Let’s not sugarcoat Arsenal’s draw with Crystal Palace—it was a distraction, plain and simple. In his post-match comments, Mikel Arteta said he hoped the upcoming Champions League semi-final against PSG wasn’t weighing on his players’ minds. He emphasized, as always, that the next match is the most important. Admirable, but it’s hard to believe the looming clash with PSG wasn’t already influencing the team’s focus.
Recent results show a clear pattern: domestic form has had little bearing on Arsenal’s Champions League performances. Before hammering PSV 7-1, they had drawn 0-0 with Nottingham Forest in a lifeless display. Prior to dominating the Dutch side over two legs, they also shared points with a struggling Manchester United. Even after a huge 3-1 win over Real Madrid, they followed up with a sluggish 1-1 draw against Brentford.
The trend continued: after that draw, they traveled to Madrid and silenced the Bernabéu with a clinical 2-1 victory. So, a disappointing result against Palace—a team they thrashed 5-0 earlier this season—shouldn’t necessarily dampen hopes for the PSG game.
What’s more concerning is the absence of Mikel Merino. Arteta was tight-lipped when asked about his and Ben White’s unavailability, simply stating they weren’t fit to feature. As is typical before big games, the manager is likely to keep any details from PSG boss Luis Enrique.
Thomas Partey’s suspension for the PSG match is a blow, but given his sloppy performance against Palace, a break might not be the worst thing. Despite recent rumors about a contract extension, his dip in form raises questions.
However, there’s encouragement in attack. Leandro Trossard has been on fire with four goals in his last four league games, while Saka, Martinelli, and Ødegaard are also picking up form. Still, some of Arteta’s decisions raised eyebrows—particularly starting Raheem Sterling, who underwhelmed once again, ahead of Ethan Nwaneri, who scored in the recent win over Ipswich.
With just four league games remaining—Bournemouth, Liverpool, Newcastle, and Southampton—Arsenal’s position is anything but secure. Second place isn’t locked in, and while Champions League qualification is almost certain, there’s no doubt that Europe is dominating the team’s attention.
Ultimately, Arteta must hope this focus pays off—because if the PSG tie doesn’t go their way, the cost to their league campaign may be hard to justify.