Arsenal 0-0 Everton LIVE SCORE: Gunners knocking at the door as they look to close the gap on Liverpool – updates

Arsenal 0-0 Everton

47. What a save!!

Bukayo Saka must have thought he had broken the deadlock seconds into the second half, but his volley is somehow clawed out by Jordan Pickford.

It was a scrappy build-up from kick-off, but when a loose header from Branwaite inside the area went up instead of out, Saka was on to it in a flash.

The shot wasn’t the cleanest but still looked destined for the bottom corner until Pickford’s heroics.

Kick-off – Arsenal 0-0 Everton

46. Neither boss has made a change at the start of the second half which indicates that both are fairly happy with how their teams performed in the first.

Mikel Arteta will undoubtedly want more from an attacking perspective. Can his side deliver?

First half facts and figures

Dominic Calvert-Lewin – who I forgot was playing – had just 12 touches of the ball during the first half.

From Dan King at the Emirates

Jordan Pickford and James Tarkowski really are in a “none shall pass” mood.

A personal highlight of a goalless half was Myles Lewis-Skelly dropping the ball on his own head and then trying again, but having a foul throw awarded against him. Not enough foul throws are given these days, especially in European competition.

The atmosphere at the Emirates is curiously flat. Arsenal should be one or two up but aren’t turning domination into goals. Yet.

Half-time – Arsenal 0-0 Everton

Craig Pawson calls time on the opening 45 minutes, and there’s very little to report.

Everton have not had an attempt since Abdoulaye Doucoure’s fifth minute shot that was brilliantly blocked behind by the returning Gabriel.

Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli have both had chances for the hosts, only to find Jordan Pickford in inspired form.

Arsenal 0-0 Everton

45. There will be just an extra minute at the end of a first half dominated by Arsenal, but lacking any real cutting edge.

Arsenal 0-0 Everton

44. Myles Lewis-Skelly undoubtedly has a bright future ahead of him, but it’s doubtful he’ll ever take a worse throw-in than this.

The ball slips out of the teenager’s hands, bobbles about a bit and then drops on his head, resulting in a most embarrassed and surprised look from the left-back.

Arsenal 0-0 Everton

42. Pickford denies Martinelli!

A sloppy pass from Branthwaite is pounced upon by Rice in midfield, who quickly moves the ball on to the Brazilian via Havertz.

A nice switch of feet by Martinelli in the box takes him away from Young, but his follow-up shot is well blocked by the Everton goalkeeper at the near post.

Arsenal 0-0 Everton

40. Ashley Young takes an age to take a throw-in deep in the Arsenal half.

It’s hard to know if it’s blatant time-wasting or if the 39-year-old right-back is just feeling his age.

Arsenal 0-0 Everton

38. The home fans try to lift the tempo of their team.

While in complete control of the game, they are not putting Everton under real pressure – and the visitors remain content to mop up the little that is coming their way.

From Dan King at the Emirates

The second enjoyable contest so far was between the fans. The home crowd told Jordan Pickford he was “just a s**t Aaron Ramsdale” and the travelling Blues responded by reminding everyone that their man is “England’s No 1”.

Even better is the way Everton boss Sean Dyche keeps moaning to the fourth official and nearside assistant referee about the decisions that keep going against his side. The Arsenal fans take every chance to mock his gesticulations and rants.

The news from Anfield must have filtered through and it feels like an Arsenal goal is coming.

Arsenal 0-0 Everton

35. A loose header back towards Pickford from Tarkowski prompts the England goalkeeper into an unorthodox vollleyball punch clear.

It’s lucky he made contact with the ball otherwise he could have knocked Havertz’s head off.

Arsenal 0-0 Everton

33. Half of the game over the past quarter of an hour has been played inside the Everton defensive third.

Are we witnessing a Sean Dyche masterclass, or will Arsenal break down the Toffees before the break?

Arsenal 0-0 Everton

31. The Toffees survive another set-piece, and continue to lay down the blueprint for the rest of the division in how to repel Arsenal at free-kicks and corners.

Arsenal 0-0 Everton

29. Pickford finally begins to earn his money!

Superb stuff from Saka on the right takes him beyond Mykolenko and Branthwaite, and then the England ace still has the composure to pick out Odegaard in the middle.

The Norwegian midfielder takes a nice touch and looks certain to open the scoring until his shot is blocked up and over by the Everton goalkeeper.

Arsenal 0-0 Everton

26. Nice work from Saka to pick out Odegaard’s run into the area with a clever reverse pass.

The captain then tries to work one of his own, but it’s clattered behind by Branthwaite.

The visitors certainly aren’t afraid to give up corners to the Premier League’s set-piece kings.

Arsenal 0-0 Everton

24. We’re still awaiting the game’s first shot on target.

Perhaps the news that Liverpool currently trail Fulham at Anfield and are down to ten men might wake up those inside the Emirates.

Arsenal 0-0 Everton

22. Defenders assemble as corner number three is awarded to the Gunners.

Again, Saka’s delivery is flat and fast, and once more Tarkowski heads out before the intended flick-on.

Arsenal 0-0 Everton

20. It’s one-way traffic at the Emirates, but Arsenal’s football has still lacked something in the opening 20 minutes.

Dare I say it, they look a little leggy after their Champions League exploits in midweek.

Arsenal 0-0 Everton

17. The home fans get excited as another corner is won.

This time it’s on the right and taken by Saka, but the delivery is unusually poor and easily headed clear.

Arsenal 0-0 Everton

15. The Gunners have been responsible for 79% of possession so far but are yet to fully test Pickford in the Everton goal.

Arsenal 0-0 Everton

13. A promising attack for Arsenal is halted because Martinelli is offside.

Where have we heard that before?

Arsenal 0-0 Everton

11. Odegaard goes close!

The Arsenal captain receives a square pass 20 yards from goal, drifts beyond Gueye with ease, and then drags a right-footer wide of Pickford’s left-hand post.

Arsenal 0-0 Everton

9. Up the other end of the pitch, a Martinelli effort is blocked behind for Arsenal’s first corner.

The Gunners pack the area as Rice prepares the set-piece, an inswinger that is eventually punched away by Pickford.

Arsenal 0-0 Everton

7. The first attempt of the game comes courtesy of Everton’s Doucoure.

The midfielder somehow finds himself in space behind the Arsenal defence, and it requires an excellent recovery from Saliba in order to turn it behind for a corner.