Match Report

Everton won at Arsenal for the first time in 25 years to move back into European contention but it took a dreadful error by Bernd Leno and a terrific save by Jordan Pickford to push them over the line after another bafflingly lethargic performance.

The game had settled into an increasingly frustrating stalemate with a quarter of an hour to go when Richarlison's low cross squirmed through the keeper's legs and in to provide the platform from which Carlo Ancelotti's side were able to grind out a first win in six matches.

While Mikel Arteta was shorn of his two best strikers in the form of the injured Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette as well as first-choice left-back Kieran Tierney, the Toffees welcomed Dominic Calvert-Lewin back up front while André Gomes returned in midfield for what was the 200th top-flight meeting between these two clubs.

Yerry Mina and Fabian Delph were named among the substitutes and Seamus Coleman started at right-back as Ancelotti reverted to 4-4-1-1/4-3-3 formation but despite the commotion of thousands of fans protesting their club's ownership outside, Arsenal began purposefully enough and had the first shot on target of the contest.

Calvert-Lewin connected with an early Lucas Digne cross but headed a difficult chance well wide and another whipped Digne centre required quick reactions from Leno as it deflected heavily off Rob Holding before Bakayo Saka tested Pickford with a low shot from just inside the penalty area.

The best chances of the first half fell Everton's way, though, and Leno did well with a one-handed save to deny Richarlison after the Brazilian had turned inside his man and unloaded a quick shot on his left foot in the 29th minute.

11 minutes after that, Thomas Partey felled Richarlison outside the box and Gylfi Sigurdsson stepped up and rattled a free-kick off the top of the crossbar.

The game was goalless at the break but was almost broken open inside the first seven minutes of the restart. First Everton put together arguably their best move of the match to fashion a similar chance to their second goal against Tottenham a week ago but Sigurdsson's side-foot shot from Coleman's cross was from closer range and deflected behind off a defender.

Then, at the other end, Dani Ceballos went down clutching his shin following the merest of contact from Mason Holgate but, true to form, Referee Jon Moss awarded a penalty, a decision backed up by Video Assistant Ref, David Coote. However, a hairline VAR check for offside determined that Nicolas Pépé had been fractionally ahead of the last defender and play resumed with a free-kick to Everton.

The let-off failed to spark the Blues back into life. With James Rodriguez having a curiously terrible evening by his standards, the visitors struggling to get out of their own half without long punts forward by Pickford for long stretches.

Emile Smith Rowe's drilled cross/shot from the right almost ricocheted in off Holgate but flashed into the side-netting, Callum Chambers bounced a half-volley over the crossbar following an Arsenal set-piece and Ceballos warmed Pickford's hands with a driven effort from 20 yards that the keeper pushed away to safety.

The deciding goal was perhaps fitting for such a lacklustre contest. Richarlison deserved credit for turning makeshift full-back Granit Xhaka and then driving to the byline before attempting to fire the ball across goal for Calvert-Lewin but it went through Leno's gloves and in off his heel instead.

The goal survived a check by VAR and that was Ancelotti's cue to shut up shop. Having earlier replaced the ineffective Gomes with the equally bland Delph, he withdrew James and Richarlison in the closing stages in favour of Tom Davies and Mina.

Arsenal would get one last chance to claim a point in injury time for the second week running but Gabriel Martinelli was foiled by a great one-handed stop by Pickford that preserved an important victory, Everton's first ever at the Emirates that represented their first double over the Gunners since 1986 and pulls them to within three points of the top four again.

Lyndon Lloyd

Matchday Updates

Everton return to action on Friday evening with a trip to Arsenal in the latest installment of their faltering quest for the Holy Grail of European football next season.

A first win for the Toffees on Arsenal turf in 25 years would put some distance between the two clubs and reduce Mikel Arteta's prospects of finishing his first season overseeing European qualification.

Ancelotti is able to field Dominic Calvert-Lewin for the first time since the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace earlier this month. The striker has been troubled by an adductor complaint.

Him slotting back in alongside Richarlison means he should share the onus for goalscoring with the Brazilian and restore some of that aerial threat up front that has been missing in his absence.

André Gomes also starts but Yerry Mina is on the bench, as is Fabian Delph, Bernard and Tom Davies, and strangely only one goalkeeper, but Michael Keane is absent from the squad altogether.

Everton kicked off in their own inimitable fashion with the hoof upfield that rapidly lost possession. Arsenal's attack was slow to develop but came close to an early goal when it did, needing a vital interception in the air from Godfrey to clear the ball off Nketiah's head.

Arsenal may have been missing players but they still showed threatening fluidity going forward. While Sigurdsson put in a decent free-kick that Godfrey could not get to. Digne overlapped well off a good ball forward from Sigurdsson and got a good cross in for Calvert-Lewin but he could not get away from his marker and was forced to head behind.

James Rodriguez was struggling for any impact on the game, having to drop very deep and being marshaled well. Saka got a sight of goal but shot low at Pickford. Everton were moving the ball reasonably well but it wasn't creating any chances, while at the other end Nketiah and Saka were shooting on sight, thankfully blocked.

Almost half-an-hour before a slicing pass from Allan set up Richarlison for a shot but it was well saved by Leno and Calvert-Lewin could not follow up. We may have hoped for sweeping Everton dominance but once again the slow methodical build-up was not really working. A corner won from Gomes's deflected shot came to nothing as James struggled to create any space for a shot.

Thomas Partey clipped Richarlison to give up a dangerous set-piece and earn himself the game's first yellow card. Sigurdsson took command and clipped the top of the bar above Leno's hands. Close, but not close enough. Partey then fouled James, and that too should have been a second yellow, but of course it wasn't. This time, Digne could not get it over the wall.

The half drew to a close with the subdued tempo not really inspiring any great expectations from an almost full-strength Everton side that were ultimately massively disappointing in their abject failure to impose themselves on the game and deliver the required black eye to the Gunners.

No changes, of course from either manager. You have to believe that this boring and lifeless dross is intentional. James finally found a switch-ball opportunity but instead, Sigurdsson played it backwards and when Coleman tried to repat Monday's brilliant play, Sigurdsson was denied by the defender. The corners were ultimately wasted and the slow slog resumed.

James tried to make something from a deep set-piece but it was cleared and Digne could only fire his cross behind. Arsenal were going nowhere in reply when Richarlison clipped Ceballos on the shinpad and it was the softest penalty you could ever wish to see. But VAR also looked at offside and amazingly, the penalty was overruled. What a let-off!

There was then a clear hand-ball on Richarlison's cross but this time VAR gave Everton nothing, as Allan was given a soft yellow card.

At the other end, Holgate came close to beating his own keeper with a deft flick that went just the right side of the angle, Arsenal's best shot so far... The hour mark approached and Arsenal showed a bit more intent, winning a couple of corners that were defended well enough.

Pepe was bundled over by Holgate and writhed in agony, earning the Everton player a yellow card. Chambers seemed to have a great chance off the free-kick but volleyed into the turf. Everton had weathered something of a storm, and it was time for a sub: Delph on for Gomes... but wearing different socks!

But it was now one-way traffic, Ceballos firing in a good straight shot that Pickford batted away acrobatically to long leg. Delph's first contribution was a lazy foul on Smith-Rowe and a straight booking.

Saka tried to work his way around the back but the narrow angle made it an easy save for Pickford, but it was all Arsenal now, with Everton unable to counter. Everton had been totally dominated but Richarlison git past the last defender off a long ball from Holgate and Leno somehow allowed it to go through his hands and trickle over the line. Chicken walk for the Brazilian but his sot wasn't going on, so it's an own-goal by Leno (after the obligatory nerve-wracking VAR check for offside). Hilarious!

Could Everton now hold on for a historic if frankly laughable win? Arteta decided to call on Willian as the last roll of the dice with Everton now under no need to take any risks. It became a question of playing the ball around in their own half, so desperate were they not to concede.

Late subs weere the order of the day for Carlo Ancelotti's brilliant 'game-management' as the clock ticked away to 4 added minutes... Arsenal buzzing around like flies, searching to create something... anything.

Coleman got done by Martinelli but Pickford saved brilliantly loq to his left, one-handed. Absolutely brilliant by Everton's shot-stopper. And another snapshot had to be saved well although the whistle had already gone as Everton tried their best now to concede the win.

Kick-off: 8:00 pm, Friday 23 April 2021 on Sky Sports

Arsenal: Leno, Chambers (83' Willian), Holding, Pablo Mari, Xhaka, Partey [Y:38'], Ceballos, Pepe (74' Odegaard), Smith-Rowe, Saka, Nketiah (74' Martinelli).
Subs not Used: Bellerin, Gabriel, Cedric, Nelson, Elneny, Ryan.

Everton: Pickford, Coleman, Holgate, Godfrey, Digne, Gomes (66' Delph [Y:68']), Allan [Y:55'], Sigurdsson, James (87' Davies), Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison (89' Mina) .
Subs: Olsen,King, Iwobi, Nkounkou, Bernard, Broadhead.

Referee: Jon Moss
VAR: David Coote

Michael Kenrick

Match Preview

Against the backdrop of still-simmering resentment at and recriminations over the failed Super League and the actions of the Shameless Six, Everton return to action on the pitch on Friday evening against one of the pariah clubs in the form of Arsenal.

Forced to make an embarrassing climb-down and apologise to their fans on Tuesday night for their part in arguably the most hubristic and ill-conceived idea in the history of the game, the Gunners play for the first time since the furore erupted, with the irony of their Premier League position not lost on the watching football world.

They come into this fixture sitting in ninth place, nine points off Champions League qualification that their owner regards as their divine right and three points behind the Toffees in eighth having played a game more.

Their superior goal difference means that they can leapfrog Everton with victory over Carlo Ancelotti's side but a first win for the Toffees on Arsenal turf since in 25 years would put some distance between the two clubs and reduce Mikel Arteta's prospects of finishing his first season in charge in a European place. It would also draw Everton to within a point of neighbours Liverpool (at least until the reds played Newcastle at Saturday lunchtime) and reignite their own hopes of finishing in a European place.

There has been good news on the injury front that means the Blues could not only name a full subs bench but also not have to stuff it with players from the Under-18s. Having been deprived of him again in the last game against Tottenham a week ago, Ancelotti says he will be able to field Dominic Calvert-Lewin for the first time since the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace earlier this the month.

The striker has been troubled by an adductor complaint but his manager announced in his press conference that he would be ready for the trip to North London.

Him slotting back in alongside Richarlison, would mean he could share the onus for goalscoring with the Brazilian and restore some of that aerial threat up front that has been missing in his absence.

André Gomes was another one who was close to being available last time out but he wasn't risked because a hamstring problem and Ancelotti has indicated that both he and Yerry Mina are fit after the Colombian shook off an abductor issue of his own. Bernard is also fit again, as is Fabian Delph.

Even if there are no other injury surprises or training-ground mishaps between now and kick-off, Ancelotti could still make further changes to the side that started against Spurs. He may feel that the performance last week was good enough that there is merit in keeping the five-man back line with wingbacks and, in that case, Seamus Coleman would be a solid bet to retake a place in the starting XI in the wake of his excellent cameo off the bench last time out.

That would, obviously, come at the expense of Alex Iwobi and it wouldn't be a surprise if Michael Keane or Mason Holgate felt repercussions of their errors against Spurs. now that Mina is available.

Arsenal, meanwhile, will be without their two most reliable strikers, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang not due to resume light training until the end of the week and Alexandre Lacazette struggling with a hamstring injury.

Full-back Kieran Turney is still a couple of weeks away from returning to training at the earliest and Martin Odegaard will be assessed for an ankle problem but is rated 50/50.

Having relinquished control of their own destiny with this run of five Premier League games without a victory, all Everton can do now is try and win each game as they come and hope that results fall their way elsewhere.

Arsenal may be looking strong in Europe as they marched into the last four of the Europa League the Tuesday before last and they were comfortable winners at now-relegated Sheffield United two weeks ago but they were no match for Liverpool at home at the beginning of the month and they needed a last-gasp equaliser to deny struggling Fulham in their last outing at the Emirates.

Certainly, the Everton that probably have beaten Spurs had it not been for two defensive mistakes would fancy themselves to pick up three points from North London but it will take another determined display and clinical finishing up front to get the job done. They're more than capable of doing so.

Kick-off: 8pm, Friday 23 April 2021 on Sky Sports
Referee: Jon Moss
VAR: David Coote
Last Time: Arsenal 3 - 2 Everton

Predicted Line-up: Pickford, Coleman, Mina, Godfrey, Digne, Davies, Allan, Sigurdsson, Rodriguez, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin

Lyndon Lloyd

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