The loud groans from the Arsenal faithful were growing and Mikel Arteta could sense it. He threw his arms up in the air, in a desperate attempt to whip them up.
Both he, and they, knew that anything but a win would be problematic, to say the least. That’s why full-time was greeted by the kind of boos not heard at the Emirates in some time. The result was being treated as a loss, not a point gained.
It’s early on in the season but, after dropping points against Fulham, and the lead Liverpool have already gained at the Premier League table’s summit, Arsenal could ill afford more slip ups this month. Particularly against a team who are looking over their shoulders at the bottom three. It makes this result all the poorer.
To Everton’s credit, their will never subsided. The tidal wave of red and white shirts kept coming, that desperation by the home side for a goal growing as the second half ebbed on.
After a second consecutive failure to win the league, Mikel Arteta will surely be concerned. Those around the club pointed to December last season — where Arsenal dropped 11 points — as to why the north London club failed to win the title. The same could well start to be the case.
Arsenal weren’t terrible, Jordan Pickford’s aerial punches and reflex saves doing much to thwart the opposition attack. Though their creativity was seriously lacking and when the attackers had chances, they failed to take them.
Arsenal failed to capitalise on Liverpool dropping points as they were left frustrated by a stubborn Everton side
The Toffees blunted wave after wave of attacks from Mikel Arteta’s title contenders
Mikel Arteta’s men slipped to a second consecutive Premier League draw on Saturday
Myles Lewis-Skelly earned a second consecutive start for Arsenal, after making the starting XI for the 3-0 victory over Monaco in the Champions League on Wednesday. He has a real shot of making that left-back spot his own while injuries continue to affect the backline.
An interesting sub-plot was the set-pieces element. Arsenal’s success under Nicolas Jover’s tutelage is well-documented — a corner at the Emirates these days receives a similar build-up by fans to that of a penalty.
But Everton are skilled at set-pieces, too. Eight of their 14 goals this season (57 per cent) have come this way — the highest percentage since West Brom in the 2014-15 campaign.
Also, since the start of the 2023-24 season, Arsenal have scored 27 general set-piece goals, but Everton have 25. So, it was a potential route of hope for the visitors.
The Gunners had an early scare on six minutes. Abdoulaye Doucoure was played through in on goal but took an age to shoot. That allowed Gabriel to slide in and deflect his shot away.
It was a rare bit of action for the Toffees near the opposition area. The home side were, as often seen, enjoying the lion share of possession. In their draw to Fulham, they largely neglected the left wing.
Early on here, they were utilising the right flank, Martinelli getting a few forays to the byline.
Bukayo Saka was being tracked by at least two players when in offence, which made his progress forward, initially, limited. When he did make it through on 30 minutes using trickery, Martin Odegaard was passed the ball inside the area, his shot saved at point-blank range by Pickford.
Bukayo Saka was being tracked by at least two players when in offence, which made his progress forward, initially, limited
In the end, a point each was the fair result — and one Sean Dyche will be delighted by
Both sets of fans paid tribute to Kevin Campbell, who died aged 54 in June, before the game
Odegaard had a number of attempts at goal in the first half, including one dragged wide of the goal after dropping his shoulder.
The first half ended with a Lewis-Skelly foul throw; an encapsulation of the Gunners’ having not scored by the break. Mikel Merino, who was having a limited impact, got stuck in upon the restart, his duel with James Tarkowski saw the ball loop to Saka. His shot, low to Pickford’s left side, was well saved.
Kai Havertz thought he was gifted a one-on-on with Pickford after an awful backpass by Jarrad Branthwaite, but Pickford got there — just about.
In the end, a point each was the fair result — and one Sean Dyche will be delighted by.
