Arsenal’s slim hopes of ending their 21-year Premier League title drought took another hit following a 1-1 draw against Everton on Saturday.
Leandro Trossard gave the Gunners the lead, but Iliman Ndiaye equalized from the penalty spot, leaving Arsenal 11 points adrift of leaders Liverpool, who still have a game in hand. The Reds now need only 11 points from their final eight matches to clinch a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had insisted that "the best preparation" for their upcoming Champions League clash with Real Madrid was to secure a win at Goodison Park. However, his starting lineup suggested his focus was already shifting toward Europe.
Bukayo Saka, still awaiting his first start since December, was named on the bench alongside key players like Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, Jurrien Timber, and Thomas Partey. Injuries to Gabriel Magalhaes, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Jesus also limited Arteta’s options.
Despite the setbacks, Arsenal dominated the first half. Their breakthrough came from a swift counter-attack, with Raheem Sterling surging through midfield before teeing up Trossard, who struck a precise low shot past Jordan Pickford — his first Premier League goal since January.
Still, a familiar issue resurfaced for the North London side: a lack of clinical finishing. Even earlier in the season, when Havertz and Jesus were fit, Arsenal struggled to convert chances.
Saka and Martinelli were brought on at halftime to inject some attacking threat, but almost immediately, Everton were handed a lifeline. Myles Lewis-Skelly was judged to have fouled Jack Harrison, and after a lengthy VAR check, referee Darren England confirmed the penalty.
Ndiaye remained composed and "coolly sent David Raya the wrong way" to equalize.
The momentum briefly swung toward Everton, with Raya producing a fine save to deny Abdoulaye Doucoure. But David Moyes’ side, ultimately on the back foot, settled for a point — benefiting from Arsenal’s inability to finish their chances.
Arteta introduced Odegaard in search of a winner, and the Norwegian squandered a golden opportunity when he turned Kieran Tierney’s pass wide. Another chance followed when Tierney found Mikel Merino, but the improvised forward saw his headed effort drift off target, ending his recent scoring streak.
Everton, whose only defeat in their last 11 Premier League games came in a heated 1-0 loss to Liverpool on Wednesday, managed to help their city rivals. Despite the “bad blood” between the clubs, the Toffees “did their local rivals a favour” by holding Arsenal.
With the draw, Everton rise to 14th place, now sitting 15 points clear of the relegation zone.
