Arsenal miss out on title to Man City despite late win over Everton

Referee Michael Oliver went to the sideline to view the ball striking Gabriel Jesus’ arm in the lead-up to Havertz’s close-range strike but unusually, presumably because the arm was against the Brazilian’s side, the goal was allowed to stand.

Arsenal end the campaign on 89 points, two behind City on 91.

Arsenal came into the match needing victory and hoping City failed to do so at home to West Ham, but within two minutes news of Phil Foden’s goal at the Etihad showed this to be an even steeper uphill task than it began.

The news of a second Manchester City goal vacuumed any positive mood in the stadium and, after Dominic Calvert-Lewin hit the post, Idrissa Gana Gueye’s free-kick deflected in off Declan Rice in the wall six minutes before the break.

The lead would only last a couple of minutes before Martin Odegaard pulled back from the by-line for Takehiro Tomiyasu to drive home.

Havertz and Emile Smith Rowe both hit the bar in the second half from crosses from Gabriel Martinelli before the late drama.

All the best laid plans for a positive atmosphere to cheer on the players for a fantastic season regardless of events at the Etihad Stadium went out the window within two minutes when news of Phil Foden’s first goal came in.

In fairness, Arsenal’s on-field play kept the fans enthused as they came close to goals in the first 20 minutes but when Foden scored again a heavy pall fell over the stadium and the intensity went out of the Gunners’ play with Everton coming into the game, leading to a fortunate, but not undeserved, goal.

Then, a double boost from Tomiyasu’s goal and Mohammed Kudus’ strike at the Etihad led to a carnival atmosphere which some seemed to take erroneously of news of the scores being level in Manchester.

The second half saw enthusiasm wane once more with Everton, their goalkeeeper and crossbar, refusing to allow a procession for the fans to enjoy – and the last-minute winner only led to performative celebration, with a post-VAR goal decision even more anti-climatic than usual.

There was more genuine emotion at the end of the match when Mikel Arteta promised the fans “we will get” the title in the future – showing the bond of supporters and team which will help them next year.

Gabriel Martinelli certainly deserves credit for his performance on the right flank in place of Bukayo Saka, but his skipper gets the award for continually driving his side forward and, by skill and other means, ending the match with two assists. He was unfortunate not to get on the scoresheet himself when he was denied by a fine point-blank save from Jordan Pickford.

Arsenal: Raya 6; White 6, Saliba 6, Gabriel 6, Tomiyasu 7; Odegaard 8*, Rice 6, Partey 6; Martinelli 7, Havertz 7, Trossard 6.

Subs: Zincheko 6, Timber 6, Jesus 7, Smith Rowe 6,

Everton: Pickford 7; Coleman 6, Tarkowski 6, Branthwaite 7, Young 5; Garner 6, Gueye 7, Onana 6, McNeil 7; Doucoure 6; Calvert-Lewin 6.

16′ MARTINELLI WITH A GREAT RUN AND SHOT! And Pickford denies him diving to his right. The Brazilian jinked past two defenders, putting the ball through Branthwaite’s legs before driving the ball low but the England keeper makes a fine stop.

32′ CALVERT-LEWIN HITS THE POST! On the break, the ball is played to the England international 20 yards from goal and he sidefoots past Raya but sees his effort come back off the post and then hits the rebound into the side-netting.

39′ GOAL! ARSENAL 0-1 EVERTON (GUEYE)! Gueye’s free kick strikes Rice in the wall and deflects into the far corner wrong-footing Raya.

43′ GOAL! ARSENAL (TOMIYASU) 1-1 EVERTON! Odegaard gets to the by-line and pulls back just behind the penalty spot where the left back strikes the ball low into the corner of the net.

67′ HAVERTZ HEADS AGAINST THE BAR! Martinelli cuts inside and curls a left-footed cross into the box and Havertz’s effort has pickford beating but comes back off the angle of post and bar.

71‘ GREAT BLOCK FROM PICKFORD! Odegaard looked certain to score but as he blasted a low shot at goal the Everton keeper somehow got in the way blocking the ball with his legs and then Branthwaite cleared.

84′ SMITH ROWE SHOOTS AGAINST THE BAR! More fine work from Martinelli on the right flank as he finds Smith Rowe at the back post and he volleys against the floor but it bounces up and hits the bar.

89′ GOAL! ARSENAL (HAVERTZ) 2-1 EVERTON! A goal that didn’t look like happening. And it happened after a poor crossfield ball in his own half from Young which Jesus intercepts and lays a chance for Odegaard, he stumbles, but inadvertently plays the ball into the path of Havertz who scores into an open goal.

90′ VAR! THERE IS A POTENTIAL HANDBALL AGAINST JESUS! It struck his arm, which was by his side, when he beat the Everton man to the ball.

90+1′ THE GOAL STANDS! I like that call. Everton won’t be happy. It almost never happens that a goal stands when a referee checks the sideline video.

19 – There were 19 goals scored in the first halves across today's games; the most on a single day in the Premier League since October 3rd 1992 (21). Popcorn. pic.twitter.com/pP5qKTy2Eo

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 19, 2024