Arsenal 3-1 EvertonUltimately, as has happened too many times on the road this season, Everton paid for a start to the game which failed to match the intensity of their later efforts - Romelu Lukaku’s 25th Premier League goal of an outstanding season for the Belgian striker falling short of what was required to surpass Arsenal, not to mention Harry Kane.
The Tottenham striker made off with the Golden Boot, scoring a hat-trick against Hull City to reach 29 goals for the season. Everton’s effort overall was not enough either with Lukaku’s second-half penalty amounting to too little, too late after goals by Hector Bellerin and Alexis Sanchez in the first half0hour proved decisive, even before Aaron Ramsey’s injury-time strike.
In bringing in Enner Valencia for Ross Barkley, the only change from the side who beat Watford at Goodison, Ronald Koeman explained he wanted “more pace in front”. The Everton manager insisted that with “good pressing and winning the ball” high up the pitch Everton could cultivate space, allowing Valencia to exploit his speed.
Koeman also spoke of intensity being key, but it was Arsenal who began the game with the greater urgency and penetration, with Bellerin marauding forward on the right and firing in a couple of probing crosses early. Phil Jagielka met the first one with a solid clearing header, but his second cross was met by Danny Welbeck who had found a dangerous position at the near post, though his finish did not match his endeavour.
Arsenal’s assertiveness, however, was ominous and it did not take long before they were ahead. Mesut Ozil was the provider, having advanced to the byline on the left, and even though Welbeck missed again – scuffing his effort a couple of yards from the goal line – Bellerin was on hand at the back post to finish emphatically and give Arsenal a lead they only looked like increasing before being reduced to 10 men with the awful challenge of Laurent Koscielny on Valencia.
The Ecuadorian international had gained possession on the halfway line and, as he accelerated towards the Arsenal penalty area, Koscielny came in with a late challenge in which his right boot was also dangerously high. Valencia fell heavily and referee Michael Oliver had no alternative to sending off the Gunners captain.
The referee had something to think about minutes later when Valenica raced through again and Granit Xhaka clearly grabbed him by the arm, but this time he waved away Valencia’s insistent claims for a free kick and a possible second red card for the home team. Certainly, this was no dead game as far as Arsenal were concerned and Everton were stirred into action, too. Lukaku drove a dangerous ball into the box but there was nobody there to capitalise.
Alexis Sanchez was determined to impact the game with a decisive intervention and soon he did. Idrissa Gana Gueye was penalised for taking down the Gunners’ playmaker on the edge of the penalty area and, although nothing came of the free-kick, there was more from Sanchez where that danger, snuffed out on this occasion by Gana with a blow which brought him a yellow card, had come from. And so it happened. Ozil laid the ball off to Sanchez who struck a powerful shot from around 30 yards, Jagielka blocked it and the ricochet fell kindly for Welbeck. With Everton’s defenders seemingly expecting an offside flag given the striker’s position, they reacted slowly to the officials’ signals to play on and the England international had all the time he required to set up Sanchez for his 24th Premier League goal of the season, taking him to equal spot with Lukaku and four behind Harry Kane who at that point had already scored two goals for Tottenham at Hull.
By that stage Koeman had brought Barkley on for Tom Davies, but Arsenal continued to press and pose constant danger. A free-kick by Sanchez from a tight angle to the right of Joel Robles’ goal had to be punched clear by the Spanish keeper, with Welbeck failing to direct the rebound on target from point-blank range. Then Everton threatened with genuine menace, a shot by Kevin Mirallas punched clear by Petr Cech, Barkley’s follow-up effort blocked by Rob Holding, Valencia snatching at the ball and a Lukaku shot finally saved by the Arsenal goalkeeper. Cech also had to deal adroitly with a good strike from range by Gana and a strong header from Lukaku following Mason Holgate’s cross to the back post.
Everton were finishing the first half strongly and Valencia’s swerving effort required another decent save from Cech.
Koeman made another change at half-time, replacing Gana with Gareth Barry. The Blues had come to the fore at the end of the first half – firing more shots than Arsenal by the end of the first 45 - nine to eight - and more on target, too - five to three – but the damage had been inflicted early on. And Arsenal threatened to produce further wounds at the beginning of the second half as Sanchez dribbled in to the edge of the area before laying the ball at the feet of Welbeck whose shot forced another save out of Robles. The rebound fell to Ozil and Robles had to save again.
Gabriel was stretchered off following a clash with Valencia for which the Arsenal player received a booking in addition to his serious injury. The needle persisted and Ashley Williams was booked for bringing down Welbeck before Everton got back in the game with a penalty by Lukaku. Leighton Baines had targeted the Belgian striker with a cross from the left which was intercepted by the arm of Nacho Monreal, referee Oliver pointing immediately to the spot. Lukaku’s finish was emphatic, Cech given no chance as he powered the ball low to the Arsenal goalkeeper’s right and out of his reach.
Arsenal fortuitously avoided being reduced to nine men when Holding drove his left elbow into Valencia’s sternum on the right touchline not far from the Everton bench. The referee produced a yellow card when it ought to have been red. Arsenal responded with a free-kick from Ozil which substitute Per Mertesacker narrowly failed to head, the ball flashing past Robles’ right post, much to his relief.
Arsenal were relieved, too, when Mason Holgate’s pinpoint cross from the right was met by Valencia’s head but the finish past Cech was deemed obsolete by the official who had penalised the Everton forward for climbing over Mertesacker using his arms and dropping the German in a heap on the edge of the six-yard box.
Robles made another fine save to deny Ozil but it was Everton who were pressing more robustly for an equalising goal. Mirallas shot narrowly over from the edge of the penalty area, Jaielka headed just over from a Mirallas corner and Valencia blasted over having moved strongly into the box.
That the visitors had given it a go in the end was undeniable, but they were left cursing a start to the game which had not matched that overall effort.
As such, when Ramsey picked the ball up on the edge of the area, turned and curled an effort into the top right-hand corner of Robles’ goal, it rendered the remaining minutes of stoppage time fruitless.
A disappointing end to the 2016/17 season, but with a Europa League qualifier to look forward to in July and results unable to change the Blues’ position on the final day, the job was already done ahead of an exciting summer.
Everton FC