Arsenal’s slim chances of securing a Premier League title for the first time in 21 years took another blow on Saturday, as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Everton.
Leandro Trossard’s early strike for the Gunners was canceled out by a penalty from Iliman Ndiaye, leaving Arsenal 11 points adrift of Liverpool, who still have a game in hand.
With just eight matches remaining, Liverpool now need a mere 11 points to seal a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title, putting them in a strong position to wrap up the championship.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had hoped that a win at Goodison Park would set his side up for their Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid. However, his lineup suggested his attention was already on the upcoming European clash, as key players like Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, Jurrien Timber, and Thomas Partey were all left on the bench.
Despite the missing names, Arsenal dominated the first half, and it was from a rare counter-attack that they took the lead. Raheem Sterling found Trossard, who made no mistake in firing home his first league goal since January.
However, Arsenal’s inability to score enough goals throughout the season, even with key players like Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, continued to haunt them. After the break, Saka and Martinelli were introduced to add attacking flair, but Everton quickly found their equalizer.
Myles Lewis-Skelly was penalized for a foul on Jack Harrison in the box, and after a lengthy VAR review, Ndiaye stepped up to convert the penalty, sending goalkeeper David Raya the wrong way.
Everton nearly snatched all three points when Raya was forced into a brilliant save from Abdoulaye Doucoure’s fierce shot. The Toffees ultimately held firm, relying on Arsenal’s wayward finishing to secure a point.
Despite Arteta’s late changes, including bringing Ødegaard on, Arsenal couldn’t find a winner. Ødegaard missed a golden opportunity when he fired wide after a pass from Kieran Tierney, and a header from Mikel Merino also went off target.
Everton, whose only loss in their last 11 matches came in a fiery Merseyside derby against Liverpool, did their neighbors a huge favor by denying Arsenal a vital win. The point lifted Everton to 14th in the table, now 15 points clear of the relegation zone, while Arsenal’s title dreams continue to slip away.
