'Mikel Arteta will be furious' - Jamie Carragher reveals why Arsenal boss will be raging ahead of PSG tie after Gunners slip up against Crystal Palace

The Gunners twice went in front during a dramatic first half on Wednesday night but failed to hold on, leaving their grip on second place less secure heading into a season-defining run of fixtures. The draw is another frustrating result in a difficult spell for Arsenal, who have now managed just one victory in their last four Premier League outings.

Despite sitting second in the table, Arsenal's place in next season's Champions League is not yet guaranteed. Mathematically, five other teams could still catch them if results go against Arteta’s men. Although a top-five finish remains likely, they now need at least six points from their remaining four league fixtures to ensure a seat at Europe’s top table next term.

Carragher, speaking on Sky Sports, didn't hold back in his analysis of Arsenal’s performance and Arteta’s likely mood post-match.

"I think he'll be furious tonight, Mikel Arteta," he said. "They'll be fine in terms of qualifying for the Champions League, but you want to put that to bed as early as you can. When you look at the fixtures, then you've got Bournemouth, which is not an easy game, at home. But that's in between the two biggest games of the season. If you win tonight, you can almost write the Bournemouth game off and change the whole team - I don't think he's in a position to do that because of what comes next. Liverpool away.

"So, if you put a really weakened team out against Bournemouth, which I think he would have wanted to do to really go for this Champions League final, and you lose the game, and then you go to Anfield and there's a good chance you're going to lose at Liverpool off the back of playing PSG - Liverpool are at home with a free week. If they lose the next two games, the others are only a point or two behind you, and then you've got Newcastle."

Carragher added: "That's why I think he'll be furious, and that's why I think he made his team as strong as he did at Ipswich - if we put this to bed now and then we can concentrate on the two Paris Saint-Germain games and we'll be fine. They'll qualify for the Champions League next year, of course they will, but you just don't want that sort of thing where you're looking behind you, looking over your shoulder."

Carragher also noted some surprising statistics that further underline Arsenal’s current predicament. Despite Manchester City enduring what many have described as a below-par domestic campaign by their standards, they have still managed to win just as many league matches as Arsenal.

"I've just looked at the stats then and can't believe... they're six points ahead of City, City have had an awful season by their standards [but] they've won the same amount of games in the Premier League. They've both won 18. You can't believe that," he said.

With a vital Champions League semi-final first leg against PSG looming on April 29, Arsenal need to bounce back — and fast. A dip in domestic form at such a critical juncture could have long-term implications if it begins to affect confidence in Europe as well.