Everton win a crucial match against Arsenal

Not in protest, but in ecstasy, Goodison Park erupted. The aim was to leave in the 27th minute to commemorate 27 seasons without a trophy and years of mismanagement under Farhad Moshiri. Some responded to the summons, but the majority rose to their feet and cheered their side on. Everton repaid the support in spectacular fashion.

When Demarai Gray gathered André Gomes’ pass wide on the left in the 92nd minute, Rafael Bentez’s team faced their ninth game without a win, Everton’s longest winless run since the dark days of Mike Walker in 1994. It was amazing enough that Everton was still fighting for a win over Arsenal at that point.

Two Richarlison strikes were disallowed by VAR, Yerry Mina hobbled off with a calf injury on his long-awaited return, and Martin degaard gave Arsenal the lead from a rare attack for a squad short on confidence and mired in crisis, with director of football Marcel Brands resigning on Sunday.

They didn’t give up. Richarlison finally got his reward five minutes before Gray took over the spotlight. Bentez’s only summer signing, for a total of £1.7 million, cut inside Takehiro Tomiyasu, then Ben White, and beat Aaron Ramsdale with an unstoppable long-range shot that flew in off the far post. For all the right reasons, Goodison was a hive of activity.

“Today proves that when we work together, we are stronger,” Everton manager Ronald Koeman remarked. “Fans are frustrated because they want to see their team win, but you can’t complain about the work, drive, and dedication of these athletes.”

“We have to think about the future and attempt to go in the correct path,” Bentez said of Brands’ departure. Sometimes you have a notion, and it may or may not be correct, but the reality is that the club was not advancing at the rate that everyone expected.”

Mikel Arteta ruminated on an Arsenal performance that lacked inventiveness and penetration and culminated in a third consecutive away defeat as Bentez absorbed a rare victory. Substitutes Eddie Nketiah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had chances for a second goal, but the former headed against the post from close range and the latter miscued wildly wide with the game’s final ball. Arsenal got what they deserved at the end of the game.

“We were really inconsistent with the ball in the first half,” Arteta stated. Apart from the set-piece, we didn’t concede anything, but I didn’t like it. There was no penetration, no threat, which is exactly what we aim to avoid. When you have to manage the game, you can’t afford to concede a careless goal like the first one. Winning a game isn’t enough.”

Emotions are constantly influenced by what happens on the field, and Everton dampened the planned protest with a more passionate and spirited performance than they put on in the Merseyside derby. Ben Godfrey took the home crowd to their feet by ferociously but cleanly winning a 50-50 with Tomiyasu.

Godfrey started at left defender in lieu of France international Lucas Digne, who was not injured but was left out totally, and he survived a VAR review for a probable red card infraction after catching the prone Japan international in the face with his studs. A lucky break, especially for Tomiyasu, who was able to continue his treatment.

Everton’s increased intensity did not translate into a higher threat in front of goal at first, despite being the more purposeful team for the first 20 minutes, with Arsenal struggling to keep possession.

Before Richarlison deflected a header from Andros Townsend’s free-kick inside his right hand post, the home side had scarcely challenged Ramsdale. Everton teammates were visibly relieved as they celebrated with the Brazil international, but disappointment set in as VAR disallowed the goal due to a marginal offside against the striker.

Everton went from being 1-0 up on the edge of half-time to being 1-0 behind as the final whistle blew. With a fantastic delivery from the left, Kieran Tierney created the breakthrough.

Alexandre Lacazette, in place of the injured Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, released the Scotland defender beyond Séamus Coleman, and his cross landed perfectly behind Everton’s defense line, allowing degaard to beat Jordan Pickford with a precise volley into the bottom corner. Richarlison slammed his hands into the ground in disbelief at the unexpected turn of events. His anguish would grow, as would Everton’s skepticism.

Abdoulaye Doucouré found Richarlison with space on the right side of the Arsenal penalty area, and he beat Ramsdale for the second time. The goal was disallowed after a lengthy review because of another forensically tight offside call against the striker.

Everton, to their credit, responded admirably, with Gomes’ return providing much-needed inventiveness in midfield. Gomes played a part in the equalizer, transferring Richarlison’s pass to Gray, who cut inside and fired a dipping shot over Ramsdale.

Gray’s strike appeared to hit the crossbar, but Richarlison responded well to loop a looping header over the Arsenal keeper and into the net. It was not a hat-trick for VAR. Gray was the one who got the last word.