Arsenal player ratings: Kiwior impresses again to keep title race alive but Sterling’s season can’t end soon enough

ARSENAL held up Liverpool’s inevitable title celebrations with a 2-2 draw Crystal Palace at the Emirates. Liverpool needed Arsenal to lose to grab the title, but Arne Slot‘s side must now avoid defeat against Tottenham at Anfield on Sunday. ReutersJean-Philippe Mateta scored an unbelievable equaliser[/caption] GettyJakub Kiwior opened the scoring for the Gunners inside three minutes[/caption] Jakub Kiwior – who has stepped up in recent weeks after the season-ending injury to Gabriel – scored his first goal of the season with an incredible 10-yard header to give Arsenal the lead inside three minutes. Both sides looked cagey with upcoming chances to win external silverware- Arsenal with a Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain coming up and Palace facing Aston Villa in the FA Cup semis on Sunday. But Eberechi Eze levelled with a super strike, before Leandro Trossard put Arsenal back in front before half-time. And super-sub Jean-Philippe Mateta then lashed in one of the goals of the season to leave Liverpool fans and players hopeful of a comeback. Here’s how SunSport’s Jordan Davies rated the Gunners at the Emirates. DAVID RAYA – 6/10 After being able to snooze his way through the 4-0 win at Ipswich, the Spaniard was put under far more pressure here with several dangerous crosses into his cross early on. He did not deal with them all that well, flapping at a few. He was then nearly chipped from 35 yards out after his poor pass to Adam Wharton was hit first time only to be blocked. A vital touch on the hour mark was gladly received, tipping it away at the far post to stop two Palace players from heading in, and another sharp stop from a flicked corner. But then with eight minutes left, his bizarre positioning allowed Mateta to capitalise on an error and chip in off the bar into an empty net. MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY – 7 Seems to cruise through games right now without a care in the world, spending more time as a midfielder than a left-back. He appears to have also mastered the art of winning a foul at the age of just 18, halting Palace momentum on numerous occasions when the side needed a breather. Shout out to one brilliant moment when he managed to bump the giant that is Mateta off the ball, getting a huge roar from the home fans. WILLIAM SALIBA – 6 At times looked like his cool, calm and majestic self, but showed rare signs of fragility with the speed of Eze and the trickery of Eddie Nketiah to contend with. Set-pieces also proved a problem for Saliba – and the entire back four in fairness. And then, a real costly, dithering error that put Martin Odegaard in all sorts of trouble against Mateta, who then nicked the ball and brought the scores level. A rare off night, even if he did make a great block to stop Ismaila Sarr flicking in an injury-time winner. JAKUB KIWIOR – 8 Manners maketh the man, and minutes maketh the player. Jakub Kiwior has been crying out for several games on the spin in his favoured position of centre back to really build up a head of steam. In the past, he has been used sparingly and shunted out to full-back. But right now, with Gabriel out of the picture until the start of next season, the Pole is finally showing us what sort of a player he can be. A fine header inside three minutes to give Arsenal the lead and produced a stunning block in the six-yard box to deny Nketiah when he looked destined to score. Before there was doubt, but now he will be one of the first names on the teamsheet to face Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League semi-final first leg next week. The Arsenal set-piece machine roars again! Jakub Kiwior nets his first goal of the season for Arsenal pic.twitter.com/U9Lx6GiTgr— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 23, 2025 JURRIEN TIMBER – 7 Another occasional victim of Eze’s pace and was made to work hard, arguably more than he was made to at the Bernabeu against Real Madrid last week. The Dutchman still had time to grab an assist, slipping inside on the run and feeding Trossard. That is quickly becoming a trademark of Timber’s. THOMAS PARTEY – 7 With talk of a new deal on the horizon and his current one expiring this summer, Partey has been red hot in recent weeks – only to go cold in a dismal first half. Losing possession and lazy passes galore, this was the Partey of a few seasons ago, one of frustratingly unpredictable form. He must have had a rollocking at half time – or maybe a quick reminder of a potential job hunt in the coming weeks – because he emerged from the break a different player. Calm on the ball under pressure, dictating from deep and juggling balls over opposition heads for fun. This is the Partey everyone loves to see – and one Arsenal will miss next week with his suspension for the first leg against PSG.

Apr 23, 2025 - 22:33

ARSENAL held up Liverpool’s inevitable title celebrations with a 2-2 draw Crystal Palace at the Emirates.

Liverpool needed Arsenal to lose to grab the title, but Arne Slot‘s side must now avoid defeat against Tottenham at Anfield on Sunday.

Jean-Philippe Mateta celebrating a goal.

Jean-Philippe Mateta scored an unbelievable equaliser[/caption]

Jakub Kiwior of Arsenal scoring a goal during a Premier League match.

Jakub Kiwior opened the scoring for the Gunners inside three minutes[/caption] Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace match stats graphic.

Arsenal vs Crystal Palace Premier League starting XI.

Jakub Kiwior – who has stepped up in recent weeks after the season-ending injury to Gabriel – scored his first goal of the season with an incredible 10-yard header to give Arsenal the lead inside three minutes.

Both sides looked cagey with upcoming chances to win external silverware- Arsenal with a Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain coming up and Palace facing Aston Villa in the FA Cup semis on Sunday.

But Eberechi Eze levelled with a super strike, before Leandro Trossard put Arsenal back in front before half-time.

And super-sub Jean-Philippe Mateta then lashed in one of the goals of the season to leave Liverpool fans and players hopeful of a comeback.

Here’s how SunSport’s Jordan Davies rated the Gunners at the Emirates.

DAVID RAYA – 6/10

After being able to snooze his way through the 4-0 win at Ipswich, the Spaniard was put under far more pressure here with several dangerous crosses into his cross early on.

He did not deal with them all that well, flapping at a few.

He was then nearly chipped from 35 yards out after his poor pass to Adam Wharton was hit first time only to be blocked.

A vital touch on the hour mark was gladly received, tipping it away at the far post to stop two Palace players from heading in, and another sharp stop from a flicked corner.

But then with eight minutes left, his bizarre positioning allowed Mateta to capitalise on an error and chip in off the bar into an empty net. Illustration of David Raya's game statistics: 2 goals conceded, 29 accurate passes, 2 saves, 1 punch, 32 passes, and 1 high claim. A football pitch shows his passes.

MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY – 7

Seems to cruise through games right now without a care in the world, spending more time as a midfielder than a left-back.

He appears to have also mastered the art of winning a foul at the age of just 18, halting Palace momentum on numerous occasions when the side needed a breather.

Shout out to one brilliant moment when he managed to bump the giant that is Mateta off the ball, getting a huge roar from the home fans. Heatmap of Myles Lewis-Skelly's touches on a soccer field, with game statistics: 63 touches, 0 tackles, 51 passes, 2 duels lost, 0 shots, 3 duels won.

WILLIAM SALIBA – 6

At times looked like his cool, calm and majestic self, but showed rare signs of fragility with the speed of Eze and the trickery of Eddie Nketiah to contend with.

Set-pieces also proved a problem for Saliba – and the entire back four in fairness.

And then, a real costly, dithering error that put Martin Odegaard in all sorts of trouble against Mateta, who then nicked the ball and brought the scores level.

A rare off night, even if he did make a great block to stop Ismaila Sarr flicking in an injury-time winner. Illustration of William Saliba's match statistics: 179 touches, 1 shot, 165 passes, 162 accurate passes, 3 duels lost, 2 duels won. A touchmap is also included.

JAKUB KIWIOR – 8

Manners maketh the man, and minutes maketh the player. Jakub Kiwior has been crying out for several games on the spin in his favoured position of centre back to really build up a head of steam.

In the past, he has been used sparingly and shunted out to full-back.

But right now, with Gabriel out of the picture until the start of next season, the Pole is finally showing us what sort of a player he can be.

A fine header inside three minutes to give Arsenal the lead and produced a stunning block in the six-yard box to deny Nketiah when he looked destined to score.

Before there was doubt, but now he will be one of the first names on the teamsheet to face Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League semi-final first leg next week.