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Patrick Vieira crestfallen after Crystal Palace concede late equaliser on return to old club Arsenal

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Patrick Vieira says Crystal Palace’s draw with Arsenal felt like two points lost.

The Eagles looked on course for a memorable win at Emirates Stadium after Christian Benteke and Odsonne Edouard cancelled out Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s opener.

Alexandre Lacazette, however, had other ideas and struck a last-gasp equaliser to snatch Arsenal a draw.

Vieira was crestfallen at the full-time whistle and confessed afterwards he felt his side deserved more.

“I think when you look at how the game went, and the way we came back in the second-half and scored two goals and the way we conceded the second goal, I think it is two points lost for us,” he said.

“We are disappointed not leaving the stadium with the win. I was really pleased with the attitude we showed today on the field.

“It was challenging in the first 15 minutes but afterwards we managed and controlled the game quite well, that is why the draw hurts – because of the performance we had to day.

“I'm really disappointed for my players because they played well, showed a lot of character and personality.”

One positive for Vieira was how his side performed without star man Wilfried Zaha, who was missing due to illness.

“It is not Covid-related, it is something different,” he said. “He wasn’t feeling well since he came back from international duty.

“We didn’t want to take any risks but he started doing some really light training today and he will be training with the group on Wednesday.”

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