LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 14: Mikel Merino and Gabriel of Arsenal jump for the ball at a corner kick during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Everton FC at Emirates Stadium on December 14, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 14: Mikel Merino and Gabriel of Arsenal jump for the ball at a corner kick during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Everton FC at Emirates Stadium on December 14, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Arsenal failed get back to winning ways in the Premier League, as the Gunners laboured to a 0-0 draw with Everton.
Mikel Arteta's side have now dropped points in back-to-back league matches following last Sunday's 1-1 draw away to Fulham. Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka both had big chances either side of the break but couldn't find the net.
Jordan Pickford was excellent between the posts for Everton, as the Toffees' rearguard dug in to boost their own survival hopes and continue their upturn of form under Sean Dyche in his 500th league game as a manager. The result will sting even more for Arsenal after title rivals Liverpool also dropped points at home.
Here are five talking points from the Emirates.
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1. Lewis-Skelly gets his reward
One of the main talking points from Arsenal's 3-0 win at home to Monaco on Wednesday was the performance of Myles Lewis-Skelly. The 18-year-old left-back produced a brilliant pass in the build-up to Saka's opener and his all-rounded performance in the Champion League was rewarded here with his first Premier League start, despite Jakub Kiwior being available.
"He certainly deserves to be in contention to be selected because he performed and competed really well," Arteta said of Lewis-Skelly during his pre-match press conference. "At his age, to show maturity on the pitch is strange and off the field is exactly the same.
"He is a person who continuously surprises all the staff with the kind of questions that keep all of us asking. A lot of times that shows you the intelligence of the person and Myles is a really bright boy."
2. Gabriel to the rescue
Fast starts are Arsenal's thing, right? No one told Everton that, as the Toffees had a huge chance in the opening few minutes through Abdoulaye Doucoure.
The Everton midfielder had been excellently slotted in by team-mate Orel Mangala but his first touch took him wide. Doucoure then dithered on the ball and allowing Gabriel Magalhaes to get across and block his shot. Gabriel had returned to the starting line-up after recovering from injury, replacing Kiwior and immediately coming to Arsenal's rescue.
3. Pickford frustrates rusty Gunners
That effort from Doucoure proved to be Everton's only shot in the whole half, as Arsenal took control with seven attempts of their own - but they couldn't once find the net. Captain Odegaard had the Gunners' best opportunity but Toffees goalkeeper Pickford and centre-back James Tarkowski combined for a superb block.
Pickford's finest in a series of interventions across the 90 minutes came just after the restart, as a Tarkowski clearance fell to Saka, who volleyed towards goal. The ball was travelling rapidly but somehow England's No.1 got down as his near post, pushing it out for a corner to keep the game goalless before making another save from the proceeding corner.
Will Everton survive relegation from the Premier League? Give us your prediction in the comments section.
4. Arteta's bold changes
Seeing Declan Rice and Odegaard walking off in the 62nd minute would make you think that Arsenal were 3-0 up. Yet Arteta made the bold call to bring the pair off in place of Ethan Nwaneri and Jorginho in a bid to break the deadlock.
Odegaard had been his usual creative self and Rice given the anchor role after Thomas Partey was benched. Evidently, Arteta didn't feel that they were making the desired impact and took arguably the first two names on his team sheet off. The Gunners boss still wasn't satisfied seven minutes later, as Gabriel Jesus and Thomas Partey came on for Lewis-Skelly and Mikel Merino.
Mikel Arteta made two double substitutions in quick succession
5. Liverpool slip-up goes begging
Oh, what a day it could've been for Arsenal had they just found a goal. Up at Anfield, 10-man Liverpool surprisingly drew 2-2 to Fulham, having drawn their last league game at Newcastle.
Arsenal would've gone within four points of leaders Liverpool - albeit having played one game less - had they scored. Despite the Gunners' best efforts in the closing stages, they were unable to beat Pickford. Vitalii Mykolenko's tackle on Partey in the 90th minute went to a VAR check, but referee Craig Pawson wasn't instructed to go the pitch-side monitor after the Everton defender was shown to have gotten some of the ball.
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