Everton welcomed Arsenal to Goodison Park on Wednesday looking to avenge a recent run of 10 Premier League matches without a win against the Gunners.
They made the worst possible start when Theo Walcott opened the scoring inside a minute, but were level just shy of the 30-minute mark when Marouane Fellaini scored from outside the box.
Both sides had chances in an eventful second period, but to no avail as the points were shared in a pulsating encounter.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by minute live commentary below.
Evening all! There are some pulsating clashes this evening in the Premier League, but this may well be the best of the lot. Both of these teams harbour hopes of finishing in the top four this season and it will matches such as this that determine their overall position.
Tonight is the 183rd meeting between the two sides. Arsenal have won 90 of those matches to Everton's 54. Meanwhile, as mentioned, the Gunners are unbeaten in their last 10 Premier League matches against Everton. The last Blues win came courtesy of an Andrew Johnson goal in 2007.
As mentioned, Everton enter the match having not lost at Goodison Park this season. They began in the best possible way with a win over Manchester United in their first league match and have impressed with their new acquisitions. That said, they have not managed a win against Arsenal in their last 10 attempts.
Everton have also suffered two of their worst ever league defeats to Arsenal. A 7-0 drubbing at Highbury in 2005 and a 6-1 defeat at Goodison Park in 2009. I am almost certain that neither of those two scores will be on the agenda this evening, but recent history places the Gunners as the firm favourites for this match.
BREAKING TEAM NEWS: Everton have Darron Gibson back from injury. Meanwhile, Marouane Fellaini also starts. Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere both start for Arsenal. Full teams to follow.
Teams:
Everton: Howard; Hibbert, Distin, Jagielka, Baines; Pienaar, Osman, Fellaini, Gibson; Naismith, Jelavic
Arsenal: Szczesny; Sagna, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Vermaelen; Wilshere, Arteta, Ramsey; Cazorla, Giroud, Walcott
So there we have it. Everton are boosted by the return of Gibson and Fellaini to their midfield. Meanwhile, Steven Naismith continues in attack following his impressive stint in attack. For Arsenal, Bacary Sagna continues in defence, but Lukas Podolski misses out.
So there's the team news. The Toffees have struggled for goals against Arsenal in recent seasons. On just one occasion have they managed to score more than one goal in their last 21 games against Arsenal. Meanwhile, the Gunners have scored 81 Premier League goals against Everton. Only Manchester United (82) have scored more against the Toffees in Premier League history. How's that for a stat?!
Despite Everton's recent success, they have managed just one win in their last seven Premier League matches, drawing five in that period. They have also conceded 12 goals in their last eight games, failing to keep a clean sheet in that spell.
The home side do boast one of the in-form players in world football, however. Leighton Baines has created 50 chances this season. To put that in perspective, no player in any of Europe's top five leagues boasts a better record. It would probably be fair to state that he is now considered as the best left-back in the Premier League.
Everton began the season in impressive fashion with three straight wins in all competitions before losing to West Bromwich Albion in September. They then went eight league matches unbeaten before losing away to Reading. Meanwhile, they were denied the three points at home to Norwich City last time out after conceding late on.
David Moyes's side also have a very tough fixture list to come. Following this evening they travel to Manchester City at the weekend before hosting Tottenham Hotspur one week later. The festive period does include winnable matches, however, against the likes of Stoke City, West Ham United and Wigan Athletic.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have been slightly inconsistent this season. As expected. They started the season with back-to-back draws and were not beaten in any competition until losing to Chelsea in late September. Defeats followed against Norwich City and Manchester United, but they are unbeaten in their last five in all competitions. But they have drawn three in that period.
The Gunners remain without a trophy since winning the 2005 FA Cup, but it remains to be seen whether Arsene Wenger will dip into the transfer market in January. The future of Theo Walcott remains unclear, while they have felt the loss of Robin van Persie to Manchester United.
They also currently have their lowest points total after 13 matches under Arsene Wenger. Their only worst start to a league season came in 1994 when they had 19 points at this stage. However, they are yet to concede in the final 15 minutes of a league match this season which does point to a stronger mental spirit in the latter stages of games.
There is no doubt that the club face a fight to make it into the top four this season. Gone are the days that the Gunners would be an automatic choice for the Champions League places and many placed the club outside of the top four in their pre-season predictions.
You have to think that Manchester United and Manchester City will finish inside the top three, while Chelsea should also finish inside the Champions League places. That leaves one spot remaining with Arsenal battling Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and West Bromwich Albion. Yes West Bromwich Albion. Who says that their current form cannot continue?
However, the Gunners do boast the joint-best defensive record away from home this season. Along with Manchester City they have conceded just five goals on their travels. Meanwhile, in Santi Cazorla they boast a player with the second-highest pass success rate in the Premier League this season (93%).
Right we have little under five minutes remaining until kickoff. I am backing a 2-1 win for Everton this evening. It will be a full house at Goodison Park and the home crowd will be right up for this one. Be sure to remain with us for the entirety of the action.
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch ahead of kickoff. Tonight's referee is Michael Oliver. Let's hope that we are talking about the match and not the referee come the end of the evening.
Handshakes? Check. Flags exchanged? Check. Passionate home crowd? Check. Fellaini and Gibson both return for the home side. No Podolski for Arsenal this evening, but Walcott does start. Let's get this Premier League fixture underway.
Here we go then. Arsenal get us underway. A win for the away side would move them above Everton in the standings. Possession of the ball will be so key for both sides this evening. The race for the top four is well and truly on.
GOAL! Everton 0-1 Arsenal (Walcott)
Oh my word. Arsenal lead with less than a minute on the clock as Aaron Ramsey finds Walcott in the area and the England international chips over Tim Howard. What a start from the Gunners.
The good news turns sour for the away side, however, with Laurent Koscielny being replaced by Kieran Gibbs in the early stages. The defender appeared to pick up a knock in a challenge with Gibson.
Wow. What a start. Little under a minute gone and Arsenal take the lead. The next couple of minutes are taken up by the injury to Koscielny. But Everton have looked to respond with a period of possession in the last couple of moments. The home crowd have been stunned by that start.
It's good work from the home side as Naismith finds Baines in a wide area. The defender searches out the run of Fellaini, but the Belgian is ruled offside as he advanced on goal. But the possession is all with the Toffees at the moment with seven minutes on the clock.
Half-chance for the home side as Baines whips a dangerous cross into the penalty area. Szczesny makes contact, but can only palm into his own area. However, the danger is scrambled away by Per Mertesacker. All-action start to this one and it shows no signs of slowing.
Again it's good football from Arsenal as Mikel Arteta combines with Jack Wilshere in the middle of the Everton midfield, but the latter just cannot find the run of Walcott and the danger is cleared. It is such an electric atmosphere inside the ground as Everton attempt to lift their team following the early shock.
Half-chance for the home side as Hibbert fires a high cross into the penalty area, but Fellaini's header is straight at the goalkeeper. It would have taken some effort to find the back of the net from that far out. It really is an end-to-end match at the moment with both sides exchanging attacks.
Walcott really has started this match like a house on fire. Surely Arsene Wenger has to tie him up for the future? On this form he is such a dangerous player. There is simply no way that we have seen the last of the goals as Everton force a free kick outside the penalty box.
The free kick is whipped in towards Fellaini, but Bacary Sagna rises highest to clear the danger. The pressure remains on from the home side as Pienaar dances past Vermaelen, but the South African is penalised and the away side have a free kick.
Everton are just controlling possession of the ball at the moment with Leon Osman and Gibson passing and probing in midfield. They force another corner via Baines, but the danger is headed clear by Mertesacker. This is a proper Premier League game of football. End-to-end. Excitement. It is what makes the English league so impressive.
The pressure remains from the home side as Hibbert attempts to find Pienaar in the penalty area, but Szczesny comes to collect. Arsenal just cannot keep possession at the moment. But the early goal means that they can play their own game when given the opportunity. It is so delicately poised.
Again it's a half chance for Everton as Pienaar feeds Fellaini outside the penalty area, but the Belgian cannot collect and the danger is cleared. The South African midfielder comes again, but he fouls Ramsey and the free kick is awarded. Nothing much from Arsenal as an attacking threat since the goal.
CHANCE! It's football of the highest order from the home side as Baines and Naismith combine to feed Fellaini in the penalty area, but Mertesacker just makes a challenge at the vital moment. The Gunners are hanging on a bit there. They just need a period with the ball.
Rare half-chance for Arsenal as they force a free kick outside the penalty area. However, Vermaelen's effort is straight into the arms of Howard. The Gunners are playing on the counter attack at the moment and it is making for an open game.
GOAL! Everton 1-1 Arsenal (Fellaini)
Everton level and it's Fellaini who finds the bottom corner from outside the box with a thumping effort. It just had to be the big Belgian on his return. In truth it had been coming and we now have a real game on our hands.
It was a lovely strike from the midfielder, but you do have to question how much room he was awarded on the edge of the penalty area. That has been Arsenal's Achilles heel on many occasions this season and Everton are well and truly in control at the moment.
Frustration from the home crowd as Everton give away a couple of free kicks in quick succession and Gibson picks up a yellow for his troubles. Walcott appears to have a problem with his ankle here, although it is unlikely that he will be forced off with the issue.
Walcott does indeed return to the fold after receiving treatment on the sidelines. Slightly scrappy period to the match at the moment with both sides exchanging possession in midfield. It has been a pulsating 33 minutes of football as Arsenal have a corner headed clear by Distin.
Giroud is just struggling to influence proceedings for the away side at the moment as he is hassled out of possession on more than one occasion in the past couple of minutes. The home supporters continue to raise Everton with around 10 minutes of the half remaining.
Arsenal have just stemmed the tide in the past few minutes with a decent spell of possession, but they are really struggling to get Walcott and Giroud into the match. Everton's deep line is affording room in midfield but there is no space to run in behind for the speedy winger.
Everton break the Arsenal possession with a counter attack involving Pienaar and Jelavic, but the danger is forced for a corner and Sagna heads clear. Half-chance for Jelavic moments later, but he can only volley wide from inside the area.
Arsenal just cannot keep the ball at the moment with Fellaini, Gibson and Osman pressing in midfield. We have seen little from Wilshere and Arteta in this opening half. Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger does not look too happy with a couple of the challenges flying in from the home side.
Jelavic appears to be through on goal for the home side as Osman finds the run of the striker, but the offside flag is raised and Gibbs restarts play with a free kick. Fairly low key end to the opening period with both sides keeping hold of possession in midfield.
Meanwhile, the fourth official indicates that we will play an additional three minutes at the end of the half. It has been an enthralling half of Premier League football at Goodison Park.
Not a great deal happening at the moment with Arsenal keeping possession in their own half. Both sides will be relatively happy with their opening half of football. But David Moyes will certainly rally his players at the break.
Everton 1-1 Arsenal
So there we have it. The referee brings the half to an end with the two sides level at 1-1. Walcott opened the scoring for Arsenal inside the opening minute, but Everton were level via Fellaini just before the 30-minute mark.
Let's take a look at some statistics from the opening half of football. Arsenal have dominated the possession with 60%, but they have managed just three shots to Everton's five. The Toffees have also managed four attempts on goal, compared to the away side's two.
As it stands Everton would drop to sixth in the Premier League table with Arsenal sitting one spot and one place behind. Let's bring you some half times from the other Premier League fixtures this evening.
Half-time: Chelsea 0-0 Fulham, Southampton 1-1 Norwich, Stoke 0-0 Newcastle, Swansea 3-1 West Brom, Tottenham 2-0 Liverpool.
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch ahead of the second period. Can Everton force the next goal or will it be another early strike from the away side? Stay with us for the remainder of the action. I have a feeling that you will not want to miss it.
Everton get us underway in the second period. No changes for either side at the interval. However, I would expect to see a couple of substitutions as the half develops.
Arsenal make the better start to the second half as Walcott picks up possession outside the penalty area, but his effort thumps off the back of Gibson. Another half-chance develops as Sagna whips a dangerous cross into the penalty area, but Howard comes to collect and play is resumed.
Walcott is again involved for the away side as he curls a cross into the penalty area, but once more Howard is on hand to collect the danger. It has been one-way traffic from the Gunners in the early stages of the second period. You just get the feeling that the next goal could change the entire feel of the match.
First real attack of the second period for Everton as Baines and Pienaar combine down the left, but the latter's shot is dragged wide of the target. Much better from the home side with Jelavic seeing more of the ball.
CHANCE! Clearest opening of the second period comes to the home side as Jelavic drives a low cross into the penalty area, but Naismith just cannot make contact when he perhaps should have scored. Walcott remains a threat for Arsenal on the counter, but he is trying to do it all alone and loses possession twice in a matter of seconds.
It's good work from Wilshere in the Arsenal midfield as he breaks up an Everton attack, but the England international runs out of options in the attacking third. Meanwhile, another half-chance comes to Naismith, but the Scot is again denied by a challenge from Gibbs.
Slightly scrappy match at the moment with both sides giving away possession in midfield. Someone just needs to take control of the midfield as we approach the hour mark. Would both of these sides be happy with a point from this game? Possibly.
CHANCE! Two chances in quick succession for the home side as Pienaar comes close from inside the penalty area before Distin has a point-blank header saved by Sczczeny. The Arsenal goalkeeper is a busy man at the moment.
Another half-chance comes the way of the home side as Jelavic strikes an effort from outside the penalty area, but it just moves wide of the post. It is all one-way traffic at the moment with Everton feeding off the reaction from their home supporters.
The pressure remains from the home side as Fellaini strikes an effort from outside the penalty area, but again it is wide of the target. However, Arsenal have started to enjoy a better period of possession in the past few moments. Meanwhile, change for Everton as Bryan Oviedo replaces Naismith.
Decent spell for Arsenal with Wilshere, Arteta and Ramsey all involved in the middle of midfield, but their final ball continues to let them down as another goal kick is awarded to Everton. Moyes is up on the touchline shouting orders, while Wenger sits back.
You can just sense the home crowd's frustration at the moment as Arsenal dominate possession and pick up a couple of fouls in the middle of midfield. Fellaini fells Cazorla in the Everton half, but the crowd clearly do not agree. No chances in the past few minutes.
CHANCE! It's bright work from Walcott as he finds the head of Giroud in the penalty area, but Howard just collects at the vital moment. The Frenchman did not have much of a jump there but managed to generate impressive power. Everton are struggling at the moment.
Again it's really good work from the away side as Walcott dances past the challenge of two Everton defenders, but he was chopped down by Bryan Oviedo. The free kick led to a chance for Cazorla, but Howard was on hand to clear the danger.
The home crowd's frustrations continue as Everton continue to give away free kicks in the middle of midfield. But Arsenal's final pass has been poor thus far with Distin and Jagielka dealing with the danger. Little under 20 minutes remaining on this mild evening in Merseyside.
Again it's Arsenal on the attack as Ramsey picks up possession outside the penalty area, but his effort is just over the crossbar. Meanwhile, change for Everton as Gibson is replaced by Thomas Hitzlsperger. Can he inspire the Toffees in the final 15 minutes or so?
Another half-chance comes the way of Arsenal as Cazorla turns on the edge of the penalty area before striking towards goal, but Howard got down well to make the save. It is simply all one-way traffic from the Gunners at the moment.
A reminder that Arsenal have not conceded in the final 15 minutes of any Premier League match this season. Everton come close as Hitzlsperger strikes from outside the penalty area, but his effort is straight at the goalkeeper and another Arsenal attack is underway.
Everton come close as Fellaini forces a free kick from Arteta outside the Arsenal penalty area. However, Jelavic's effort is straight at the Gunners stopper. Why on earth did Baines not take that effort? We are just about to enter the final 10 minutes of football.
Another change for Arsenal as Gervinho replaces Ramsey. Everton will have some real pace to contend with in this final eight minutes or so of action. But with the home side holding such a deep line there is no room in behind. You can just sense that a goal is coming here as Everton force a couple of corners.
Almost a golden chance for Arsenal as Giroud whips a high cross into the penalty area, but it is too high for Gervinho and the Arsenal winger cannot make contact. It really is end-to-end football at the moment. Both sides want the three points.
Pressure from the home side as Hibbert advances down the right, but his cross is poor and headed clear by Mertesacker. Arsenal advance immediately down the other end, but Distin is on hand to clear the danger. Meanwhile, Walcott has a powerful strike blocked moments later.
It remains end-to-end football with little over two minutes remaining. The home supporters raise their tempo in an attempt to drive Everton into the Arsenal box, but possession from the Gunners has quelled the threat. For the moment.
CHANCE! Golden chance for the home side as Jelavic whips a low cross into the penalty area, but Fellaini just cannot make contact and the danger is cleared. We are seconds away from finding out how much time will be added.
The fourth official indicates that we will play an additional three minutes. Will we have a winner? Change for Arsenal as Cazorla is replaced by Francis Coquelin.
Everton force a half-chance in the final moments as Pienaar fires a high cross into the penalty area, but Fellaini just cannot make contact. Meanwhile, Gervinho threatens for Arsenal but it goes out of play for a goal kick. This one has seconds remaining.
Everton 1-1 Arsenal
The points are shared at Goodison Park in a 1-1 draw between Everton and Arsenal. Walcott handed the away side an early lead, but Fellaini levelled after 28 minutes. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action and look out for our match analysis in the next 30 minutes or so. Goodnight!
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
