Three positives and two negatives from Arsenal's 2-1 final-day win at Crystal Palace

Season complete. Process complete.

For once, Arsenal could enjoy a stroll in the London sunshine on as they claimed a 2-1 win at Crystal Palace.

Good job that everything was wrapped up, too, because the fans might just have torn their hair out otherwise. The Gunners spurned a few chances in the first half and hit the post before Gabriel Jesus put them in front just before half-time.

Three positives and two negatives from Arsenal’s 2-1 final-day win against Crystal Palace

Of course, VAR ensured the game would not pass entirely without drama and the Eagles looked like they had snatched a point in stoppage time via Evann Guessand. But the Ivorian was denied by the offside flag and it meant Mikel Arteta would see his team hang on to secure a fifth successive win in the Premier League.

Trust has been rewarded; here are three positives and two negatives for Arsenal on their triumphant visit to Selhurst Park.     

Positive #1: Gabriel Jesus

On his day, he is a joy to watch.

Injuries and competition for places left Gabriel Jesus in the cold for much of the campaign but he got to captain a rotated Arsenal side here.

The Brazil star was in his element from the off, showing silky touches that were reminiscent of those he exhibited on the memorable curtain raiser at this ground in August 2022. He capped it off with a wonderful, first-time finish on 41 minutes which beat Dean Henderson at his near post and teed the Gunners up for a final-day victory.

It could be his last match for the club if buyers are found or a termination deal is agreed, so it is nice that he might depart with a goal.

Pity he was not a bigger part of the title story.   

Negative #1: Gabriel Jesus

Yes, he makes both lists.

Fans have long understood that, with Gabriel Jesus, they must take the rough with the smooth and his finishing on the final day underlined just why Arteta had to spend big on another striker during the 2025 summer window (injuries aside).

He missed two glorious one-on-one chances prior to his breakthrough goal, while he also had a great chance at the back post but could not find the target.

It was all fun and games in the context of this dead rubber, and his opener helped to soften the blow of the aforementioned wastefulness. Yet the fluffed opportunities provided a horrific flashback to past days when Jesus led the line and fans might dread to think what they might have felt if there was still a title at stake here…

Give Viktor Gyokeres a new deal.  

Positive #2: Stress-free football

Arsenal played as if they did not have a care in the world and, for the first time this season, that was actually the case.

Arteta picked a team which suggested that to avoid injury was his sole concern. Cristhian Mosquera and Riccardo Calafiori were the only survivors from the 1-0 win against Burnley, while Max Dowman and Kepa made their first starts of the league campaign.

The summer vibe continued with the home team as Oliver Glasner made changes of his own, paying most attention to protecting his key Palace names ahead of their Europa Conference League final on Wednesday night.

It did not make for a great finale but few in attendance or watching from home will care and Arsenal came away with all three points.

That is the main thing!

Negative #2: More injury troubles

That ‘sole concern’ was too much to ask.

Even a nice kickabout could not pass without incident and Arsenal will be left sweating on the fitness of some key players ahead of the UCL final.

His biggest worry is for Noni Madueke who went down feeling his hamstring before being withdrawn for Gyokeres. Then, it looked as though Piero Hincapié and Myles Lewis-Skelly picked up knocks too, though neither seemed serious.

Bukayo Saka will start in Budapest anyway, so there is no need for head loss. However, one suspects that Madueke is just the sort of tricky customer that Arteta would love to unleash on tired PSG legs next weekend and, therefore, any injury concern might throw a spanner in the works ahead of that historic clash.

Can the injury luck just break out way for once?

Positive #3: Trophy Lift!

22 years, well worth the wait!

It is not exactly a positive from today as, in truth, the celebrations have been in full swing since last Tuesday night.

But Sunday was all about Arsenal and their coronation at the Palace. Many years of pain, heartbreak and false hope were banished in an instant upon the majestic sight of Martin Odegaard lifting the PL crown aloft, a scene which will only be surpassed by the huge parade set to sweep through London next weekend.

The trophy lift is a fitting snapshot after a long, difficult campaign and an oft-maligned process which was six years (and more) in the making, one that Arsenal followed through thick and thin for just the moment captured above.

Drink it in.

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