Everton delivered a major blow to Arsenal’s Premier League title ambitions on Saturday, battling to a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park that leaves league leaders Liverpool smiling. Iliman Ndiaye’s second-half penalty cancelled out Leandro Trossard’s first-half opener, ensuring both Merseyside clubs left the weekend satisfied for different reasons.
With this result, Arsenal remain second in the table on 62 points from 31 matches, trailing Liverpool by 11 points, with the Reds having a game in hand. Everton, on the other hand, climbed to 14th place with 35 points and are now a comfortable 15 points clear of the relegation zone. The draw also marked Everton’s 14th of the campaign—more than any other team in the league, with Arsenal close behind on 11.
Trossard Strikes Again at Goodison
For the second consecutive season, Leandro Trossard found the net at Goodison Park, giving Arsenal a deserved lead in the 34th minute. The goal stemmed from a midfield error as Idrissa Gueye’s poor header allowed Raheem Sterling to break free. The winger surged forward, drawing defenders before laying it off to Trossard, who drilled a low shot past Jordan Pickford into the far corner.
Arsenal nearly doubled their lead before the break. Jakob Kiwior slipped a clever pass through to Trossard, who found space behind the defense. Pickford was quick off his line to narrow the angle and deny the Belgian a brace. Declan Rice’s follow-up was then blocked by an Everton defender, ensuring the hosts reached halftime only one goal down.
Early Second-Half Setback for Gunners
Whatever Mikel Arteta told his players at the interval was undone within the first minute of the restart. Myles Lewis-Skelly was adjudged to have brought down Jack Harrison in the area after being caught out by a diagonal ball. Following a lengthy VAR check and delay, Iliman Ndiaye stepped up to convert confidently from the spot, sending David Raya the wrong way.
That equalizer shifted the momentum temporarily in Everton’s favor. Raya had to make a smart save from Abdoulaye Doucoure’s low shot as the Toffees pressed forward with renewed energy. Yet, despite their push, it remained a match littered with fouls, stoppages, and a lack of rhythm—factors that hampered Arsenal’s ability to reassert control.
Arsenal Fail to Capitalize on Late Opportunities
Despite introducing Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli at halftime, Arsenal couldn’t find the breakthrough they desperately needed. Declan Rice tested Pickford from a free kick in the 64th minute, and Martinelli came closest to a winner when he breezed past Jake O’Brien and let fly, only for Pickford to make a fine acrobatic save.
Arsenal continued to probe, with Martin Odegaard and substitute Mikel Merino also getting into promising positions. Merino flicked a late header just wide, and Saka was uncharacteristically quiet after coming on. Ultimately, the Gunners lacked the clinical edge needed to take maximum points, and a resolute Everton side held on to stretch Arsenal’s winless record at Goodison to another year.
Looking Ahead: Eyes on Europe
While the draw dents Arsenal’s Premier League title chase, attention must now turn to the Champions League. A blockbuster quarter-final clash against Real Madrid awaits, with the first leg set for Tuesday night at the Emirates Stadium. Before the return leg in Madrid on April 16, Arsenal will host Brentford in a domestic fixture that now carries even greater importance for keeping pace in the league.
Everton, meanwhile, will take confidence from the result as they continue their march towards mathematical safety. With only a handful of games remaining at their historic Goodison Park home, performances like this will provide their fans with cherished final memories before the club transitions to a new stadium next season.
