The first 44 minutes at Goodison Park was a painful representation of two sides who have struggled for attacking form all season. Participants in a planned first-half walk-out in protest of Everton’s behind-the-scenes mishaps certainly did not initially miss much. However, those who stayed behind looked to have been rewarded when Richarlison, who started up top amid the continued injury absence of the talisman Dominic Calvert-Lewin, expertly headed in Andros Townsend’s free-kick. VAR soon came to the Gunners’ rescue though, and moments later in first-half stoppage time, Martin Degaard’s side-footed volley twisted the knife for a Goodison Park crowd still reeling from their disallowed opener.
After the break, Richarlison became the game’s protagonist when his near-post finish seemed to have leveled the scores, before VAR agonizingly stepped in once again to slap down Everton’s fight-back. It therefore seemed fitting that the unfortunate Brazilian’s headed rebound sparked wild celebrations which, this time, went uninterrupted. With heartbreak averted, the imperious Gray went one better by pulling the trigger from distance in spectacular style, rebounding in off the post in the game’s dying embers.
A two-month-long win-less run was therefore brought to an end via a battling performance, vindicating the Everton board’s outspoken support for the under-fire Benítez.
As for Mikel Arteta’s side, their lackluster away form was exemplified at Goodison Park and they ultimately failed to capitalise on a glorious chance to shoot up to fifth in the PL table.
