Arsenal 0-0 Everton: Pickford makes stunning saves, Gunners settle for home draw

The match is over and the final score is Arsenal 0-0 Everton. Arsenal missed the chance to move within four points of Premier League leaders Liverpool as Everton were held to a goalless draw at the Emirates Stadium.

Eredivisie 2024/2025

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Competition events

News of Diogo Jota's late equalizer for Liverpool against Fulham was another blow and there were even some boos at the final whistle.

Arsenal's goalkeeper David Raya did not have to make a single save.

But on the other hand, his team lacked penetration and composure.

On a day when the clubs met for the first time since Kevin Campbell's death, it was perhaps appropriate that the honor even came to an end.

Already in the sixth minute, Abdoulaye Doucoure had a great opportunity to give Everton the lead.

But the midfielder took long enough to shoot after being played through by Orel Mangala for Gabriel to pull back and make a good block.

From then on it was all Arsenal.

Only a combination of poor finishing, Jordan Pickford and excellent defending, often from James Tarkowski, kept the first half goalless.

Odegaard was guilty of sending a presentable chance over the bar and another wide.

Arsenal's corners caused chaos, with Pickford forced into unconvincing punches by deliveries from either side by Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka.

But Pickford produced a fine save in the 29th minute as Saka again gained the upper hand over Vitalli Mykolenko.

Odegaard softened the cutback, but when his shot was half-blocked and deflected by Tarkowski, the England goalkeeper kept it out with his legs.

Moments later that good work was almost undone when Tarkowski's header to his 'keeper forced Pickford into another panic shot.

In the final minutes of half-time, a Jarrad Branthwaite error allowed Arsenal to break, but Pickford made a clever stop from Gabriel Martinelli.

The England keeper was at it again shortly after the break and was able to keep out a volley from Saka after Tarkowski's header fell to the Arsenal man.

Kai Havertz was unable to get through a penetrating Mikel Merino pass and the frustration of the home crowd started to become audible.

Saka continued to have Mykolenko on toast, but Pickford denied him again from a tight angle after a one-two with Odegaard.

It was no surprise that Arteta made a double substitution just after the hour mark when he introduced Jorginho and Ethan Nwaneri. But the identities of the players who left, Declan Rice and Odegaard, raised some eyebrows.

Everton boss Dyche quickly sent two reinforcements of his own, in Jesper Lindstrom and Armando Broja.

Not much has changed. Arteta rolled the dice again with just over twenty minutes to go, sending on Thomas Partey and Gabriel Jesus.

Everton's challenges began to become slightly more desperate and the first half siege resumed.

Havertz won a clearance from a free kick, but Gabriel could not turn the ball towards goal.

The clock kept ticking. Saka apologized after poorly heading a cross from final substitute Leandro Trossard as Havertz stood behind him waiting to connect.

When Partey went down in the penalty area, the home fans shouted for a penalty. But VAR agreed with referee Craig Pawson that Mykolenko's challenge was fair.

A minimum injury time of four minutes was indicated.

And Everton saw them out with the minimum of fuss.

10' So close to 1-0, but Odegaard shoots just wide

12' Odegaard's shot over the crossbar

28' Pickford stops Saka's corner

29' Ødegaard misses another golden opportunity

43' Pickford makes a great save!

47' Pickford stops the corner again

59' Just another chance from Saka

61' Rice and Odegaard eliminated

68' Thomas on

74' Trossard on

81' Yellow card! Armando Broja booked

89' NO pen! Thomas is taken down in the box

Setups

Arsenal XI: David Raya, Martin Ødegaard, Merino, Rice, Gabriel, Havertz, Martinelli, William Saliba, Saka, Jurrien Timber, Myles Lewis-Skelly

Subs: Neto, Trossard, Sterling, Jorginho, Partey, Tierney, Jesus, Jakub Kiwior, Ethan Nwaneri

Everton XI: Young, Gueye, Pickford, Doucoure, Tarkowski, Calvert-Lewin, Mangala, Jack Harrison, Vitaliy Mykolenko, Iliman Ndiaye, Jarrad Branthwaite

Subs: Coleman, Keane, João Virgínia, Beto, Jesper Lindstrøm, Armando Broja, Nathan Patterson, Jake O'Brien, Harrison Armstrong

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