Everton further dented Arsenal’s slim Premier League title hopes with a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park, as Iliman Ndiaye’s coolly-taken second-half penalty cancelled out Leandro Trossard’s opener. The result leaves Liverpool within touching distance of the title, needing just 11 points from their remaining eight games to secure their 20th league crown.
Arsenal entered the game knowing they had to win to retain even the faintest hope of catching the league leaders, but with a crucial Champions League quarter-final clash against Real Madrid looming, key players including Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard, Gabriel Martinelli and Thomas Partey were named on the bench. Everton, meanwhile, responded to a midweek defeat to Liverpool with a refreshed starting lineup, including a first start under David Moyes for Nathan Patterson, who was deployed out of position at left-back in the absence of Vitalii Mykolenko.
The game took a while to spark into life, with set-pieces providing the most danger in a scrappy first half. However, the atmosphere lifted when the crowd rose in tribute to Kevin Campbell in the ninth minute. The former Everton and Arsenal striker was fondly remembered by both sets of fans following his death last year.
Trossard, who had scored the winner at Goodison the previous season, again emerged as Arsenal’s main attacking threat. He went close after capitalising on a James Tarkowski error, only to be denied by Jarrad Branthwaite’s excellent last-ditch challenge. Ten minutes later, Trossard opened the scoring. Idrissa Gueye’s poor header, under pressure from Declan Rice, fell to Raheem Sterling, who raced forward unchallenged before feeding Trossard. The Belgian finished calmly, drilling a low shot through Branthwaite’s legs and into the far corner past a partially unsighted Jordan Pickford.
Trossard nearly added a second on the stroke of halftime when he was played through by Jakub Kiwior. He evaded Tarkowski’s attempted challenge and poked a shot at Pickford, who made a vital point-blank save to keep Everton in the game.
Arsenal made changes at halftime, bringing on Saka and Martinelli, but the lead evaporated before they could influence the game. Everton equalised in contentious circumstances after Myles Lewis-Skelly collided with Jack Harrison following a long clearance. Though initial contact appeared to occur outside the area, the referee pointed to the spot, and VAR upheld the decision. Ndiaye stepped up and confidently sent David Raya the wrong way to level the scores.
Everton pushed for a second, with Raya forced into a save from Abdoulaye Doucouré, but Arsenal had the better of the second half. Rice saw a free-kick saved by Pickford, who also produced a brilliant stop to tip over a Trossard effort. Martinelli, Ødegaard, and substitute Mikel Merino all had chances to restore Arsenal’s lead, but Pickford stood firm.
Despite late pressure, Arsenal were unable to find a winner, and another frustrating draw all but ended their faint title ambitions. With Liverpool cruising towards the finish line, this result simply confirmed the inevitable Arsenal’s challenge has run out of steam.
