Arsenal’s slim Premier League title ambitions took a major hit as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Everton at Goodison Park, handing rivals Liverpool a significant boost in the title race.
With this result, Liverpool now need just 11 points from their remaining eight games—beginning with Fulham on Sunday—to seal the championship.
The match had a scrappy, stop-start rhythm early on, but Arsenal struck first in the 34th minute.
Leandro Trossard finished off a swift counterattack with a composed strike, following a neat pass from Raheem Sterling—remarkably, the first shot on target of the game.
Trossard nearly bagged a second on the brink of half-time, but his toe-poke was kept out by Jordan Pickford, with Declan Rice's rebound effort also blocked.
Everton came out with renewed energy after the break and were quickly rewarded. Just a minute into the second half, Myles Lewis-Skelly clumsily brought down Jack Harrison in the box.
Iliman Ndiaye stepped up and calmly slotted home the penalty to level the match.
The hosts looked brighter from that point, with Abdoulaye Doucoure forcing a sharp save from David Raya.
Arsenal had their moments too, notably Rice’s powerful free-kick, which was punched away by Pickford.
Neither side could find a winner, and the final whistle left Arsenal’s title hopes hanging by a thread.
Arteta's Focus Shifts from Premier League to Europe
Given Arsenal's upcoming Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid, Mikel Arteta’s starting XI hinted that his focus may have shifted away from domestic glory.
Key players like Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard, and Thomas Partey were named on the bench.
Despite the sunshine on Merseyside, Arsenal’s performance was far from bright.
The game was littered with fouls and set-pieces, but unlike previous matches where they've thrived on dead-ball situations, the Gunners failed to capitalize.
The goal came from a defensive miscue—Idrissa Gueye's mistimed header gifted Sterling possession, and he found Trossard for the finish.
But aside from that moment, Arsenal struggled to create anything fluid, and Saka’s second-half introduction failed to lift their attack.
As it stands, Arsenal’s Premier League campaign appears to be slipping out of their hands, with their best hope for silverware potentially lying in Europe.
Everton’s Season Losing Steam Despite Safety
Everton, rejuvenated after David Moyes' return in January with three consecutive wins, are now winless in six.
Though their 15-point cushion above the relegation zone offers security, their campaign is in danger of fizzling out.
Club captain James Tarkowski, back in the lineup after controversy surrounding a challenge midweek, picked up his 64th Premier League booking—more than any other player without being sent off.
With only three more matches at Goodison Park before their long-anticipated move to Bramley-Moore Dock, Everton fans will be hoping for stronger performances to give their historic stadium a fitting farewell.
Still, Ndiaye’s composed penalty was a positive, and with Premier League safety all but confirmed, the Toffees now look to finish the season with pride—even if the spark of their early 2024 form has dimmed.