DEMARAI GRAY lashed home an injury-time rocket as Everton fought back to beat Arsenal 2-1.
Martin Odegaard opened the scoring but Richarlison equalised – after having TWO goals ruled out by VAR beforehand.
Gray then stepped up in the final stages for a thrilling finale at Goodison Park.
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THAT’S ALL FROM MERSEYSIDE!
Everton came back and beat Arsenal with a score of 2-1 in an extremely dramatic encounter at Goodison Park.
The two teams struggled to produce in the opening few minutes and so the biggest highlight was the home fans’ protest in the 27th minute when a minority of the crowd left their seats as a sign of protest towards the club’s hierarchy – if only they knew…
VAR then checked for a red card on Ben Godfrey after his studs hit a fallen Takehiro Tomiyasu in the face but it was deemed that he shouldn’t be sent off.
The Merseysiders may have been lucky with Godfrey but were unlucky when Yerry Mina couldn’t continue and was replaced by Mason Holgate.
Everton thought they got the lead just a minute before half-time when Richarlison headed Andros Townsend’s free-kick behind Aaron Ramsdale’s net.
However, VAR deemed that the Brazil international was just offside.
Arsenal, though, managed to break the deadlock in the second minute of stoppage time when a fabulous cross from Kieran Tierney down the left found an unmarked Martin Odegaard, who volleyed the ball past Jordan Pickford.
Everton started strong in the second half and thought they finally equalised on 57 minutes when Abdoulaye Doucoure released Richarlison and he beat Ramsdale with a fine finish only for his goal to be chalked off for offside by VAR once more.
But the Toffees didn’t give up as they finally got their cracker in the 79th minute when Demarai Gray’s long-range shot hit the crossbar and a completely unmarked Richarlison headed the ball behind the net.
Eddie Nketiah had the chance to regain the lead on 84 minutes when a cross by Bukayo Saka set him up in front of open goal and his header somehow hit the post.
That proved to be costly as Everton completed their comeback in the second minute of stoppage time when Andre Gomes beat Granit Xhaka for the ball in midfield and passed to Gray, who tried another long-range shot that hit the bar and ricocheted to the back of the net.
That’s all from us here at SunSport, have a lovely night!
ODEGAARD REACTS
Arsenal star Martin Odegaard suggested the loss to Everton showed the Gunners may have a mindset problem.
Odegaard said: “It’s a hard one to take. I think in general we were not at the level we needed to be at today.
“We had some good moments but we have to do much better. We should have been better.
“It’s hard to say. That’s just how it is sometimes. It’s hard to say exactly what happened. We have to do better when we have that lead. We stopped playing and gave them the game they wanted to play.
“I think it is [a mindset problem]. When you’re leading 1-0 you get afraid to lose the win and in my opinion that’s what we did wrong today. You go for the second goal and that was the intention but we didn’t manage to do that on the pitch”
BENITEZ REACTS
Everton manager Rafa Benitez came to this match with immense pressure on his back.
However, Benitez has managed to turn the mood around with a stunning performance against Arsenal.
The Spanish head coach also refused to explain why he didn’t include Lucas Digne in his squad.
More below:
GRAY REACTS
Everton star Demarai Gray was all smiles after his winner against Arsenal at Goodison Park.
Gray produced a stunning long-range effort with just a few minutes of stoppage time to go until full-time.
The winger said: “It was a crazy moment, my best moment here so far.”
More below:
COLEMAN REACTS
Everton captain Seamus Coleman praised Demarai Gray for his winner against Arsenal.
Coleman told Sky Sports: “Some of these players don’t realise the ability they have, and how good they can be.
“[Gray] has got bundles of ability and he just needs to work hard every single day because that’s what the top players do.
“That’s what he’s been doing, that’s what he’s done this week and that’s why he got his goal”
GRAY GOAL
Here is how Everton turned the game around in the second minute of stoppage time.
A lot of it comes down to Andre Gomes beating Granit Xhaka for the ball in midfield and passing to Demarai Gray.
Gray then found the space and delivered an impeccable long-range effort that beat Aaron Ramsdale.
The winger got booked for removing his shirt while celebrating, but something tells me he will be fine…
THAT’S RICH
Everton star Richarlison led his team to a remarkable comeback victory over Arsenal.
The forward is now the joint-third top Brazilian goalscorer in Premier League history.
The Brazil international is tied with Philippe Coutinho and is behind Gabriel Jesus as well as Roberto Firmino.
More below:
UPDATED TABLE
Arsenal remain seventh after their loss at Goodison Park with four points separating them from the top four.
Everton, on the other hand, have climbed to 12th with nine points separating them from fourth place.
Before the match the Toffees were five points away from the relegation zone.
More below:
STATS
Arsenal dominated 63.8 per cent of possession and still gave away their lead.
The Gunners registered a total of 10 shots, but only three of them were on target.
Everton, on the other hand, recorded 11 shots, with five of them on target.
The Toffees dominated in the air as they won 53.3 per cent of aerial duels
FT: EVERTON 2-1 ARSENAL
Everton came back and beat Arsenal in an extremely dramatic encounter at Goodison Park.
The two teams struggled to produce in the opening few minutes and so the biggest highlight was the home fans’ protest in the 27th minute when a minority of the crowd left their seats as a sign of protest towards the club’s hierarchy – if only they knew…
VAR then checked for a red card on Ben Godfrey after his studs hit a fallen Takehiro Tomiyasu in the face but it was deemed that he shouldn’t be sent off.
The Merseysiders may have been lucky with Godfrey but were unlucky when Yerry Mina couldn’t continue and was replaced by Mason Holgate.
Everton thought they got the lead just a minute before half-time when Richarlison headed Andros Townsend’s free-kick behind Aaron Ramsdale’s net.
However, VAR deemed that the Brazil international was just offside.
Arsenal, though, managed to break the deadlock in the second minute of stoppage time when a fabulous cross from Kieran Tierney down the left found an unmarked Martin Odegaard, who volleyed the ball past Jordan Pickford.
Everton started strong in the second half and thought they finally equalised on 57 minutes when Abdoulaye Doucoure released Richarlison and he beat Ramsdale with a fine finish only for his goal to be chalked off for offside by VAR once more.
But the Toffees didn’t give up as they finally got their cracker in the 79th minute when Demarai Gray’s long-range shot hit the crossbar and a completely unmarked Richarlison headed the ball behind the net.
Eddie Nketiah had the chance to regain the lead on 84 minutes when a cross by Bukayo Saka set him up in front of open goal and his header somehow hit the post.
That proved to be costly as Everton completed their comeback in the second minute of stoppage time when Andre Gomes beat Granit Xhaka for the ball in midfield and passed to Gray, who tried another long-range shot that hit the bar and ricocheted to the back of the net
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
THAT’S FULL-TIME IN MERSEYSIDE
EVERTON 2-1 ARSENAL
90+7 WHAT A CHANCE!
Arsenal miss another HUGE chance to equalise!
Aubaleyang is played through on the right but just misses Pickford’s bottom right corner!
This is the kind of form he’s been in…
EVERTON 2-1 ARSENAL
90+6 WHAT A CHANCE!
Everton come so close to putting this to bed!
Richarlison gets the ball and plays Iwobi through on the right.
The former Arsenal star only has Ramsdale to beat but is stopped by some incredible goalkeeping as the England shot-stopped blocks him with the right hand
EVERTON 2-1 ARSENAL
90+5 Everton are still pushing for a goal to put the game to bed.
Where has THIS Toffees side been in the last two months?!
Whoever walked out of this missed a major treat!
EVERTON 2-1 ARSENAL
90+2 This is unbelievable!
Everton had two goals chalked off and still manage to turn this around!
It all starts with Gomes, who beats Xhaka for the ball in midfield and passes to Gray on the left.
The ex-Leicester star gains some ground and fires a wonderful shot from the edge of the box that hits the back of the net after deflecting off of the left-hand post
GOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!
ARSENAL LEAD WITH GRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
EVERTON 1-1 ARSENAL
90 Six more minutes of added time to go.
This is honestly anyone’s game, and there’s plenty of time to score a winner
EVERTON 1-1 ARSENAL
90 CHANCE
Everton ace Doucoure breaks inside the area from the left but his shot is saved by Ramsdale
EVERTON 1-1 ARSENAL
87 SUBSTITUTION
Everton manager Benitez shakes things up as former Arsenal star Iwobi replaces Gordon
EVERTON 1-1 ARSENAL
85 SUBSTITUTION
Arsenal boss Arteta introduces Aubameyang for the last few minutes as he replaces Lacazette
EVERTON 1-1 ARSENAL
84 WHAT A CHANCE!
How did Arsenal miss that?!
Saka delivers a beautiful cross from the right and finds Nketiah in the far post.
The Gunners ace has open net in front of him and heads the ball to Pickford’s right-hand post.
He was right in front of goal….
EVERTON 1-1 ARSENAL
83 This is a true testament to Richarlison’s talent and character.
The Everton star had two goals chalked off and still kept fighting for that equaliser.
The Brazil international kept his cool and remained focused during a very intense and frustrating match that saw his own fans walking out
EVERTON 1-1 ARSENAL
80 Yes ladies and gentleman.
I can confirm that Richarlison’s goal counts! Everton and Arsenal are truly level!
EVERTON 1-1 ARSENAL
79 Surely third time lucky….
Everton ace Gray fires a magnificent curling shot that rattles Ramsdale’s crossbar.
A completely forgotten Richarlison gets the rebound and heads the ball to the open net!
GOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLLL!
EVERTON EQUALISE WITH RICHARLISON!!!!!!
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk