LONDON (AP) – Goalkeeper Bernd Leno allowed Richarlison’s shot to slip between his legs and it was enough for Everton to win 1-0 on Friday during their visit to Arsenal in an English Premier League game.
The match was nondescript, except for the goal play and protests led by Arsenal supporters in front of the Emirates Stadium, before and after kickoff. The protesters lit rockets and flares to protest against owner Stan Kroenke, for his initial decision to support the Super League.
Arsenal started the game brilliantly and seemed to take control in the early stages. However, Everton began to create problems for the London club, through Dominic Calvert-Lewin, the Brazilian Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdson.
All of them were close to scoring in the first half.
Everton seemed poised to take the lead in the 39th minute, when Sigurdsson fired a warped shot of about 20 meters, which went over the barrier and crashed into the crossbar. The midfielder also flirted with the goal at 47, but center-back Rob Holding covered the shot and deflected it to a corner.
The Gunners thought a penalty had been called in their favor in the 52nd minute, when referee Jonathan Moss pointed towards the center of the area, following an apparent contact by Richarlison on the shin of Spaniard Dani Ceballos.
The video referee (VAR) confirmed that there was a foul, but also that the entire play had to be invalidated by an offside of Nicolas Pepe.
After other opportunities from Arsenal, it was the Toffees who opened the scoring at 76. Richarlison was free on the left, dribbled inside and fired.
It looked like Leno would stop the ball, but he let it drift past the goal line. The Brazilian ran to the corner kick flag and started dancing.
Everton remained in eighth place, but is just one point behind staunch rival Liverpool.
Arsenal remained in ninth place.
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