Ahead of tonight’s home game against Arsenal, Everton had not won a Premier League game since September 25 against Norwich (2-0). After that, Rafael Benitez’s men had lined up eight straight league games without a win, which led to great frustration among the club’s supporters.
27 minutes into the meeting with Arsenal, therefore, around 200 Everton fans, according to the BBC, chose to leave Goodison Park to demonstrate their dissatisfaction. The reason? It has been 27 years since the club’s last title.
It got even worse when Martin Ødegaard gave Arsenal the lead in extra time in the first half – just minutes after Everton forward Richarlison scored a goal for offside. Shortly after the break, history repeated itself when the brass had another ball in the net that was ruled out.
Richarlison did not give up there, however, but equalized to 1-1 after 79 minutes when he nodded in a rib return on Demarai Gray’s finish. In stoppage time, Gray completed the turn on his own as he shot 2-1 through the post and in.
It was also the end result, which means three lead-heavy points to Everton who now climbs to 12th place in the table with their 18 points. Arsenal are seventh on 23 points.
– It’s a tough loss to take. I do not think we were 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, says Arsenal midfielder Martin Ødegaard to Sky Sports.
He continues:
– It is difficult to say exactly what happened. We need to do better when we have that leadership. We stopped playing and gave them the match they wanted to play.
Everton match winner Demarai Gray to Sky Sports on the winning goal:
– It was a crazy moment. My best moment here (in Everton) so far. It was important for us to take this victory.
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