**Arsenal was held to a 0-0 draw by Everton at the Emirates in a game where the Gunners didn't deserve to take three points.**
Arsenal was held to a 0-0 draw at the Emirates by an Everton team that was set up to frustrate and frustrate it did.
Despite the Gunners, as expected, dominating possession in the first half with Arsenal camped around the Everton box, keeper Jorden Pickford wasn't forced into action all that often.
Considering the performance against Monaco midweek, the Gunners were expected to lay waste to an Everton side with only three wins to its name, but their defensive set-up make life tough for an Arsenal side that didn't seem to have the magic to unlock it.
Considering Liverpool was held to a 2-2 draw with Fulham, it was a huge, missed opportunity for the Gunners to close the gap, but their performance didn't warrant anything other than a point.
Here are three takeaways from a disappointing day in north London.
When Declan Rice was taken off at the 60-minute mark, it was seen as an odd decision, but post-game Mikel Arteta revealed why the midfielder was withdrawn.
"With Declan, I had to take him out because he was feeling something," Arteta said via [arsenal.com](https://www.arsenal.com/news/every-word-artetas-post-everton-presser-1)."
Having another player injured, especially when the games are coming thick and fast isn't ideal.
Let's hope it was nothing but precautionary... please.
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