Having previously gone 49 league games unbeaten, Arsenal’s first team – away from the Carling Cup – have now gone five matches without victory.

On top of their morale-sapping defeat at Old Trafford, they had thrown away leads in their three previous draws and so it proved again at Selhurst Park.

Huge credit must be due to Palace, who actually raised their game after falling behind to Thierry Henry’s strike on 63 minutes.

The home side were quickly level through Aki Riihilahti and even came agonisingly close to clinching victory only for substitute Vassilis Lakis to stab a shot wide from point-blank range.

This was, however, still two points dropped for Wenger’s side on a day that Chelsea moved two points clear at the top of the Barclays Premiership table for the first time this season.

Palace were, strangely enough, the more in-form side, with four wins in their past five outings and chasing their first three consecutive top-flight wins in 10 years.

Arsenal were quickly into their stride but Henry was just inches wide of the target, while Palace had unashamedly set out their defensive stall, with Andy Johnson largely playing up front on his own.

The home side were committing the cardinal sin of giving away possession too cheaply on the rare occasions that they won back the ball.

Their task was magnified as Gonzalo Sorondo, who had himself replaced Fitz Hall, limped off with 23 minutes gone, but they had succeeded in the initial aim of drawing the sting out of their opponents.

Iain Dowie’s side started to grow in confidence and Arsenal were increasingly being penned back into their own half.

The Gunners were still dangerous on the break, despite not being quite as smooth in their passing as normal, with Kolo Toure striding forward and seeing a powerful low drive tipped around the post.

The match continued to drift along after the restart, with Palace managing to rattle Arsenal with their energy and drive.

However, the half chances continued to fall to the visitors, with Jose Reyes cutting inside and seeing his shot saved at the near post.

Finally, with 27 minutes left, Arsenal’s pressure eventually told as Cesc Fabregas’ driven pass found Fredrik Ljungberg bursting into the penalty area.

His low cross was turned into the net from close range by Henry and that should have been Arsenal’s cue to close the game down.

But it was merely the spur for Palace to spring into life and substitute Lakis cut inside and provided a deep cross that found Riihilahti unmarked.

His volley was stabbed past Jens Lehmann at full-stretch and, having drawn level, Palace were almost immediately re-energised.

They should have taken the lead shortly afterwards only for an astonishing miss by Lakis.

Teed up by an inviting cross from Johnson, the winger seemingly had the goal at his mercy only to stab his shot over the bar from just four yards out.

The game was now vibrantly alive, with Fabregas’ drive well saved by Kiraly at one end, while Pascal Cygan robbed Johnson in the nick of time and Mikele Leigertwood headed narrowly wide at the other.

Wenger’s response was to introduce the Dutch duo of Dennis Bergkamp and Robin van Persie for Robert Pires and Ljungberg with 18 minutes left.

Van Persie, who scored the late equaliser as a substitute against Southampton last weekend, was again in the thick of the action, as he was twice denied by ‘keeper Gabor Kiraly.

Dowie’s impressive Palace side then came closest to snatching a late winner, with Johnson twice threatening to break through.

Toure saved Arsenal on one occasion, while the offside flag came to their rescue the second time and it was the visitors were perhaps the most relieved to hear the final whistle.

Arsenal’s dip in form has become, if not a mini crisis, then at least something of a pronounced stumble.