Arsenal 2-1 Everton: Gunners win late, finish second after superb season

Well, well, well. That is not what we expected.

Idrissa Gana Gueye sees his free kick deflect off Declan Rice and go in.

Arsenal’s fans are stunned here.

Odegaard’s shot is blocked and the ball falls to Havertz who slots home.

Arsenal have hope late on. That all happened when they thought it was Man City 3-2 West Ham, but Soucek’s goal was disallowed.

Lovely volley down into the turf by Smith Rowe but it hits the bar and comes out.

Arsenal pushing hard for the winner late on.

The crosses and shots are flying in but Pickford and Everton’s defenders are chucking themselves in front of everything.

Pickford does superbly to deny Odegaard but the Arsenal skipper should score.

The atmosphere is subdued now. News filters through that Rodri has put Man City 3-1 up.

That comes at the same time Gabriel is off injured for Arsenal.

Arsenal need to win this game. That is all they can do and hope West Ham draw or win at Man City.

Just 35 minutes to go in the season and the home fans are trying to roar their team on.

They have looked sluggish so far in this second half.

A cross from Martinelli to the back post is nodded down but wide by Havertz.

After that goal for Arsenal and West Ham scoring right at the end of the first half, there is a really positive atmosphere here now.

Arsenal’s fans believe they can do this!

What a rollercoaster of emotions that first half was for Arsenal.

After Manchester City went 2-0 up early, the atmosphere was sucked out of the home fans.

And then it was even more subdued when Gana Gueye’s free kick deflected in.

But then an equalizer for Arsenal through Tomiyasu and a goal for West Ham through Kudus totally changed the mood. Game on for Arsenal in the title race with 45 minutes of the season to go!

What a finish from Tomiyasu on the edge of the box. Arsenal are level just before the break!

The Emirates believes.

And the roar in here was massive when news of Kudus’ goal for West Ham filters around. If West Ham get one more and Arsenal get a winner, they will win the title! Chaos.

Arsenal’s fans weren’t exactly please to hear Foden had scored another for City...

Everton so close to going 1-0 up.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin hits the post and then puts his rebound into the side-netting.

With Man City 2-0 up, it is very quiet here.

Everton are creaking a bit here and Martinelli’s low shot is pushed away by Pickford who then does well to smother the loose ball.

A good chance for Arsenal as a poor clearance is cut out and the ball falls to Declan Rice in the box.

He has a lot of time but gets it all wrong as he scuffs his shot into the ground and Pickford saves easily. It is all one way traffic.

Tomiyasu heads a good chance wide as Arsenal have started well.

But news of Phil Foden’s early goal for Manchester City has made its way around the Emirates Stadium.

Everton fans sing “you nearly won the league!” to Arsenal.

Arsenal’s fans are a little subdued.

Of course, we know Arsenal have to win to have any chance of winning the title.

But we also know they need a huge favor from West Ham who must draw or beat Man City in order for Arsenal to win the title.

That means Arsenal are fully behind West Ham today and their fans are singing “I’m forever blowing bubbles” in the concourses. They are also in fine voice and there is a great atmosphere here before the game.

James Garner and Dwight McNeil start out wide with Calvert-Lewin in attack, while Young is at left back with Mykolenko still out.

Everton lineup

Pickford; Coleman, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Young; Garner, Gana, Onana, Doucoure, McNeil; Calvert-Lewin

The team news is here and Arsenal have one change, with Bukayo Saka missing out.

Saka has a ‘slight muscle issue’ and the injury is nothing serious, but enough to keep him out of the matchday squad.

Gabriel Martinelli comes in for Saka, as he will start on the left and Trossard will swap to the right wing.

Jurrien Timber is on the bench, as he’s included in a squad for the first time since the opening day of the season when he was injured.

Arsenal lineup

Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Trossard, Havertz, Martinelli

We’ve been catching up with some of the Arsenal fans soaking up the sun outside the Emirates Stadium before the game.

There is a general feeling that Arsenal have a 10-30 percent chance of winning the title and some Gunners fans have even said they will be chanting “I’m forever blowing bubbles” if West Ham do them a huge favor against Man City...