Let’s hope Arsenal’s title is dented again by their stalemates ⚽
Inevitability is a tricky beast in football. No matter how dominant a team may seem, they have to actually score. Arsenal had all the possession and plenty of chances, but couldn’t find a breakthrough against a stubborn Everton defence. With Liverpool dropping points, this was a golden opportunity to close the gap. However, it slipped through Arsenal’s fingers.
“If we do what we did today, we should win,” Mikel Arteta said. He was clearly frustrated. “We didn’t donate anything. If there was one team that deserved to win it, it was Arsenal. But you need spark and precision.”
That spark? I can’t find it anywhere. degree? As much as it is lacking. For the second week in a row, Arsenal have struggled to break down teams that defend deep. It has been three and a half league games since the last open play goal. The set pieces are great, but relying on them too much makes for a worrisome picture.
Early opportunity, no reward
Martin Ødegaard looked good early on but failed to hit the target. One shot was deflected by James Tarkowski and Jordan Pickford. What about Gabriel Martinelli’s effort just before halftime? I got kicked out by Pickford again. In the second half, Bukayo Saka’s sharp volley was easily blocked.
If only one of these had gone in, Arsenal would probably have won. But as the game progressed, frustration grew. Creativity has dried up. It all went into boxes and most of it was waste.
Odegaard, a key figure in Arsenal’s recent resurgence, was sent off after an hour. Despite a few bright moments early on, he never quite reached his usual heights.
Everton’s defensive masterclass
Everton didn’t offer much going forward, but they didn’t need to. Abdoulaye Doucouré had the only chance, but Gabriel’s block put the danger away. Sean Dyche’s plan was clear. It’s about frustrating Arsenal, outnumbering them and wasting time when they need it.
“Our focus and attention to detail was outstanding,” Dyche said. And he wasn’t wrong. Everton’s backline, led by Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite, absorbed everything Arsenal threw at them.
Pickford had another outstanding performance and broke down one of Arsenal’s better set-piece attempts. The time wastage cost Everton two yellow cards, but it also gave them some breathing space.
set piece showdown
For Arsenal, the corner was seen as an ace up their sleeve. They have turned dead ball situations into an art form under the guidance of specialist Nicolas Jover. But against a Dyche team? good luck.
Tarkowski and Branthwaite were like a brick wall. Arsenal’s five corners in the first half were contested contests that Pickford could easily deal with. The best try of the second half was Mikel Merino’s header straight from Pickford.
The Dyche team lives for moments like this. Surpassing Jover’s set-piece strategy seemed a point of pride for Everton.
missed opportunity
This draw leaves Arsenal wondering what happened. The title race is still wide open, but the margin for error decreases with each missed opportunity. Everton’s fighting spirit, Pickford’s brilliance and Arsenal’s lack of inspiration made for a disappointing afternoon at the Emirates.
