Liverpool’s draw with Fulham means that the Gunners did not lose further ground on the league leaders, still six points behind having played a game more, but this was a hugely frustrating afternoon for [Mikel Arteta](/topic/mikel-arteta)’s side.
Martin Odegaard had three first-half opportunities, one sent over the bar, one wide and the other forcing Jordan Pickford into a good save.
The England goalkeeper was called upon again inside a minute of the second-half when Bukayo Saka lashed a volley towards the near post, but Pickford got down brilliantly.
There was otherwise little in the way of clear-cut chances, for all Arsenal dominated possession and camped themselves in the Everton half, and the Gunners could not produce any late drama.
The best chance of an underwhelming opening period - and ultimately the match - fell to Odegaard on the half-hour mark. The move started with an exquisite ball from the outside of Kai Havertz's left boot which sent Saka on his way.
The in-form England man ghosted past Jarrad Branthwaite before pulling the ball back to Odegaard. In space, in the centre of the area, Odegaard unleashed a left-footed strike on the Everton goal. But Pickford was on hand to produce a fine save to deny the Arsenal skipper. Pickford was called upon two minutes before the interval when he blocked Gabriel Martinelli's effort.
Everton had been largely happy to contain their opponents - with Arsenal boasting 75 per cent possession in the first 45 minutes - although Abdoulaye Doucoure might have done better in the sixth minute.
Doucoure took too long to take aim at David Raya's goal, and a diving Gabriel - back from injury after missing the past two matches - diverted the ball for a corner.
Goalless at the interval, and Mikel Arteta would not have been blamed for using highlighting Liverpool's plight at Anfield as motivation for his players.
Indeed, the Spaniard will have demanded a strong start to the second half, and less than a minute had passed when Pickford pushed Saka's volley away for a corner. Mikel Merino's header from the ensuing set-piece was then straight at the Everton stopper.
But the hour arrived and Arsenal desperately needed a spark. Arteta turned to Ethan Nwaneri, the 17-year-old hot prospect, with captain Odegaard making way.
However, Nwaneri's introduction failed to have the desired impact. As the half continued, Arsenal were failing to trouble an Everton backline that had kept three clean sheets in their past four league outings.
The home supporters were growing increasingly agitated and Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard were both introduced in a bid to find the breakthrough.
It was one-way traffic but Arsenal's lack of quality when it mattered was alarming. Trossard's deep cross found Havertz at the far stick but Saka appeared to get in his team-mate's way and Pickford was not required.
In the 90th minute Thomas Partey wanted a penalty after he fell following a challenge from Vitalii Mykolenko but referee Craig Pawson waved away his appeals. A VAR check followed but it did not come to Arsenal's rescue on a desperately disappointing afternoon for the Gunners.
_Additional reporting by PA Sport._
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