Arsenal coughed up more valuable points in their the race as they drew 0-0 at home with Everton on Saturday.
MORE — Mikel Arteta reaction: “Very fully deserved to win the game”
Jordan Pickford made some big stops to deny Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard and Everton sat deep and frustrated Arsenal throughout.
WATCH — Full replay
With the point Arsenal move on to 30 for the season and missed a big chance to close the gap on leaders Liverpool. Everton, who didn’t have a shot on target during the game, have 15 points.
Sluggish Arsenal miss a big chance
This performance made it easy to understand why Arsenal have been relying so heavily on set-piece goals in recent weeks. They were sluggish, once again, and dropped two valuable points. This was textbook Everton and Sean Dyche as they sat deep, defended well and relied on Jordan Pickford to make some big saves at key moments. But Arsenal just didn’t have the energy or tempo to create big chances. They struggled to find space in the final third and Odegaard and Saka started well but faded. After a big Champions League performance, and win, against Monaco in midweek, it appears that this Arsenal side are still getting some players back to full fitness and there is generally a lack of sharpness. Havertz and Martinelli barely caused a problem, while Merino was sloppy in midfield and the duo of Rice and Odegaard were taken off with 30 minutes to go. The subs didn’t have the desired impact either and Arsenal will be gutted with this draw when they went back into the locker room and saw Liverpool dropped two points at home to Fulham. This was a big opportunity missed and sluggishness from open play is becoming a reoccurring theme as Arsenal have failed to score from open play in their last three Premier League games.
Arsenal vs Everton player ratings (via FotMob.com)
What’s next?
Arsenal host Crystal Palace on Wednesday in the League Cup quarterfinals, then head to Palace in the League next Saturday. Everton host Chelsea next Sunday.
Arsenal vs Everton score: 0-0
Arsenal vs Everton stats
Possession: 77-23
Shots on target: 5-0
Touches in opposition box: 48-8
Expected goals: 1.42-0.17
Arsenal vs Everton live updates! - By Joe Prince-Wright
Pickford and Everton holding firm
Arsenal keep whipping crosses into the box and the ball hits Saliba and Mykolenko clears. Pickford is trying to calm Everton’s defenders down. Arsenal throwing everybody forward now.
Trossard the final sub for Arsenal
Chants of ‘Leo, Leo!’ as Trossard comes on for Martinelli. Arsenal pushing hard. Everton hanging on. 15 minutes to go...
Jesus and Partey on now
Another double change from Arsenal with Gabriel Jesus and Thomas Partey on for Lewis-Skelly and Merino. Arsenal properly going for it now.
Jorginho and Nwaneri on for Arsenal
The Gunners have taken off Odegaard and Rice with Jorginho and Nwaneri coming on. This is a big call from Arteta but clearly he wants to rest Rice and Odegaard. Can the teenager Nwaneri unlock this stubborn Arsenal defense? There was a huge roar when he came on. 28 minutes plus stoppage time to go...
Great stop from Pickford!
A cross into the box is knocked down and Saka fires a volley towards the bottom corner but Pickford gets down and pushes it away for a corner. Magnificent save from Pickford.
Half time: Arsenal 0-0 Everton
That was a slow, quite predictable first half from Arsenal. Pickford made one good stop and Arsenal have struggled to break through a stubborn 4-5-1 system from Everton. Odegaard and Saka are doing their best to inspire Arsenal going forward but the Gunners have to be careful at the other end as Everton had one big chance on the counter.
Excellent stop from Pickford to deny Odegaard
Havertz sets up Saka and he gets away from his marker and sets up Odegaard perfectly. But Pickford stands tall and blocks Odegaard’s shot. Big chance for Arsenal.
Odegaard drags a shot just wide
Lovely play from Martin Odegaard on the edge of the box as he creates a yard of space but drags his shot just wide of the far post. Arsenal are creating some openings now.
Brilliant block from Gabriel to deny Doucoure!
What a chance for Everton. Mangala finds Doucoure on the left side of the box and he delays a little which gives Gabriel the chance to slide in and he blocks his shot magnificently. Brilliant defending from the big Brazilian center back.
Arsenal lineup
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Merino, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Everton lineup
Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Mangala, Gueye; Ndiaye, Doucoure, Harrison; Calvert-Lewin
How to watch Arsenal vs Everton live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10am ET Saturday
Venue: Emirates Stadium — North London
TV Channel: Peacock Premium
Streaming: Premier League on Peacock
Arsenal team news, focus
Bukayo Saka has been magnificent for the Gunners. He leads the team in goals (5), assists (10), and big chances created (18). If Arsenal or England were to win a major trophy, Saka could challenge for the Ballon d’Or. Perhaps that means he should anyway, but we digress.
OUT: Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee), Ben White (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Gabriel Magalhaes (knock), Riccardo Calafiori (knee), Oleksandr Zinchenko (undisclosed)
Everton team news, focus
Dwight McNeil leads the Toffees in goals (3) and assists this season (3). The latter part is fine but clearly Sean Dyche wants to see Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Beto, or Iliman Ndiaye leading in the finishing department. Actually, he’d probably take 10 goals from Jordan Pickford if it means a double-digit scorer any time soon.
OUT: Dele Alli (groin), Timothy Iroegbunam (ankle), James Garner (back) | QUESTIONABLE: Youssef Chermiti (ankle)
Arsenal vs Everton prediction
Not today, Dychey. Too much attack from Arsenal, even with the midweek Champions League action demanding plenty of Mikel Arteta. Everton will keep it as ornery as possible, but the Emirates Stadium will see its expected win. Arsenal 2-0 Everton.
Arsenal vs Everton preview
The Gunners drew 1-1 at Fulham to end a dominant three-match winning streak over Forest, West Ham, and Manchester United, and sit in third place. Mikel Arteta’s men are two points back of second-place Chelsea and six back of Liverpool, who hold a match-in-hand.
That match is Week 15’s Storm Darragh-postponed Merseyside derby with Everton, who have been lying in wait to return to the Premier League pitch. The Toffees’ clobbered Wolves 4-0 last time out to end a five-match winless skid that included draws with Fulham, West Ham, and Brentford. Everton have played in three of the Premier League’s six scoreless draws this season.
