Everton beats Arsenal 1-0 amid fan protests

Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno’s blunder permitting an personal purpose to Everton was the decider in a 1-0 win for the guests within the English Premier League on Friday.
The solely different tumult on this in any other case boring match got here outdoors the stadium as lots of of Arsenal followers protested in entrance of Emirates Stadium earlier than and after kickoff. They set off pyrotechnics and flares to exhibit towards Stan Kroenke’s possession amid anger over the membership becoming a member of the Super League.

Big turnout already on the Emirates as followers protest towards Arsenal’s Kroenke house owners pic.twitter.com/awbMKn0bhX
— Sam Dean (@SamJDean) April 23, 2021
Everton remained in eighth place, however the workforce was just one level behind rival Liverpool and in touching distance of the Champions League locations. Arsenal stayed in ninth place.
Everton supervisor Carlo Ancelotti mentioned his workforce was nonetheless preventing for a spot within the prime 4, saying the race might go right down to the final match of the season.
“We are still attached to the top of the table,” Ancelotti mentioned. “This one we needed. We have to keep fighting.”
Arsenal began the match brightly and gave the impression to be in management within the early levels. But Everton began to trigger issues for Arsenal, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson all going shut within the first half.
Everton got here near taking the lead when Sigurdsson’s 20-yard free kick curled over the wall and hit the crossbar within the thirty ninth minute. The midfielder additionally almost scored within the forty seventh, however Arsenal middle again Rob Holding made an important block to place the ball out for a nook.

Arsenal thought it had a penalty within the 52nd when referee Jonathan Moss pointed to the spot after Richarlison clipped Dani Ceballos on his shin. VAR confirmed the foul, however Nicolas Pepe was discovered to be simply offside within the buildup.
Arsenal got here shut within the sixty fourth when Bukayo Saka’s free kick discovered proper again Calum Chambers, however his shot bounced into the turf earlier than going broad. Ceballos examined Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford two minutes later, however the midfielder’s robust shot was parried away.
It was Richarlison’s run behind Arsenal’s protection that lastly broke the impasse within the 76th after being let loose down the left. He minimize inside and his shot gave the impression to be lined by Leno, however the ball trickled between his legs and over the road for an personal purpose. Richarlison ran to the nook flag and did a celebratory dance.
“Best looking goal I’ve ever seen,” Everton defender Mason Holgate mentioned, sarcastically. “Obviously it wasn’t the prettiest performance.”
But he mentioned the workforce dug deep and “to beat them and take three points away from home is massive.”
It was Everton’s first away win at Arsenal within the Premier League in 25 years.
Arsenal substitute Gabriel Martinelli almost scored an equalizer in added time, however Pickford simply acquired a hand to the ball to push his shot away.
“We were the better team, but we didn’t have enough quality in the final third,” Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta mentioned. “It’s damaging for confidence, because we’ve lost five points in the last two games.”