Arsenal fans were nearly haunted by the return of club hero Patrick Vieira.

Arsenal substitute Alexandre Lacazette made sure that wouldn’t happen. He scored a dramatic late equalizer and the match finished 2-2 in the English Premier League on Monday.

The French striker, who came on as a second half substitute, was delighted after his goal denied Palace manager Patrick Vieira, Arsenal’s former title-winning captain, a win in his first game in charge against the Gunners.

The result stretched Arsenal’s unbeaten league run to five games and left them 12th in the standings on 11 points from eight games, while Palace are 14th, three points behind them.

Superb second-half goals from Christian Benteke and Odsonne Edouard had turned the match on its head after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gave Arsenal an early lead but Palace were denied a win as Lacazette netted at the death.

Aubameyang tapped in an eighth-minute rebound from close range after visiting goalkeeper Vicente Guaita parried a Nicolas Pepe shot but falling behind only spurred the visitors into action at the Emirates Stadium.

Benteke levelled in the 50th minute as he unleashed a scorcher into the bottom corner from 15 metres and after both sides missed chances in end-to-end action, Edouard struck with an effort of the highest quality.

The French forward, who joined Palace from Celtic during the close-season, capped a flowing breakaway move in the 73rd with a fierce shot from the edge of the penalty area which crashed in off the underside of the bar.

Palace seemed home and dry after Arsenal left back Kieran Tierney blasted a shot from a tight angle into the woodwork but were punished for some sloppy defending deep into stoppage time.

A long throw-in produced a corner for Arsenal and after Palace failed to clear it and an ensuing goal-mouth scramble, Lacazette kept his wits and drilled in the equaliser past Guaita from close range