Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew has labelled this afternoon's 1-1 draw at Arsenal an "important result" for the Eagles.
Palace were dominated for much of the contest but managed to earn a point thanks to Yannick Bolasie's 82nd-minute piledriver that sneaked past Petr Cech at the near post.
Pardew feels that the Eagles' 39 points has them on the brink of safety and admitted that their run to the FA Cup semi-finals has hampered their league form in 2016.
"It was an important result for us, it means two of the teams below us have to get 40 points and with our goal difference it will be difficult for them," Pardew told BBC Sport.
"It makes it easier for us to look forward to the semi-final (against Watford next Sunday) and look to trying to get to mid table which is where I think we belong.
"The cup runs has affected us but I think we have put that to bed, we can't keep leaning on that and we needed to focus on the league and I think the players have taken that message on board. Hopefully we can pick up something at Manchester United."
Palace go to Old Trafford on Wednesday before the showdown with Watford at Wembley in a week's time.
Pascal Lemesre
