Arsenal: Kepa; Zubimendi, Mosquera, Hincapie, Calafiori; Norgaard, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman; Madueke, Jesus, Martinelli
Substitutes: Setford, Gabriel, Saka, Odegaard, Eze, Gyokeres, Merino, Havertz, Rice
Arsenal, the Champions, concluded the 2025-26 Premier League by beating Crystal Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park, with goals from Gabriel Jesus and Noni Madueke.
Title-winning manager Mikel Arteta made wholesale changes, as Kepa started in goal, Christian Norgaard started for the first time in the Premier League this season, and Max Dowman became the youngest player to ever start a Premier League match. Mikel Merino was back on the substitutes bench.
The Champions got the match underway, with Mosquera lining up at centre back, Norgaard in midfield, and Zubimendi at right back.
On 4 minutes, Lerma misplayed a long ball, playing Jesus in. He looked to pass his shot past Henderson, but struck the post. The follow-up came to Madueke, but his shot was straight at Henderson, who saved.
Good play on the right kept Palace penned in and Madueke took on his man before pulling back for Norgaard, who shot wide from distance.
Jesus had another glorious chance to put Arsenal ahead on 11 minutes. He ran through as Madueke played him behind, and had Martinelli for company. He drove on, and tried to cutely finish past Henderson, who stuck a hand out and stopped the shot.
Palace’s long throw was cleared, and Dowman picked up the pieces before playing Martinelli in behind. His first touch was heavy, and he was forced wide by Cardines, before weakly shooting as he fell down.
At the other end, Crystal Palace nearly went a goal up. Munoz got in front of Calafiori to meet Cardines’ cross, and Kepa got down to push his diving header around the post.
After the hydration break a nifty drag back from Jesus set Norgaard up for a cross, but it was too close to Henderson.
On 42 minutes, Jesus put the Champions ahead. Dowman flicked the ball for Martinelli in the middle and he slipped Jesus behind. With a Palace player to beat, Jesus shot early and his low shot beat Henderson at the near post. 0-1.
Three minutes were added on to the end of the first half as the away fans sang “One-nil to the Champions.”
Two changes were made at half time, as Gabriel replaced Calafiori and Havertz replaced Norgaard.
Three minutes into the second half, the Champions scored from a set piece again, ole ole. Martinelli won a corner with a dart from the left. He took the corner, which was floated to the back post. Havertz headed it back to Madueke, who hit the shot on the half-volley and past Henderson. 0-2.
Bruun Larsen, getting on the ball after Pino’s pass, held off Mosquera and shot from a narrow angle but over Kepa’s goal.
On 61 minutes, Mikel Merino returned to action, replacing Max Dowman.
Gabriel held Guessand off as he tried to break through on Arsenal’s goal.
Martinelli broke, beat a defender, and cutback for Havertz, whose shot was blocked.
Jesus was booked on 74 minutes for pulling Pino down, and that was his final action, as Eze immediately replaced him, with the former Palace man getting a nice reception from the home fans.
There was almost a goal for Merino on his return on 80 minutes. Martinelli again carried the ball to the byline, and crossed for Havertz. His shot was wayward but came to Merino, who shot over from close range.
On 83 minutes Gyökeres replaced Madueke, who looked to have picked up a hamstring issue.
Crystal Palace pulled a goal back on 89 minutes. Mitchell played back for Pino, and afforded lots of time and space he crossed into the middle. Mateta leaped higher than Mosquera, and his header beat Kepa. 1-2.
Seven minutes were added on to the end of the second half.
Crystal Palace thought they had equalised on 91 minutes through Pino. Pino drove into the middle, saw his effort blocked by Mosquera, and shot again past Kepa. The flag, though, eventually went up for offside, with the ball taking a deflection off an offside Guessand, who was also in Kepa’s way.
Cardines, causing problems on the left, crossed into the middle for Riad, but his header was soft and Kepa saved.
At the other end, Gyökeres was played in behind by Havertz but he dragged his shot wide of the far post.
In the final minute, Merino played Gyökeres in behind down the right, he skipped past one and crossed to the middle, where Eze had an open shot, but Henderson denied him a goal on his return to Selhurst Park. Immediately after, the referee blew for full-time with Arsenal once again seeing out a one-goal win showing one of the many reasons why we’re Champions.
On to Budapest.