Arsenal Drop Crucial Points in Title Race with 1-1 Draw at Everton

Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes suffered another setback on Saturday as Mikel Arteta’s side were held to a 1-1 draw by a resilient Everton side at Goodison Park.

The Gunners, who returned from the international break with a 2-1 win over Fulham last weekend, were hoping to build momentum in their pursuit of league leaders Liverpool.

The visitors looked sharp in the first half and took the lead through Leandro Trossard, who finished off a well-timed pass from Raheem Sterling.

The move was one of Arsenal’s brightest moments in the opening period, as they dominated possession and looked in control.

However, Everton came out with renewed energy after the break and found a way back into the match. Just minutes into the second half, referee Michael Oliver awarded the hosts a penalty after Myles Lewis-Skelly was adjudged to have fouled Jack Harrison inside the box.

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The decision sparked protests from the Arsenal players, but the call stood after a brief VAR check.

Iliman Ndiaye stepped up and calmly sent goalkeeper David Raya the wrong way, slotting home to bring the Toffees level.

The equalizer shifted the momentum of the game, with Everton growing in confidence and Arsenal struggling to find their rhythm again.

Despite late pressure and a flurry of attacking substitutions by Arteta, the Gunners were unable to find a winning goal, and the match ended in a frustrating stalemate for the North London side.

The result leaves Arsenal on 62 points, now trailing league leaders Liverpool by 11 points, with just seven matches remaining. Liverpool, who face Fulham away on Sunday, could stretch their lead even further with a win.

Arsenal’s failure to secure maximum points for the second time in three matches raises fresh doubts about their title credentials, especially with key fixtures still to come against Manchester City and Tottenham.

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Speaking after the match, Mikel Arteta expressed disappointment but remained optimistic:

“We started well and controlled the game in the first half. But we needed to kill it off. These are the kind of games where small mistakes can cost you, and today that was the case.”

Everton, meanwhile, will take heart from the result as they continue to fight for a top-half finish. The point sees them edge slightly up the table, providing a morale boost ahead of a tricky run of fixtures.

With the Premier League entering its decisive stretch, Arsenal will need a near-perfect finish to stand any chance of reeling in Liverpool — and Saturday’s result may be one they come to regret.