Chris Beesley's on-the-whistle analysis after Everton go down to a late 2-0 defeat at Premier League leaders Arsenal
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: Jordan Pickford and Vitalii Mykolenko of Everton react during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Everton at Emirates Stadium on March 14, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
It was a painful ending to the match for Jordan Pickford and Everton at Arsenal (Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
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For most of this game, England number one Jordan Pickford once again showed why he’s the best goalkeeper in the country.
But unfortunately for Everton and Pickford, when you play in his position, a solitary mistake can cost your team the game, and so it proved here against the Premier League leaders.
Right now, Arsenal are the best team in the land, top of the table and still fighting on all four fronts. If they’re not crowned champions this season, you wonder just when it will happen.
Yet going into the final minute here, they had been left thwarted and frustrated by Everton. Often it was 11 men behind the ball for the Blues, and it proved to be an effective rearguard action, but even so, it was the brilliance of Pickford, who was making his 350th appearance for the club, that kept the Gunners out.
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When the defence in front of him was breached, the 32-year-old was equal to everything that came his way, making a series of brilliant saves in either half.
However, whereas as Pickford secured three points for his team in stoppage-time of their previous away game at old foes Newcastle United, here he cost them one by making a hash of dealing with a cross.
Those who know this correspondent well will also recognise keepers coming up for corners is one of my pet hates so unfortunately for the man who has done more than any other individual player to ensure Everton went into their first season at Hill Dickinson Stadium as a Premier League club, he has no sympathy from me for the messy scenes that led to Arsenal’s second goal on the break deep into stoppage time.