Match Report

In a season riven with controversy and scandalous treatment from the game’s authorities, it was perhaps fitting that Everton’s season should end with an outrageous decision from referee Michael Oliver that handed victory to title runners-up Arsenal.

Widely regarded as England’s best match official, the Northumberland native has proven to be anything but on a number of occasions when refereeing games involving the Toffees and he combined with Ashley Young to ruin what was shaping up to be an impressive draw at the Emirates.

Young’s brain-dead moment when he attempted an ill advised cross-field ball in his own half in the 89th minute was intercepted by Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz ended up converting the winner from close range but the goal should never have stood.

Jesus had clearly leant in with his arm to nudge the ball past his man, but, despite being sent to the pitch-side monitor by VAR Stuart Attwell, Oliver stood his ground and awarded the goal.

It was harsh on Everton who had led through Idrissa Gueye’s deflected free-kick, been pegged back by Takehiro Tomiyasu’s leveller but were on course to shove Pep Guardiola’s disrespect back down his throat by getting a result against the Gunners and denying them a shot at stealing the Championship off Manchester City at the last.

As it was, City didn’t need any favours from the Blues but Arsenal needed yet more incompetence – or outright corruption, depending on your level of cynicism – from Oliver to ensure they ended their season with another win.

Sean Dyche, who wryly remarked afterwards on the handball controversy, “Funny how it is in a title race and it goes the other way,” had named his strongest side in a bid to extend his team’s unbeaten run to six games.

Veteran fullbacks Young and Seamus Coleman kept their places, Amadou Onana was paired with Gueye in central midfield and James Garner was deployed wide on the right in the absence of Jack Harrison but it took them a while to get a foothold in the game.

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal overwhelmingly dominated the contest for the first 20-odd minutes and Tomiyasu had a shot charged down and a header that went wide before an uncharacteristic mistake by Jarrad Branthwaite, also attempting an ambitious pass in front of his own box, let Declan Rice in but Jordan Pickford made an excellent one-handed stop to keep it at 0-0.

The England man had to be alert either side of the quarter-hour mark, first when when Leandro Trossard’s attempt to volley a cross back into the danger area came off Coleman and Pickford flapped it behind and then when Gabriel Martinelli skinned Branthwaite for pace but was foiled by the keeper.

Despite having been largely in containment mode up to that point, Everton came within inches of taking the lead in the 32nd minute. Gueye had counter-attacked purposefully down the left channel and fed the striker who advanced towards the Gunners’ area before trying to place a shot inside David Raya’s near post.

Unfortunately, his effort came back off the upright and, off-balance following the shot, Calvert-Lewin could only prod the rebound into the side-netting.

An excellent block tackle by James Tarkowski at one end stopped Martinelli’s goal-bound shot while a foul on Dwight McNeil at the other handed the visitors a second direct free-kick in a dangerous area.

Calvert-Lewin had drilled the first into Gabriel’s head with the first after 17 minutes and on this occasion, Gueye’s shot also came off an Arsenal head but this time, the deflection off Rice took it wide of the wrong-footed Raya and flew into the other side of the goal to put Everton ahead.

Sadly, the lead lasted little more than three minutes as Arteta’s men responded and when Martin Ødegaard got to the byline and cut the ball back towards the top of the box. Tomiyasu arrived untracked to sweep the ball home and equalise a minute before the regulation 45 were up.

Buoyed by word of Mohammed Kudus’s spectacular goal at the Etihad that cut City’s lead to 2-1, Arsenal pressed for a half-time lead but Thomas Partey lashed over the bar with a similar chance to Tomiyasu’s deep into added time.

Everton remained obdurate after the interval, restricting the hosts to just a wayward Havertz header within the first quarter of an hour of the restart. Meanwhile, the Blues’ best moments in the game overall came in transition but all too often they were wasteful.

Calvert-Lewin had the best chance after 62 minutes when a received the ball in the box at the end of another good counter-attack but Raya plucked his curling shot out of the air.

On another breakaway, Gueye failed to release Abdoulaye Doucouré with a through-ball that could have put him on goal and later, substitute Youssef Chermiti would squander a gilt-edged four-on-two counter by also not finding Doucouré in space off the defenders.

In between, Arsenal had gone close when a mix-up between Pickford and Branthwaite pressed the keeper into batting the ball awkwardly behind, Havertz hit the post with a good header off a Martinelli cross, Emil Smith Rowe clipped the crossbar with a bouncing half-volley and Branthwaite diverted Jesus’ effort just wide with his head as it was searching out the far corner of the goal.

The game was settled a couple of minutes later, however, when Young ruined all of his team-mates good defensive work to that point with a shocking pass and Jesus was able to find Ødegaard in the area. The Norwegian scuffed it on past Pickford into the path of Havertz who had the simple task of rapping it home from close range.

Oliver could have restored justice on the advice of Attwell but in a rare instance of a referee not reversing the on-field decision after being sent to the monitor, he allowed the goal to stand.

Despite the defeat, Everton held on to 15th spot by virtue of Brentford’s home defeat to Newcastle, avoiding relegation by a 14-point margin. Without the deduction of eight points by the Premier League, whose CEO, Richard Masters, was in attendance at the Emirates to hear chants of “You can shove your points deduction up your arse!” from the away supporters, Dyche’s side would have finished in 12th, level on points with much-lauded Brighton.

Thoughts will inevitably turn towards the chaos and uncertainty off the pitch and a difficult summer in the transfer market but, on the pitch in 2023-24, Dyche, his staff and his players certainly got the job done.

Lyndon Lloyd

Matchday Updates

Everton end their 2023-24 Premier League season against Arsenal, who still have a chance to take the title off Manchester City if West Ham can get a result against them.

Premier League CEO Richard Masters is in attendance and set to attract considerable attention from the cadre of highly vocal travelling Bues who have so faithfully followed the team that has gone through so much this season – still in a position to affect what happens on the final day of the season.

Some players have already made their final appearances for the Blues with Harrison and Danjuma ending their loan spells, Gomes and Lonergan are not involved either with their contracts coming to an end.

Sean Dyche names a strong line-up from his remaining players, unchanged from the one that started last weekend against Sheffield Utd but names Billy Crellin as a second goalkeeper on the bench alongside Virginia.

Arsenal kicked off and tried to play up with Havertz lashing a shot well wide. Young stopped the next attack but Calvert-Lewin could not get the ball to stick and the Arsenal siege resumed, Tomiyasu denied by Gueye. Arsenal won a corner and Tomiyasu missed a sitter at the far post. 

Everton finally got forward after a tough 5 minutes and played the ball around well enough, winning a corner themselves but could not get a good head on McNeil's looping ball. Branthwaite dealt well with a ball over the top as Arsenal lost some of their early drive. 

Everton tried to play keep-ball but Gana gave it away and Arsenal came forward, Onana making a great tackle but Branthwaite making an error that let Rice strike weakly at goal, Pickford down to save. 

Everton were tested again at the far post, conceding a corner that eventually came back in again to that far post, Havertz crowded out by three Blues defenders. 

Martinelli broke through and nutmegged Branthwaite before firing a low shot that forced a tremendous one-handed save by Pickford. Calvert-Lewin was fouled high up the pitch but put his free-kick into the Arsenal wall. 

Everton played some more nice football around the Arsenal box with the Everton fans in the corner giving Olés to every pass until Gana went down, after a disgusting tackle from behind by Havertz that went straight through him but was not punished. 

Doucoure had to give up another corner to Arsenal, but an Arsenal fou was called as Calvert-Lewin headed it clear.  Another Arsenal attack was easily stalled by Onana heading a cross back to Pickford. 

Everton and their fans were enjoying the lack of any decent press from Arsenal as they racked up completed passes until Onana gave it away. The Arsenal break needed to be halted, and was. But Onana twisted his ankle as he slipped with the ball and he needed treatment as the players took a drinks break. 

Arsenal resumed their probing play but Everton forced a turnover and Calvert-Lewin found himself with just one defender to beat, he hit the post and then was falling backwards as he fired weakly into the side netting! 

At the other end, somewhat desperate defending was required with key blocks from Gana and Branthwaite. Arsenal built again,, but slowly, with Everton maintaining good defensive shape to stall the Tunners, a brilliant challenge by Tarkowski, flooring Martinelli as he cleared the ball.

McNeil went on a fine run after having his shirt tugged, and Thomas Partey was booked for bringing him down. Gana smacked it off Rice's head and well beyond a static Raya to give Everton a very well-deserved lead after some excellent play all over the pitch.

Rice poked Tarkowski in the eye on an aerial challenge.  But the Gunners got their act together coming forward this time with a cutback that Tomiyasu buried. 

A few delays meant 7 minutes were added before the break. some spirited play saw Gana fouled about 40 yards out Raya went down as it was launched to the far post and Oliver blew for a foul. Arsenal attacked again, Partey firing over, before the break. 

Onana restarted the game and Pickford hoofed it up to Raya. Martinelli crossed in for Havertz to head wide. Tarkowski was booked for a tackle on Havertz, who then tried but failed to beat Branthwaite. 

Gabriel and Doucoure got in a tangle and the Everton player was booked. Everton had another spell of decent passing until Gabriel went down again, to be replaced by Zinchenko.

Branthwaite anticipated and cleared an excellent cross into the danger area. Calvert-Lewin cantered forward and cut inside, shooting well to the top corner but Raya was across to snatch it out of the air.  

At the other end, a bobbling ball went behind off Pickford's arm. Arsenal were gifted a second corner that Rice curled over the angle. A good cross in by Trossard came off Havertz's shoulder and hit the post.

Rice was yellow-carded when he dived in on Tarkowski.  Ødegaard got in and looked certain to score but Pickford stopped it and Branthwaite cleared it, the corner defended clear with McNeil fouled from behind by Timber. In the next Arsenal attack, Smith-Rowe fired over as Chermiti replaced Calvert-Lewin.

Everton played a nice ball down the wing but Chermiti could not keep hold of it. Chermiti then had a chance to break but was quickly closed down by two Arsenal defenders. 

Ødegaard was caught by McNeil but the free-kick was repelled. Smith-Rowe shot into the ground and it bounced up off the bar. Pickford booked for dallying on the goal-kick. 

Everton saw a chance for a break, 4 on 2, but Doucoure messed it up completely. Branthwaite did not get a shout from Pickford and headed behind, Jesus's goalbound shot headed behind again by Branthwaite as the frustrated Gunners searched for a winning goal. 

Another clever cross from Martinelli was met by Havertz but headed well over. Everton tried to play clever, passing it around but a dreadful pass was picked off and Havertz was finally able to get a scrappy winning goal.

But VAR spotted a handball when Jesus intercepted Young's terrible pass with his elbow by his side and incredibly the goal was given! Surely a stonewall handball offence on a goalscoring move? 

And so the game ended on something of a sour note for the Blues with a very dubious goal not ruled out after Oliver overruled VAR. 

Arsenal:  Raya; White (69' Timber), Saliba, Gabriel (59' Zinchenko), Tomiyasu; Partey [Y:39'] (69' Smith-Rowe), Ødegaard, Rice; Trossard (78' Jesus), Havertz [Y:63'], Martinelli.

Subs not Used: Ramsdale, Kiwior, Jorginho, Vieira, Nketiah.

Everton:  Pickford [Y:84'], Coleman, Tarkowski [Y:50'], Branthwaite, Young, Gana, Onana, Doucoure (90+1' Beto), Garner, McNeil, Calvert-Lewin (74' Chermiti).

Subs not Used: Virginia, Crellin, Keane, Godfrey, Warrington, Hunt, Dobbin.

Michael Kenrick

Match Preview

Everton finish their 2023-24 Premier League schedule at the Emirates Stadium where they could yet play a part in determining whether the title stays in Manchester or ends up in North London for the first time in 20 years.

In his efforts to motivate his troops, Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has brutally and rather disrespectfully written off any chance of the Toffees helping his cause when he told the media, ‘If you think Everton are going to do something [against Arsenal] , forget about it.”

Recent history supports his thesis, of course. Everton have won on Arsenal's turf just twice in the Premier League era, have lost on their last two visits there by an aggregate score of 9-1, and their last trip to the Capital ended in a 6-0 hiding by Chelsea.

However, Sean Dyche and his men travel with the weight of relegation concerns long since lifted off their shoulders and on a run of just one defeat in their last eight, five of them victories.

With a rejuvenated Dominic Calvert-Lewin leading the line, Abdoulaye Doucouré having broken his scoring duck for 2024, Idrissa Gueye in excellent form in the middle, Jarrad Branthwaite enjoying an impressive partnership with James Tarkowski and Jordan Pickford in the conversation for the goalkeeping spot in the Premier League team of the year, the Blues are well positioned to at least make life very difficult for the Gunners.

Mikel Arteta has fashioned a team worthy of taking his mentor and City right to the final day, though, and were it not for a slip-up at the Emirates a month ago, they would surely be going into this game with a point's advantage.

As it is, it's Manchester City's Championship to lose and they only need to beat West Ham at the Etihad Stadium to become the first English club to win four consecutive league titles.

Dyche is expected to honour the occasion, the spirit of competition and his own desire to win by fielding his strongest line-up which will probablty mean an unchanged side from the one that started the win over Sheffield United last weekend.

That would mean Ashley Young starting at left-back in place of the injured Vitalii Mykolenko and James Garner operating in right-midfield with Jack Harrison having sustained a hamstring injury that prematurely ended his campaign before he returns to Leeds United this summer, at least for the time being.

Dyche could then give a final appearance to André Gomes and another run-out to players like Youssef Chermiti, Lewis Dobbin and Lewis Warrington off the bench later in proceedings, depending on how things are going.

For their part, Arsenal look set to only be without Jurrien Timber who might not pass a fitness test.

Arteta's team are formidable and have been perfect since dropping those crucial points to Villa. They come into the final weekend of the season on a five-match winning streak and it will take everything Everton have to prevent them powering to another victory.

Stranger things have happened and with the hosts perhaps nervy and with one ear on events in Manchester, it's by no means beyond the realms of possibility that Everton can play spoilers to Arsenal's title hopes.

Kick-off: 4:00 pm, Sunday 19 May 2024
Referee: Michael Oliver
VAR: Stuart Attwell
Last Time: Arsenal 4 - 0 Everton

Predicted Line-up: Pickford, Coleman, Tarkowksi, Branthwaite, Young, Gueye, Onana, Garner, McNeil, Doucouré, Calvert-Lewin

Lyndon Lloyd

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