Arsenal 0-0 Everton: Gunners earn scrappy point at home
Arsenal 0-0 Everton: Gunners earn scrappy point at home. Everton produced a spirited defensive display to frustrate and hold Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal side to a 0-0 draw.
Clear-cut chances were at a real premium, with the Toffees sitting deep and challenging Arsenal to find a way through. While there was the odd glimpse of Jordan Pickford’s goal, the Gunners failed to do anywhere near enough to earn more than a point.
How the game unfolded:
Arsenal enjoyed the early possession but it was Everton who had the first real sight of goal. Abdoulaye Doucoure was played in down the left and found his way into the box but, with the angle narrowing, his strike was deflected away by the returning Gabriel Magalhaes.
Martin Odegaard lashed over from close range soon after, before dragging a strike from distance wide of the goal. The Gunners were operating on close to 80% possession midway through the first half but did not have their first shot on goal until the 29th minute, when another Odegaard effort was deflected away by a crowd of Everton defenders.
Pickford had to deny Gabriel Martinelli late in the first half, with Everton holding firm and continuing to frustrate their opponents heading into the interval.
The second half began in electric fashion as Pickford had to pull out an excellent low save to stop Bukayo Saka’s vicious volley. Mikel Merino’s header from the ensuing corner nestled calmly in the Everton stopper’s gloves.
With the clock ticking down, Kai Havertz and Gabriel both failed to get the required contact on a fierce cross, while Thomas Partey had a late penalty shout waved away by both the referee and the VAR.
