Mikel Arteta Concerned About Arsenal's Energy Levels Ahead of PSG Clash

Mikel Arteta expresses concerns about Arsenal's energy levels ahead of the high-stakes Champions League semi-final against PSG, after a disappointing draw against Crystal Palace.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta acknowledged that his team lacked “energy” in their 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace, which could impact their upcoming Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain. The draw also puts Liverpool on the verge of winning the Premier League title.

Arteta's team had hoped to build momentum for their Champions League semi-final with a win over Palace at the Emirates Stadium, but the lackluster performance left them without a victory. The match highlighted areas for improvement as Arsenal prepares for the high-stakes clash with PSG.

Arsenal's 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace was a lackluster performance that left them on the back foot ahead of their Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain. The Gunners took the lead through Jakub Kiwior's header in the third minute, but Eberechi Eze's volley in the 27th minute leveled the score.

Leandro Trossard's strike put Arsenal back in front three minutes before half-time, but Palace substitute Jean-Philippe Mateta's brilliant lob over David Raya in the 83rd minute secured a draw for the visitors. “We are disappointed with the result and performance,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said. “We didn't find enough consistency in actions to dominate the game.”

Arteta acknowledged areas for improvement, stating, “In many aspects we should have done better. Palace were very organised and deserved credit but we dropped our standards.” The draw leaves Arsenal 12 points behind Liverpool, with only four matches remaining, making it highly unlikely for them to win the Premier League title. However, Arsenal's focus has shifted to the Champions League, where they'll face PSG in the semi-finals.

Mikel Arteta expressed concerns about his team's performance, saying, “We struggled to find consistency. We gave the ball away in simple ways and we were late in everything we did. We have to do much better.” The lackluster display against Crystal Palace has left Arsenal with a lot to work on ahead of their Champions League semi-final against PSG.

Adding to Arteta's worries is an injury to Mikel Merino, who has been playing a crucial role as a makeshift striker due to 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,” Arteta said when asked about Merino's fitness for the PSG match.

The draw against Palace 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. This statistic highlights Arsenal's struggles to close out matches and secure wins, which could be a concern as they head into the high-stakes Champions League semi-final against PSG.

Arsenal's Quest for Champions League Glory

Arsenal's inability to finish off opponents has cost them dearly in the Premier League, with 13 draws from 34 league games contributing to Liverpool's title push. Despite likely finishing as runners-up for the third successive season, Arteta's team is focused on ending their five-year trophy drought in the Champions League. “We have spoke about avoiding our focus being elsewhere,” Arteta said. “We have enough time to prepare for PSG but today we didn't deliver enough to win the game.”

💬 "We need a really good block of work now to get the best feeling, the best preparation and get the energy back to have an amazing night here on Tuesday night."

The boss has reiterated that the supporters all have a huge part to play when we host PSG next week 👇

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 23, 2025

The Champions League semi-final against PSG looms large, and Arteta acknowledged that a break before the match would be beneficial for his injury-hit squad. The team's priority is to prepare for the French champions and make a strong impression in the competition. With a chance to reach the final for the first time since 2006, Arsenal aims to make a memorable run in the tournament.

Mikel Arteta acknowledged that the upcoming break will be beneficial for his team, saying, “It is nice to have long gap, we need it and we need players back to full strength. We have so many players out and not available and therefore you drop certain standards.” With the Champions League semi-final against PSG just around the corner, Arteta emphasized the importance of the match, stating, “We have the most important game of the season in six days. We need to get our energy back.”

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner was pleased with his team's performance against Arsenal, despite not winning the match. “It was not our goal to decide the title, it was our goal to win the game,” Glasner said. “A draw is a very good result. More important is the performance. We are back on the track.” Glasner had started key forwards Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr on the bench to keep them fresh for the FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa.