.

Fans on social media were quick to reference a similar early-season incident. In the first gameweek Arsenal beat Manchester United 1–0 at Old Trafford with a header from Riccardo Calafiori 13 minutes into the game. Altay Bayındır immediately protested the goal and argued he had been impeded by William Saliba.

The late VAR intervention at London Stadium will be debated for days, both for its immediate effect on the table and for its echoes of incidents earlier in the season.