Arsenal were aiming to move back up to third in the Premier League table when they welcomed Crystal Palace to the Emirates on Sunday afternoon.
The Gunners took the lead through Alexis Sanchez and looked comfortable for much of the contest, but did not come out on top as Yannick Bolasie earned Palace a point.
Relive the contest with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.
3.01pmAfternoon everyone! Match nine this weekend in the Premier League takes place at the Emirates as North and South London collide. It's Arsenal against Crystal Palace and team news is just in...
3.03pmARSENAL XI: Cech; Bellerin, Koscielny, Gabriel, Monreal; Coquelin, Elneny; Iwobi, Ozil, Sanchez; Welbeck
Subs: Ospina, Mertesacker, Chambers, Ramsey, Campbell, Walcott, Giroud
Subs: Ospina, Mertesacker, Chambers, Ramsey, Campbell, Walcott, Giroud
3.05pmPALACE XI: Hennessey; Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souare; Puncheon, Jedinak, Cabaye, Ledley, Bolasie; Wickham
Subs: Speroni, Mariappa, Kelly, Lee, Sako, Zaha, Adebayor
Subs: Speroni, Mariappa, Kelly, Lee, Sako, Zaha, Adebayor
3.07pmJust the one change from Arsene Wenger and it's an expected one as Petr Cech returns in goal to take David Ospina's place. The likes of Mertesacker, Ramsey and Giroud remain on the bench.
3.09pmAs for Palace, it's two changes by Alan Pardew from the 0-0 draw with Everton in midweek. Wilfried Zaha drops to the bench and is replaced by Joe Ledley, while Connor Wickham starts in attack with Dwight Gayle out injured.
3.12pmUPDATE: Before we get down to the nitty-gritty of this match, BIG NEWS from the King Power Stadium where league leaders Leicester were winning 1-0 (again) until the last few minutes when West Ham have scored twice to go 2-1 in front! Aaron Cresswell has just volleyed home a peach of a goal. Follow the last few minutes of that one here.
3.14pmThere's one other match that kicked off at 1.30pm and Liverpool lead 2-0 at Bournemouth, despite Jurgen Klopp making a host of changes after the incredible win over Dortmund in the Europa League on Thursday.
3.17pmI'll bring you the full-time scores when they come in shortly, but back to the Emirates, where it's a memorable afternoon for Eagles defender Joel Ward:
.@JoelWard2 is the first player to reach 100 Premier League games for the Eagles. #CPFC pic.twitter.com/PuQUONLSRx
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) April 17, 2016
3.20pmSo if you click here you'll be able to see the latest full Premier League table, with Arsenal down to fourth and just three points above Manchester United after both Manchester clubs picked up wins yesterday. Palace are 16th and eight points above the relegation zone.
3.23pmUPDATE: Oh my word, what a finish at Leicester! The Foxes were on course to lose at home, but then referee Jon Moss, who has had a shocker in this match by all accounts, points to the spot for a 94th-minute penalty! Ulloa sticks it away and the Foxes earn a point. On the South coast, Liverpool ended up winning 2-1 against Bournemouth.
3.26pmSo what that means now for the table is that Leicester are on 73 points, 14 clear of Arsenal, who have played two games less. Spurs are eight back and will close the gap to five should they win at Stoke in the Monday night football.
3.29pmRight, let's take a closer look at how these two teams are doing coming into this match at the Emirates. Since going out of both the FA Cup and Champions League in mid-March, the Gunners have won two and drawn one of their three Premier League matches, last week sharing six goals with West Ham in a bonkers game at the Boleyn Ground.
3.32pmOn Christmas Day Palace were in the hunt for a top-four place but they then tumbled down the table with no league win in 14 matches. They were close to being dragged into the relegation scrap, but a win over Norwich City just below them last weekend, followed by a goalless draw with Everton in midweek, means that they look pretty safe.
3.35pmAlthough 2016 has been hugely disappointing in the league, Palace are through to the semi-finals of the FA Cup and having avoided Everton and Manchester United and drawn Watford, they have a great chance to reach the final. That semi against Watford is a week today and they have to go to Old Trafford to face Man United on Wednesday in between, so it's a huge, huge week for the club.
3.38pmPalace have kept two consecutive clean sheets, having previously gone 12 league games without one, but they will be hard-pressed to do so again today against an Arsenal side with only the league to play for. That semi-final next weekend is where most of Palace's focus lies and they are without a win in their last seven away league games (D4, L3).
3.41pmArsenal are heavy, heavy favourites to win today, but they are yet to win a home league London derby this season (D1, L2). However, Palace have the worst record of any of the capital teams in derbies, so maybe it'll be a draw if both of them are so useless!
3.44pmArsenal's improved form of late has been helped by the emergence of Alex Iwobi. The Nigerian youngster has scored twice and set up two other goals in his first three Premier League starts and his form has kept Olivier Giroud out of the team. The latter is enduring his worst-ever Premier League goalscoring drought of 11 games, but he has scored in three of his four Premier League starts against Palace.
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© AFP3.47pmH2H: Giroud scored the opener in the reverse fixture between the two eight months ago yesterday. Ward hit back for Palace in the first half, but Arsenal then came out on top thanks to a Damien Delaney own goal 10 minutes after half time.
3.50pmThat win made it six in a row for Arsenal against Palace, who have only won three of the 38 meetings (D10, L25) between the Gunners and Eagles. The South London side's only Premier League victory against Arsenal came away in October 1994.
3.53pmI've captained Iwobi on fantasy football this weekend so hopefully the two can keep linking up well!
Back with a bang... With two goals in as many games, can @Alexis_Sanchez continue his fine form today? #AFCvCPFC pic.twitter.com/CukLQroeUA
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) April 17, 2016
3.56pmPREDICTION: Hard not to pick Arsenal today. Palace must already be thinking about next Sunday's FA Cup semi at Wembley and I don't think they'll put up much of a fight today – 3-0 to the Gunners.
3.57pmLooks like you lot agree with that on our pre-match preview, with 84% of you picking the home side to come out on top.
3.59pmHere we go then. Both teams are out in the bright sunshine. Palace in their away kit of white tops and blue shorts.
0 minKICKOFF! Underway at the Emirates.
3 minEarly talking to for Bellerin from today's referee Roger East after he tugged back Wickham. Probably a booking later in the game, but this early on East has let it go.
6 minOzil picks out the run of Welbeck with a fizzing through-ball, but the England international fails to take it in his stride and the ball bobbles through for Hennessey. Arsenal seeing much more of the ball, as expected, early on.
9 minReally feels like when, not if, Arsenal will score. Full-backs Bellerin and Monreal are getting forward whenever they can and it just looks like the Gunners have more players than Palace out there.
13 minFabulous stuff from the Gunners as Iwobi spins on the edge of the box before Ozil and Sanchez play a one-two. Ozil could shoot, but he feeds Bellerin down the right and the full-back's cross is plucked out of the air by Hennessey.
16 minPalace worry the Gunners for the first time as Bolasie wins a 50-50 against Koscielny on the break before his cross looking for Wickham in the middle is diverted behind for a corner.
17 minCech's initial punch only goes as far as Souare. The left-back curls over a deep cross that Dann meets, but he can only head a good few yards wide of the mark.
18 minFree kick to Arsenal down the other end as Cabaye mistimes a tackle on Coquelin. Quite central, but too far out for a shot. Ozil will float it in...
19 minDelaney heads it away, but Arsenal soon win a corner as Elneny's hopeful 30-yard shot takes a deflection and loops over the top.
20 minPalace again deal with the danger as Wickham control and lumps high up the pitch form inside his own six-yard box. Palace fans will want to see the striker, only just back from injury, causing problems up the other end.
22 minBellerin has been really bright so far today. The best right-back in the league this season?
© Getty Images
© Getty Images24 minLaughs all round as referee East backpedals and trips over Monreal as the latter tried to head the ball back into the danger area. One of the better things that's happened so far in this match.
27 minStrong defending from Souare as he eases Sanchez off the ball, with the Chilean looking to break through on goal from Iwobi's pass.
29 minOver 80% possession in the first 25 minutes!
HEAT MAP: Arsenal have been camped inside Crystal Palace's half so far.
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) April 17, 2016
Putting them under pressure. pic.twitter.com/2p5fOnZjEV
33 minLovely pass from Ozil finds the run of Sanchez down the right, but the Chilean's cutback doesn't find a teammate and Palace clear their lines. Sums up the first half – nice passing around the box, but no clinical finish. Doesn't sound like Arsenal does it?
36 minOzil with a corner now that Koscielny gets to first at the front post, but he can't direct the ball back towards goal as it goes a good yard or two wide of the near post.
39 minCLOSE! Arsenal free kick 25 yards out and it's Sanchez who steps up. His curling effort takes a slight flick off the wall and dips just wide of the target. Closest we've come so far.
40 minWorrying signs here for Palace as Dann stays down after he cleared out for a corner but in doing so thumped his foot into Gabriel's studs. East gives Palace a free kick, but Dann is still not up yet.
42 minThe big centre-back is up now, but looks like he's still struggling a bit. I think he'll try to get through to half time and then have a closer look in the dressing room.
43 minSAVE! A shot on target for Arsenal at last as Sanchez feeds Ozil, who has to take it quickly and his stabbed effort is kept out by Hennessey.
45+1 minGOAL! ARSENAL 1-0 PALACE (ALEXIS SANCHEZ)
45+1 minMoments after Wickham headed over a great chance for Palace, Arsenal take the lead. Welbeck wins the ball back high up the field and dinks over the top for Sanchez, who does really well to loop a header over the advancing Hennessey.
45+3 minHALF-TIME: ARSENAL 1-0 PALACE
4.49pmAlexis's goal right on the stroke of half time has the Gunners in front then. The hosts had plenty of possession, but it didn't look like they would score until that goal. Palace haven't done much either, with Wickham spurning their only opening. Don't go anywhere, we'll be back soon for the second 45.
© AFP
© AFP5.01pm
Arsenal score their 11th headed PL goal this season, only West Ham & Southampton (both 12) have scored more pic.twitter.com/Gtdh8zBg5E
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) April 17, 2016
5.02pmCouple of other stat lines from the ever-insightful @OptaJoe on Twitter:
– Sanchez has scored or assisted seven goals in his last six Premier League games (four goals, three assists).
– Welbeck has provided an assist in two consecutive Premier League appearances for the first time in his career.
– Sanchez has scored or assisted seven goals in his last six Premier League games (four goals, three assists).
– Welbeck has provided an assist in two consecutive Premier League appearances for the first time in his career.
46 minPALACE SUB: Half-time change from the visitors as Sako comes on for Jedinak. That should see Puncheon go into a more central area.
47 minArsenal right back on the front foot. Sanchez finds Welbeck with a low cross, but the latter's attempted sweep home is blocked.
51 minAfter a slow few minutes, Iwobi ups the pace with a sharp turn in the middle. He finds Bellerin down the right but the full-back's cross is cleared out for a corner.
52 minCHANCE! Bad miss here as Iwobi fails to get enough purchase on a header from about eight yards after an inventive scooped cross by Coquelin.
53 minRubbish from Welbeck as he shoots straight at Hennessey from a tight angle. He initially did really well to keep the ball in play and then receive Iwobi's backheel, but he was never going to score from there.
54 minBig roar from the Palace fans as Sako wins the Eagles a corner right in front of them.
57 minBOOKING! First yellow card shown to Ledley after he cynically upended Sanchez. Free kick 25 yards out...
58 minCLOSE! Ozil steps up and curls it over the wall but just wide of the post. Hennessey was worried there.
61 minLooks like it will be 20 today
Arsenal haven't lost any of the last 19 games across all competitions in which Alexis Sanchez has scored. pic.twitter.com/NHtOCyspU5
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) April 17, 2016
64 minPALACE SUB: Change up top for the visitors as Wickham is replaced by former Arsenal forward Emmanuel Adebayor, who has scored on two of his last three appearances as a visiting player at the Emirates Stadium.
65 minCLOSE! Ozil's free kick doesn't look like it's going to cause any problems, but the ball kindly drops Welbeck's way and he is kept out by Hennessey.
68 minCLOSE! You get the feeling a second Arsenal goal is just around the corner here. Ozil curls in a quick free kick that Alexis meets, flicking the ball just wide of the far post.
71 minSo Palace have made two of their changes, but Wenger is yet to throw any fresh legs on. Surely will do soon.
73 minBOOKING! Dann carded for bringing down Welbeck down the Arsenal left.
75 minSUBS: It's Welbeck and Iwobi off, Giroud and Ramsey on for Arsenal, while Zaha takes Puncheon's place for Palace.
76 minSAVE! Those changes were made at a Palace corner which almost results in an equaliser! Cabaye's inswinger is met by Sako and his glancing header is tipped over by Cech.
78 minGiroud eases out Delaney in the middle but can only direct his volley straight at Hennessey. Moments later it's Sanchez who has a go, but he drags his shot nastily wide. As long as it remains 1-0, Palace are still in this.
82 minGOAL! ARSENAL 1-1 PALACE (YANNICK BOLASIE)
82 minWhat did I just say! Arsenal were doing all the pressing, but Palace are level as Bolasie cuts in side, fakes to shoot a couple of times and then unleashes a powerful low drive that sneaks past Cech at the near post. The Arsenal keeper got a hand on it but could not keep it out!
84 minARSENAL SUB: Walcott is on for Elneny as Arsenal look to retake the lead.
87 minGunners free kick about 30 yards out that Ozil want curl into the box...
87 minCHANCE! Gabriel gets there first but only plants his header straight at Hennessey. Wasted chance.
90+1 minFourth official Mike Dean holds up the board and there will be FOUR added minutes.
90+2 min
Yannick Bolasie scores his 1st goal in 13 apps. Palace have won all 8 previous games when he has scored pic.twitter.com/2m3fBGovyu
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) April 17, 2016
90+3 minCHANCE! Oh my word! Koscielny's clearance hits Zaha after a great run from the winger and he's in! Or at least that's how it looks, but his first touch is heavy and Gabriel gets across to make a crunching tackle. Adebayor was in acres of space and would have had a tap-in. Imagine!
90+5 minFULL-TIME: ARSENAL 1-1 PALACE
5.51pmAnother disappointing day for Arsenal then as Bolasie stuns the Emirates with a fizzing low shot that Cech will feel he should have kept out. Sanchez scored the Gunners' goal.
5.54pmArsenal stay fourth, behind Manchester City on goal difference, and they're only four better off than Manchester United outside the top four now! Still, they do have a favourable run-in and a much better goal difference than the Red Devils. Palace are up to 39 points, nine above the drop zone. They look safe after five points from their three unbeaten matches in the last eight days.
5.56pmThat's us all done here, thanks a lot for joining Sports Mole this afternoon. Click back to the homepage for plenty of reaction from here and today's other Premier League games. Au revoir!
