Arsenal’s EPL title hopes dented as Everton secure 1-1 draw

LONDON – Everton did neighbours Liverpool a massive favour by holding title-chasing Arsenal to a 1-1 English Premier League draw at Goodison Park on April 5, when Iliman Ndiaye’s penalty cancelled out a Leandro Trossard opener for the visitors.

Second-placed Arsenal have 62 points from 31 games, 11 behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game at hand when they go to Fulham on April 6.

Everton climb to 14th place with 35 points from their 31 matches, 15 points clear of the relegation zone.

Arsenal took the lead in the 34th minute with the first shot on target in the game.

A poor header in midfield allowed Raheem Sterling to race clear and feed Trossard, who took a touch and drilled his shot low into the far right corner.

Everton were awarded a penalty two minutes into the second period, when Myles Lewis-Skelly hauled down Jack Harrison in the box.

Ndiaye netted his ninth goal of the season in all competitions to leave Arsenal's flagging title hopes in tatters.

“It is a tough one, in general we played well but how we started the second half was not good enough,” Trossard told TNT Sports. “We know this is a tough place to come and you need to score the second goal to put the game to bed.

“In the second half, we played too much into their game plan and not enough of ours.”

There was a touching moment before kick-off as Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta embraced the man he calls his “football father”: David Moyes, who had given the former midfielder his introduction to the English game and the Spaniard spent almost seven years at Everton.

It was a scrappy contest for the most part with neither side able to be at their best, but Arsenal had the better chances and will be disappointed they could not force a second goal.

“Especially with the result, very unhappy,” said Arteta. “This is a very tough place to come, (against) a team who is very physical and direct.

“If you don’t deal with it, it’s hard to get momentum. The start of the second half was very poor.”

For Everton, it was another point towards safety in the fourth-last game at their famous old stadium before moving to a new home next season.

But it was also a 14th draw of the campaign, more than any other side, including Arsenal, who are now joint-second on that list with 11.

“It is a great point,” Ndiaye said. “We were not good enough in the first half, but we were able to turn things around and everyone came more into it.”

Trossard’s goal lit up a tepid opening period devoid of chances, as Arsenal profited from one of the many times Everton gave the ball away cheaply.

But Arsenal switched off early in the second half and twice Everton caught them with long diagonal balls, with teenager Lewis-Skelly caught the wrong side in the second of those, bringing Harrison to the floor.

Arsenal had two free kicks in excellent positions, but Bukayo Saka hit the wall and Declan Rice saw his powerful effort beaten away by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who also made a superb stop from Gabriel Martinelli’s rasping drive.

Moyes previously pledged he would not visit the club’s new stadium until safety was assured, but he will now go to the 53,000-capacity ground this week thanks to the cushion his side have over the bottom three.

“We’re getting closer. It would be very hard for the other sides to get to where we are now,” said Moyes, who added the pressure was on not to spoil the legacy of his first spell at the club with relegation when he returned in January.

“I thought if I take Everton down it would be an absolute disaster! Thankfully the players have responded really well.”
REUTERS, AFP