Everton Dent Arsenal’s Title Hopes with 1-1 Draw at Home

• Apr 05, 2025

Arsenal’s chances of winning the Premier League title took a major hit after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday.

The result leaves Arsenal trailing in the title race, with league leaders Liverpool now needing just 11 points from their final eight matches to secure the trophy. Liverpool begin that run with a game against Fulham on Sunday.

The opening 30 minutes of the match were tense and lacked rhythm, with neither side creating clear chances. Arsenal, however, found the breakthrough in the 34th minute. Leandro Trossard finished off a swift counter-attack with a calm strike after receiving a pass from Raheem Sterling. It was the first shot on target in the match and gave the Gunners a deserved lead.

Trossard had an opportunity to score again just before half-time. He managed to poke the ball towards goal, but Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford reacted quickly to clear it. Declan Rice attempted to score from the rebound, but his shot was blocked by the Everton defense.

Everton came back stronger after the break and quickly found an equaliser. Just one minute into the second half, Myles Lewis-Skelly committed a foul in the box, bringing down Jack Harrison. The referee awarded a penalty, and Iliman Ndiaye calmly converted from the spot to level the score.

The goal gave Everton momentum, and they looked more confident in the second half. Abdoulaye Doucoure tested Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya with a low shot that required a smart save. Arsenal also tried to regain control, and Rice struck a powerful free-kick, but Pickford was equal to the task and pushed it away.

Despite chances at both ends, neither team could find a winning goal. The draw benefits Everton’s confidence and gives a boost to their Merseyside rivals Liverpool, who are now closer to the title. The result may prove costly for Arsenal, whose title challenge now depends not just on their own performances, but also on Liverpool dropping points in the final weeks of the season.