Arsenal falls short despite last-gasp win
Kai Havertz scored a late winner but Arsenal fell short in the Premier League title race despite beating Everton 2-1 at Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners needed to win to stand any chance of beating Manchester City to the title, and for a long time it looked as though Mikel Arteta’s side would not hold up its end of the bargain.
Takehiro Tomiyasu swiftly cancelled out Idrissa Gueye’s opener in the first half, but a combination of the woodwork and some fine goalkeeping from Jordan Pickford kept Arsenal at bay until the 89th minute, when Havertz tucked in after Ashley Young’s error.
But with City beating West Ham United in Manchester, the Gunners ultimately finished two points behind Pep Guardiola’s team, which sealed an unprecedented fourth straight Premier League title.
Arsenal was well on top early on, Tomiyasu failing to direct a header on target after he was picked out by Declan Rice, who was subsequently denied by his England team-mate Pickford.
As news filtered through of an early goal for Man City against the Hammers, Pickford was at his best to deny Gabriel Martinelli, who was in for the injured Bukayo Saka.
Having weathered the storm, Everton almost took the lead on the half-hour mark, Dominic Calvert-Lewin seeing a crisp strike clatter the left-hand post.
Yet Everton had its goal in the 40th minute, as Gueye’s free-kick deflected off Rice and looped in beyond David Raya.
The advantage was short-lived, though, with Tomiyasu atoning for his earlier miss as he lashed home from inside the area, with that goal coinciding with news of West Ham getting one back against Man City, and a huge roar of encouragement from the Gunners faithful.
Calvert-Lewin stung Raya’s palms as Everton threatened on the counter, but the post came to the visitors’ rescue when Havertz saw a header clip agonisingly off the woodwork.
As City went 3-1 ahead, Arsenal kept pushing, Pickford making a stunning stop with his legs to deny Odegaard, with Amadou Onana blocking Emile Smith Rowe’s follow-up.
Smith Rowe rattled the crossbar in the 83rd minute, but Everton’s resolve was finally broken when Young’s pass was intercepted by Gabriel Jesus. Odegaard failed to connect properly with his attempt, but Havertz was on hand to finish.
The goal was confirmed after a VAR check for handball by Jesus, but despite the electric atmosphere, Arsenal’s title hopes were still dashed.
It was fitting that Arsenal ended what has been a superb campaign on a high note, and it certainly had plenty of chances – 26 shots in total – before Havertz finally got the job done.
But competing against City is a gargantuan task, and Arsenal could not get over the line in the end.
Arteta will reflect on a fantastic season, and now the challenge is to somehow go one better next year.
