Dowman and Gyokeres came on to replace Noni Madueke and Kai Havertz in the 61st minute, and the former’s excellent cross found substitute Piero Hincapie at the back post before Gyokeres tapped into an empty net in the 89th minute.
The teenager then added a second with virtually the last kick of the game as he rode a challenge on the halfway line before poking the ball into an empty net after Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford had gone up for a corner.
ANALYSIS:
Talk of a lack of threat from open play and an overreliance on set pieces has not escaped the minds of Arsenal fans in recent weeks.
Arteta opted for Havertz as the centre-forward over Viktor Gyokeres, and Eberechi Eze kept his place in the absence of club captain Martin Odegaard, and Noni Madueke started in the left forward position for the first time this season.
Much like the dour Champions League encounter with Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday, the Gunners replicated a similar approach by going around the horseshoe looking for opportunities to break down a stern Everton block.
To the surprise of many, the Toffees seemed to set up more expansively than those who have come to the Emirates Stadium this season. David Moyes’ team looked confident and dangerous and should have taken an 18th-minute lead when Dwight O’Neil found himself unmarked just yards from David Raya’s goal, but an incredible block from Riccardo Calafiori denied the Everton forward with an outstretched leg after the Italian had slipped.
The visitors were at it again just moments later when McNeil sauntered past Declan Rice before curling a shot off the post with Raya well beaten. The alarm bells were ringing for Arsenal in that moment, and Everton firmly looked the more threatening side.
Arsenal felt that they should have had a penalty in the 24th minute when Kai Havertz went down under pressure from Michael Keane. Replays showed limited contact on the German international from the Everton defender despite protestations from the Arsenal bench.
Just a week out from Arsenal’s League Cup final with Manchester City, the Gunners were dealt an injury blow when Jurrien Timber was replaced by Cristhian Mosquera. The former had struggled since being caught by Iliman Ndiaye in the build-up to McNeil’s earlier chance.
The second half began with signs that it might be a carbon copy of the first. Arsenal looked hapless in their attempts to break down Everton’s block, circulating the ball around the visitors’ penalty area with limited success.
Arteta then decided to shuffle the deck as Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli replaced Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke, respectively.
Eberechi Eze – who had been anonymous for most of the match – found space just inside the Everton box for the first time, as his curling effort sailed marginally wide of Jordan Pickford’s far post. The Arsenal pressure was mounting once again.
With nothing doing as far as Arsenal’s attacking prowess was concerned, Arteta once again turned to his bench and introduced the exciting young winger Max Dowman. The 16-year-old starred in Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Mansfield Town last week, and the Gunners supporters collectively rose to their feet in unison as Dowman stepped onto the pitch.
The impotency of Arsenal’s forward line was there for all to see once again, but Dowman looked sharp – a performance littered with intent, dynamism and a willingness to drive into the Everton box.
But the Premier League leaders remained stifled by Everton’s seemingly strict defensive policy of closing passing lanes and moving into space to block the Arsenal onslaught. Eze, along with Dowman, looked the most likely candidate to break the deadlock as the former set up the 16-year-old before Dowman fired well over the bar.
In a magical turn of events, Arteta was rewarded for his faith in Dowman as the Arsenal academy graduate launched an outstanding cross to the back post that was missed by Pickford before Piero Hincapie knocked the ball back across goal for Viktor Gyokeres to tap in to an empty net.
Everton looked to respond with pressure of their own as David Moyes’ side desperately searched for what would have been a deserved equaliser.
But Dowman was determined to make an impact of his own. Following an Everton corner with Pickford up for it, the ball broke for the teenager in the Arsenal half before he rode a challenge and burst through on goal.
Dowman’s blistering pace allowed him the space to run into and tap into an empty net again. The Emirates went wild. A 16-year-old had come on and completely changed the game and ultimately saved Arsenal from the ramifications of passing up the opportunity to go ten points clear before Manchester City play West Ham United later this evening.
All eyes are now on the London Stadium. For now, it’s advantage Arsenal.