MIKEL JUST ABLE TO KEEP SLOT WAITING

Gunners grateful for point as Mateta steals the show

- Mike Walters

PUT the champagne on ice, Liverpool's party will have to wait until Sunday.

Careless Arsenal just about extended the title race another four days, though it is all over bar the sausage rolls and the vol-au-vents.

Now it falls to Spurs to be the party stooges but Liverpool, who need only a point, came close to clinching the holy grail without kicking a ball last night.

Pegged back by Crystal Palace substitute Jean-Philippe Mateta's late equaliser, the Gunners were grateful to escape with a point and no new injury concerns ahead of their Champions League moment of truth.

Palace, who have their own trophy aspirations on Saturday, refused to come quietly.