Arsenal’s already slim Premier League title hopes took a potentially decisive hit as they were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw at Goodison Park by a spirited Everton side.
The result leaves Liverpool needing just 11 points from their final eight matches—beginning with Fulham on Sunday—to secure the title.
The opening half-hour lacked rhythm, with neither side able to take control. But Arsenal struck first in the 34th minute with the game’s first shot on target. Leandro Trossard finished clinically on the counterattack after being played through by Raheem Sterling.
Trossard nearly doubled his tally just before the break, but Jordan Pickford managed to claw away his toe-poked shot. Declan Rice saw his follow-up effort blocked by the Everton defence.
The hosts came out revitalized after the interval and were handed a lifeline almost immediately. Myles Lewis-Skelly tripped Jack Harrison in the box just a minute into the second half, and Iliman Ndiaye coolly converted the resulting penalty to level the score.
Buoyed by the equaliser, Everton looked far more confident. Abdoulaye Doucouré forced David Raya into a smart low save, while Arsenal responded with Rice stinging Pickford’s gloves with a powerful free-kick.
Despite late pressure from both sides, neither could find a winner, with the draw ultimately doing more favours for Everton’s local rivals Liverpool than for either side on the pitch.
