The Premier League summit beckoned for Arsenal but they blinked in the face ofEverton aggression and an impassioned Goodison Park. Not for the first time, the inner resolve that has been absent from recent title challenges but Arsene Wenger has detected this season was found wanting. His post-match criticism of the referee, Mark Clattenburg, could not detract from a restorative night for Ronald Koeman.
Ashley Williams’s textbook header in the 86th minute sealed a spirited comeback by an Everton side who had won only once in 11 matches. They were devoid of confidence, adventure and accuracy for the opening half-hour and Arsenal were on course for a comfortable win that would see them replace Chelsea at the top of the table. But then Everton and Goodison roused. Ross Barkley, James McCarthy and Aaron Lennon of all people snapped into a series of challenges and the mood transformed.
Arsenal faded, and Mesut Özil’s woeful defending for Everton’s winner – backing away as Barkley’s corner arrived at the penalty spot – was an alarming sight for a manager with designs on the title.
Wenger erred in his complaint over a corner in the build-up to Everton’s winner but was correct to inject a sense of perspective after the game. This was Arsenal’s first away defeat in the Premier League since 28 February after all, their first loss since the opening game of the season and they are in the midst of a gruelling schedule. But the return of a familiar flaw – “You go face to face,” Koeman said after his latest managerial win against Arsenal – will be a cause for disquiet at the Emirates Stadium.
There was still time for a remarkable finale after Williams’s header. Phil Jagielka picked up a second yellow card for pulling back substitute Lucas Pérez and as a consequence the Everton captain will miss the Merseyside derby next week. From the resulting free-kick, with Petr Cech challenging his counterpart Maarten Stekelenburg, there was mayhem as Séamus Coleman blocked from Nacho Monreal, Leighton Baines did likewise from Alex Iwobi on the goal-line, Alexis Sánchez appealed for a penalty against Barkley, and Everton broke but were somehow unable to release a shot on a goal missing its goalkeeper.
There was no time to rue the miss and Koeman, having called for more aggressionbefore kick-off, was rewarded not only with three valuable points but vastly improved contributions from Barkley, McCarthy and Enner Valencia, making his first league start for the club. The Everton manager had claimed his squad were unbalanced and lacking both physically and mentally on the eve of Arsenal’s visit and his concerns were borne out during a poor opening.
Arsenal, with Sánchez’s movement spreading anxiety throughout the home defence, could have been ahead from their first attack when Özil swept over from Monreal’s inviting pull-back. The contrast between the teams’ attacking styles was increasingly apparent before the visitors took the lead. Arsenal played with the composure and imagination of a settled, confident side while Everton again resorted to hit-and-hope long balls to an isolated Romelu Lukaku. They appeared bereft of any other ploy but needed one after falling behind in slapstick fashion.
Özil opened the Everton defence with an exquisite ball down the left and that was the only touch of quality before the ball nestled in the back of the Gwladys Street net. Having dealt with the danger, Valencia overran the ball on the edge of his area. It fell to Barkley, who was sluggish and dispossessed by Francis Coquelin, then to Ashley Williams, who completely missed the ball and took out Idrissa Gueye instead, leaving Jagielka to collect his first booking with a foul on Coquelin on the edge of the area. Sánchez applied the coup de mess. His low free-kick deflected off Williams’s calf to leave Stekelenburg floundering as he got a hand to the ball but could not prevent it sailing in.
Arsenal were comfortable, Everton lacked the basics but with Koeman despairing at Stekelenburg’s long clearances and the crowd restless, the contest was transformed by nothing more than a show of aggression and commitment from the home side. Lukaku drove over, Lennon sliced a decent chance wide and, withEverton on top, Coleman equalised moments before the break. The goal will have realised Arsenal’s worries about losing Shkodran Mustafi from the heart of their defence through injury. Baines swept a dangerous cross into the area with his right foot where his fellow full-back rose unmarked between Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel to convert a glancing header.
Coleman’s celebration – cupping his ear to the crowd – perhaps revealed his annoyance with recent criticism and there was a minor melee on half-time involving McCarthy, Özil, Williams and Granit Xhaka. Koeman could not complain: anger suited Everton and Arsenal, after those early flashes, were relatively subdued in reply. Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade‑Chamberlain were anonymous and it was no surprise when Wenger withdrew both.
Arsenal had their moments in the second half, Özil missing another cut-back from the left, but they were susceptible to Lukaku’s strength on the counter-attack and the awareness of Barkley. Goodison implored its men forward in the dying stages. Williams answered the call.
