There may only have been the merest trace of a title race for Arsenal to participate in before today, but even before a ball was struck Mikel Arteta’s team selection suggested his mind lay elsewhere.
Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and Gabriel Martinelli all finished the game but none of them started as Arteta’s thoughts turned to Real Madrid on Tuesday. The last great hope of the season for Arsenal is at least a classic in prospect, against one of the great sides. That so many were either rested or, in the case of Saka, not risked with a start, was all the acknowledgement required that Arteta considers Liverpool too far ahead to catch.
Indeed, Arne Slot’s team now require just 11 points from their last eight games. Should they win their next three, starting with Fulham on Sunday, they could seal the deal in three weeks’ time in the fourth game in the sequence at home to Tottenham Hotspur. It is that close now for the 20th league championship in their history. Meanwhile the elite end of the Champions League awaits Arsenal and Arteta may feel that in Saka he has his best player ready just in time to unleash on this great Real side at the Emirates.
There will be no Gabriel Magalhaes against Real, and on this occasion it was Jakub Kiwior who played alongside William Saliba in the centre of defence. Arteta said that Ben White, who started this game, was also a possibility for that role on Tuesday. Saka and Martinelli came on at half-time. Timber and Odegaard followed in similar order. For all the slow fade-out of his team in the title race and two more dropped points, there was at least some promise for Arteta that his team are viable – or at least what is left of the available players. Saka, he said, now has two substitute performances and almost 80 minutes in total. “He [Saka] will be in a much better place [for it],” Arteta said.
The Arsenal manager is no longer even asked about a potential title challenge. The question of whether they can beat Real is now all that really matters at the end of the 2024-25 season. “One of the most beautiful games that you can play in football,” Arteta said in anticipation of Tuesday, “in the highest European competition against the team that has dominated that competition in the last 20 to 25 years. We are really looking forward to it.”
There was a major complaint from Arteta about the viability of the penalty that Darren England awarded against Arsenal at the beginning of the first half when Myles Lewis-Skelly wrapped an arm around Jack Harrison in the edge of the box. The Arsenal left-back eventually fell on the Everton man and while the penalty award looked marginal, the VAR Stuart Attwell did not order a review.
The challenge that led to Everton’s penalty.
Correct decision? 🤔
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/IAoT0g5LUZ
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 5, 2025
“I’ve seen it 15 times,” Arteta said of the foul that led to the penalty. “There’s no way, in my opinion, that’s a penalty. Because if there is, then [Joey] O’Brien has to be out [sent off for a separate incident] and Everton has to play with 10 men. That’s clear.”
It was less than clear what incident he was referring to and there was certainly a case for the penalty award which was dispatched confidently by Iliman Ndiaye, Everton’s most effective attacker.
Iliman Ndiaye keeps his composure in front of goal and levels the game up ⭐
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/ySaINcldTz
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 5, 2025
There were three second half saves from Jordan Pickford as Arsenal pressed for the winner. Under David Moyes, Everton now have more points, 18, than the total the club had accumulated when he was appointed at the turn of the year. That has been a remarkable development and safety has been secure for so long now that some in the restless crowd booed the team at the end of the first half.
Moyes will not yet concede that another Everton relegation battle has been won but he said that the very fact he was planning to visit the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock this week was a clue to his mindset. On 35 points it would be a spectacular collapse now to start the new season in a new division as well as a new stadium. “We were all disappointed and angry with each other at half-time,” Moyes said. “We started slowly and sluggishly and made mistakes. We tried to sort that out and made a change in how we were going to press Arsenal and great credit got a point.”
Leandro Trossard had scored a breakaway goal on 36 minutes, assisted by the former Liverpool man Raheem Sterling who was substituted at half-time. Sterling did well to carry the ball up-field after a misplaced header from Idrissa Gueye opened the pitch up for the Arsenal winger.
Everton are punished on the counter-attack as Leandro Trossard gives Arsenal the lead ⚽
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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 5, 2025
After Ndiaye’s penalty Pickford would save from Declan Rice as well as Trossard and Martinelli in the second half. One suspects that less than half of this Everton team will still be first choice in 12 months’ time but Pickford should be among the survivors.
Having lost to Liverpool on Wednesday, it will not have been Everton’s preference to help push the title closer to Anfield, but they are nothing if not resilient. There are only three games left at Goodison Park now and this was the last for Arteta, an Everton old-boy. “This stadium is very much part of the history of this league,” the Arsenal manager said afterwards. “And when you want to describe to somebody from abroad how the Premier League looks, you say: ‘Go to Goodison Park and experience it’.”
Arteta fumes at Everton penalty
Mikel Arteta was fuming with the Everton penalty decision which left Arsenal’s dreams of a late twist in the title race in tatters.
Liverpool could soon be starting the engine on their open top bus thanks to the assistance of their Merseyside neighbours, who held Arteta’s side to a 1-1 Goodison draw.
The point was won courtesy of a controversial spot-kick, when Myles Lewis-Skelly was adjudged to have bundled Jack Harrison to the ground, cancelling out Leandro Trossard’s first half strike.
“The referee decides to give a penalty that changes the course of the game,” said Arteta.
“I’m here to give my opinion. I’ve seen it 15 times, there’s no way, in my opinion, that’s a penalty. Because if there is, then (Jake) O’Brien has to be out and Everton has to play with 10 men, that’s clear.”
Asked if big decisions have been a factor in the 11-point gap to Liverpool, Arteta said: “Credit to Liverpool, the way they are winning their football matches. I’m talking about a reflection of what happened today, what was really relevant for the score. There’s no question that apart from that they (Everton) had nothing, but obviously, that completely changes the momentum and the result.”
Arteta reasserted the view when speaking to BT Sport.
“It should not be a penalty. We conceded a penalty that, in my opinion, was not a penalty, very clear,” he said. “There is not enough contact & the contact starts outside, inside there is nothing.”
A much-changed Arsenal side could not break down a resilient home defence, Arteta having started with Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli and the returning Bukayo Saka on the bench.
The trio all appeared in the second half, but the initial selections and lack of intensity in pursuit of a winner hinted minds were already on the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid.
Arteta insisted his rotation was a necessity, regardless of the consequences for a failing title bid.
“There were four players that couldn’t start the game after what happened with Fulham and obviously the injury of Gabi (Gabriel), so that forces you to make some changes as well because players deserve to play minutes,” he said.
“Everybody has to be important, has to feel important. We have so many games coming up right now and we have to rely on all of them.
“It was not for what was happening on Tuesday, but because some of them haven’t trained, they haven’t had the opportunity to start the game.
“Bukayo played 30 minutes (in midweek), today he’s played 49. After that, he will be in a much better place.
“Today obviously we had players that haven’t played together, so that connection hasn’t been there. Ben (White) especially hasn’t played at all this season. So it’s good that they have the minutes, they have that understanding, and we will assess what are the best options for that back line.
“I think we deserved more, but that’s all we got in the end. What they (Everton) do they do well, constantly putting balls into the last line and dealing with second actions. We did not give any opportunities in the game, which is really positive.
“We were 1-0 up and had big opportunities but did not finalise the actions. We had two big chances (at the end) and didn’t convert them.”
Not a penalty kick for me
It is evident on video replays that Everton’s Jack Harrison initiated contact with Myles Lewis-Skelly, resulting in an untidy tangle.
This is not a penalty kick for me.
We see so much of this holding and grappling going on at corner kicks. It is difficult to understand why the VAR could not have resolved this one.
02:58 PM BST
David Moyes’s reaction
Our performance in the first half was really poor – it might be because we’d played Wednesday night and Arsenal had had an extra day’s rest. We got about them in the second half. Whether it was good fortune or whatever, we got the penalty and that settled us down.
Look, we had to make it difficult for Arsenal. We couldn’t go toe to toe with them and have a nice pure football game.
When I got the job I was thinking, ‘My goodness, if I take Everton down going into the new stadium it’ll be an absolute disaster! I don’t know where I’ll live, never mind anything else.’
The players have responded really well. The biggest thing for me is that we’ve carried an attacking threat – I’m not gonna say ‘exciting’ but we’ve looked more likely to score.
I think Everton need to have the confidence to shoot for the stars if we can. We need to bring in some more quality players to add to the squad, and if we do that I hope we can keep building.
02:47 PM BST
Follow Palace v Brighton and more
There are three 3pm games in the Premier League, including the M23 derby at Selhurst Park. You can follow those game with Richard Aikman’s clockwatch.
02:37 PM BST
Friends reunited
02:34 PM BST
Iliman Ndiaye’s reaction
I think it’s a great point. We lost earlier in the week so we needed to take something out of today.
It felt great to be back and score. At half-time the manager told us to turn things around and we put more into the second half.
“I think it’s a great point.”
Iliman Ndiaye is delighted with Everton’s response today following a midweek defeat 😁
🎙 @julesbreach | 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/RcHcruCmZj
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 5, 2025
02:31 PM BST
Full-time verdict
All pretty powderpuff from Arsenal in the end. The draw means Liverpool need 11 points to guarantee the title. Arsenal looked like they were thinking of the Champions League for most of that game, in all honesty.
02:30 PM BST
Full time: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Everton and Arsenal are the draw specialists of the Premier League alongside Brighton, so it’s no surprise this game ended level. It was a subdued game, partially overshadowed by Arsenal’s match against Real Madrid on Tuesday. Leandro Trossard put Arsenal ahead in the first half; Iliman Ndiaye equalised from the spot just after half-time.
02:29 PM BST
90+4 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Trossard has a slightly weird kick in the direction of Tarkowski, making no contact. Nothing comes of the resulting free-kick and that’s the end of that.
02:24 PM BST
90 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
There will be four added minutes.
02:23 PM BST
89 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Merino misses an excellent chance, heading Tierney’s inviting cross wide of the near post from 10 yards. He’s usually so good in the air but he mistimed that one.
If it stays like this, Liverpool will need 11 points to mathematically clinch their 20th league title.
02:21 PM BST
88 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Alcaraz is booked for delaying an Arsenal free-kick.
02:20 PM BST
87 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Everton substitution Dwight McNeil, who has been out through injury since early December, comes on in place of Jack Harrison.
02:19 PM BST
85 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Good save by Pickford! Martinelli runs at O’Brien on the left, zips inside and fires a rising drive across drive. Pickford reaches high to his left to push it over the bar with both hands.
02:17 PM BST
83 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Arsenal are having most of the ball, though they haven’t worked Jordan Pickford in open play since half-time.
They almost did a moment ago when Tierney got to the ball and arrowed a cutback towards Odegaard at the near post. He screwed a first-time shot that hit his standing foot and ricocheted well wide.
02:13 PM BST
79 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
There’s a slight end-of-term feel to the game now. Arsenal’s season hinges on their upcoming meeting with Real Madrid and Everton will be happy enough with a draw at home to one of Europe’s better teams.
02:11 PM BST
77 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Pickford makes an outrageous reaction save from Trossard, though it wouldn’t have counted as Trossard had been penalised for a foul on Branthwaite. Still, Pickford didn’t know that and he flew to his right to make a stunning stop.
02:09 PM BST
76 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Arsenal substitution Kieran Tierney comes on for Myles Lewis-Skelly at left-back.
02:08 PM BST
75 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Everton substitutions Iliman Ndiaye, so impressive on his return, has run his case. He has cramp and is replaced by Carlos Alcaraz. Everton also bring on Ashley Young for Nathan Patterson.
02:08 PM BST
73 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Mikel Merino told by ref Darren England to leave the pitch and have treatment on his head wound which is bleeding. The physio is taping up Merino, Terry Butcher-style and the dark tape matches his hair shade perfectly. Have we witnessed the end of the bloodstained white head bandage? Does the physio have all hair shades covered in that bag?
02:05 PM BST
72 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Arsenal have struggled to deal with Ndiaye, especially in the second half. He’s comfortably Everton’s best player today. Apart from the save from Rice’s free kick, Pickford has not had much to do since the equaliser, but the sense of urgency is growing in Arteta’s side.
02:04 PM BST
71 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Arsenal substitution Martin Odegaard on, Jorginho off.
02:02 PM BST
68 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
An Everton corner is delayed because of a wrestling match between Timber and Tarkowski. Eventually Garner swings it under the bar and Raya claims confidently.
Raya wants to throw the ball out but is blocked by O’Brien, who needs to be careful as he’s on a yellow card.
01:59 PM BST
65 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Double substitution for Everton James Garner and Armando Broja replace Tim Iroegbunam and Beto.
01:58 PM BST
64 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Rice’s free-kick is pushed away by Pickford. It was beautifully struck but straight at the goalkeeper.
01:57 PM BST
63 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Lewis-Skelly is fouled on the edge of the D by Tarkowski after a sensational 70-yard run. That’s how to respond to the disappointment of conceding the penalty.
Tarkowski is booked for the challenge.
There was only one way to stop Myles Lewis-Skelly here 😳⚡
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/W3K10sqNU6
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 5, 2025
01:56 PM BST
62 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Arsenal substitution Jurrien Timber replaces Ben White, who was never likely to play the full 90 minutes on his return.
01:55 PM BST
Watch: Was Everton’s penalty the correct decision?
The challenge that led to Everton’s penalty.
Correct decision? 🤔
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/IAoT0g5LUZ
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 5, 2025
01:54 PM BST
60 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
01:52 PM BST
59 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
… and Saka flashes it into the wall.
01:52 PM BST
58 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Arsenal win a free-kick 22 yards from goal, to the right of centre. Rice and Saka are over it…
01:51 PM BST
55 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Rice’s very deep corner is volleyed into orbit by the off-balance Trossard.
01:47 PM BST
52 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Usually when a penalty is awarded you hear it said ‘seen those given’. Not sure many were convinced VAR would uphold that decision. Even Jack Harrison did not claim. Still, it’s game on now…
01:46 PM BST
52 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Good save by Raya! Much better from Everton. Ndiaye snaps a pass into Doucoure, who lopes into the area and hits a left-foot shot that is pushed away at the near post by the diving Raya.
01:45 PM BST
50 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Arsenal won’t be happy with the award of the penalty. Lewis-Skelly allowed the ball bounce and was in trouble when Harrison got goalside. He then fell into Harrison, who accepted the invitation to go down. There was just about enough contact for the decision to be given and upheld.
#EVEARS – 46′
The referee’s call of penalty for the challenge by Lewis-Skelly on Harrison was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the contact deemed to be sufficient for a penalty and inside the area.
— Premier League Match Centre (@PLMatchCentre) April 5, 2025
01:43 PM BST
Goal!
49 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1 (Ndiaye pen) Iliman Ndiaye calmly sends David Raya the wrong way to bring Everton level on his return to the side. Good penalty.
Iliman Ndiaye keeps his composure in front of goal and levels the game up ⭐
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/ySaINcldTz
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 5, 2025
01:42 PM BST
The penalty stands
48 min Yep, the decision has been confirmed. Arsenal captain Jorginho has been booked for delaying the penalty.
01:40 PM BST
Penalty to Everton!
46 min Harrison goes over just inside the area after a clumsy challenge from Lewis-Skelly, and Everton have a penalty inside the first minute of the second half.
There’s a VAR check ongoing. It’s pretty soft but I doubt it will be overturned.
01:39 PM BST
46 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 1
Arsenal get the second half under way.
01:38 PM BST
Double substitution for Arsenal
Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka are coming on at half-time in place of Raheem Sterling and Ethan Nwaneri.
01:24 PM BST
Half-time verdict
A walkabout in the sunshine for Arsenal once ahead at a quiet Goodison Park.
“Get into them,” was a shout from the Main Stand, summing up the lacklustre hosts. With power in reserve, Arteta will anticipate a professional job in the second half to finish this off. Moyes might be delivering the proverbial rocket up the backside. That was the worst half since his return.
01:24 PM BST
HT: Everton 0 Arsenal 1
So far so good for Arsenal, who lead through Leandro Trossard’s excellent goal and, just as importantly, haven’t picked up any injuries ahead of their date with Real Madrid on Thursday.
It was a fairly low-key first half in the Merseyside sunshine, with Arsenal’s Gabriel-less defence looking largely comfortable.
01:22 PM BST
45+6 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 1
Ndiaye, Everton’s brightest attacker in the first half, whips a shot over the bar from 25 yards. Not a bad effort.
01:20 PM BST
45+3 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 1
Good save by Pickford! Trossard spins behind Tarkowski, onto a fine long pass from Kiwior, and runs through on goal. Tarkowski lunges into a desperate tackle, misses the ball, and Trossard hurdles him before poking a shot that is well blocked by Pickford.
The ball runs loose to Rice, whose shot is excellently blocked by Tarkowski. Trossard stays down, having collided with Pickford after his shot was saved, but he looks fine.
Trossard could have gone down and claimed a penalty after the challenge from Tarkowski but he only had eyes for goal.
01:16 PM BST
45 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 1
All those stoppages add up to six minutes of added time.
01:12 PM BST
42 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 1
Merino is back up, having had some Vaseline applied to a cut on the head, and play is about to resume.
01:11 PM BST
41 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 1
Strange goal. When Trossard took aim there seemed to be a lot of cover for Everton and no obvious spot where – if he hit – he would score. But Pickford saw it late. The shot came from beyond the covering O’Brien and the Everton goalkeeper did not get down quick enough.
01:10 PM BST
40 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 1
O’Brien is on his feet but Merino remains down. He’s conscious but lying on his back while he receives treatment.
01:10 PM BST
39 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 1
Everton paid the price for conceding possession once too often, and this time Trossard punished them. It’s been a typical 12.30pm kick-off so far, but the opening goal will hopefully trigger more excitement. Arsenal are winning in second gear, which is ideal preparation for Real.
01:09 PM BST
38 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 1
Half chance for Everton Harrison’s cross from the left is headed over by O’Brien, who has a nasty clash of heads with Merino in the process. Both players will need treatment.
01:08 PM BST
36 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 1
Almost a chance for Everton after good persistence from Doucoure and Beto. White loses the ball in a dangerous area, allowing Beto to go round Raya near the byline, but his cutback is cleared at the near post.
01:05 PM BST
Goal!
34 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 1 (Trossard) A clinical counter-attack from Arsenal! Sterling seized upon a loose header from Gueye in his own half, scurried 50 yards and played the ball to his left to Trossard. He shifted the ball onto his left foot, just inside the area, and rifled a superb low shot back across Pickford.
Everton are punished on the counter-attack as Leandro Trossard gives Arsenal the lead ⚽
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/2y6XBhTMsQ
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 5, 2025
01:01 PM BST
31 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 0
Arsenal dominated the first 10 minutes but it’s a more even game now, if still a bit scrappy. Neither keeper has had a save to make.
12:57 PM BST
27 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 0
It is often a crunching tackle that ignites Goodison, and Branthwaite on Trossard certainly changed the mood. It had been sedate stuff until then.
12:56 PM BST
26 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 0
Possession so far: Everton 39 Arsenal 61.
12:55 PM BST
24 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 0
Superb defending from Branthwaite Arsenal break dangerously, with Trossard on the ball. He runs from the halfway line into the area before Branthwaite, the last man, comes across to make an emphatic and perfectly timed challenge. That was immaculate defending.
At the other end Ndiaye’s sweet shot from the edge of the area is well blocked by the sliding Kiwior.
12:54 PM BST
23 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 0
It’s becoming a niggly, stop-start game, with both teams claiming everything they can from the referee.
12:50 PM BST
19 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 0
It’s been a festival of set-pieces so far, Rice’s corners Arsenal’s great threat and now Harrison finally landing one in a dangerous spot into Arsenal’s penalty box.
12:48 PM BST
17 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 0
O’Brien is booked for manhandling White, who is back on his feet.
12:48 PM BST
16 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 0
Chance for Everton! Harrison, on the right, curls a wicked free-kick that bounces right across the face of goal and hits the shoulder of the unsighted O’Brien two yards out. On the face of it, it’s a terrible miss, but he saw it late and didn’t have time to react.
Just prior to that, White was thrown to the ground by O’Brien. He has stayed down…
12:44 PM BST
13 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 0
An emotional tribute to Kevin Campbell. His family is attending this match.
12:43 PM BST
12 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 0
A wicked inswinging corner from Rice beats Pickford and is headed off the line by Branthwaite. I’m not 100 per cent sure it would have gone in but Branthwaite couldn’t take any chances; it was a superb defensive header.
12:40 PM BST
9 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 0
There is a minute’s applause in memory of Kevin Campbell, who played with such distinction and decency for both clubs and wore No9 at Everton. His family are still searching for answers about his tragic death 10 months ago; an inquest into Campbell’s death will begin on 14 April.
12:39 PM BST
8 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 0
Good defending by Rice, who takes the ball off Beto’s toe just as he is about to shoot from 12 yards.
12:38 PM BST
7 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 0
It’s all Arsenal at the moment, with their front three of Sterling, Trossard and Nwaneri looking lively.
12:35 PM BST
4 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 0
Nwaneri slips Patterson and is brought down. The referee settles for a warning though that could easily have been a yellow card.
Arsenal have started well.
12:34 PM BST
2 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 0
Great block by Iroegbunam! An early chance for Arsenal. Trossard releases White, who cuts the ball back from the byline. Sterling whacks a shot from about 10 yards that would have gone in but for a crucial block from Iroegbunam. He was winded but the contact, but it was worth it.
Incidentally Arsenal have started with Trossard rather than Merino as their centre-forward. Declan Rice is playing in the position usually occupied by Martin Odegaard.
12:32 PM BST
1 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 0
Everton kick off from right to left as we watch. It’s a gorgeous spring day on Merseyside.
12:29 PM BST
A real toe-tapper
Just four games left at Goodison Park including this one. This beautiful old stadium, built in 1892, feels like it represents an era when people were just that bit smaller. Wherever one turns, there seems to be barely enough room. But still, a great place to watch football. The Park End is full of banners today with many of the greats mentioned, including David Moyes, Wayne Rooney, Joe Royle, Howard Kendall to name but a few. The jaunty “Spirit of the Blues” is playing, a track always described by my colleague Mike McGrath as – his words – “a real toe-tapper”.
12:17 PM BST
Mikel Arteta on David Moyes
He’s a very special person in my life. He was the one who gave me the opportunity to come to this incredible country and to the Premier League. We had some great times together and I’m glad he’s back because he’s the right man to take this club forward.
“Moyes was the one who gave me the opportunity to come to this incredible country and club. I’m glad he’s back at Everton.”
There’s nothing but respect between David Moyes and Mikel Arteta ahead of this afternoon’s meeting 🤝
🎙 @julesbreach | 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/ODDeOKQGTk
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 5, 2025
12:15 PM BST
David Moyes speaks to TNT Sports
I think we’re all beginning to realise that we’re running out of time at Goodison and we want to put on a good show for the fans.
[On Mikel Arteta] We’ll have a beer or a glass of wine after the game hopefully. We’re competing against each other but afterwards we’ll share a drink.
[On the return of Iliman Ndiaye] It’s great to have him back. We might be pushing it a bit but he’s trained really well and we want him to show that today.
12:10 PM BST
A reminder of the teams
Everton (4-2-3-1) Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Patterson; Gueye, Iroegbunam; Harrison, Doucoure, Ndiaye; Beto.
Substitutes: Virginia, Keane, McNeil, Chermiti, Young, Broja, Coleman, Alcaraz, Garner.
Arsenal (possible 4-3-3) Raya; White, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Trossard, Jorginho, Rice; Nwaneri, Merino, Sterling.
Substitutes: Neto, Timber, Tierney, Zinchenko, Partey, Gower, Odegaard, Martinelli, Saka.
Referee Darren England.
11:50 AM BST
Moyes promises no let up in intensity levels
Mutual respect abounds at Goodison, as the former pupil Mikel Arteta faces his old teacher, David Moyes.
Everton can do their neighbours a favour with a win or draw, of course, and David Moyes is adamant there will be no let up in intensity levels in his side.
“I think Evertonians want their team to win every week and I think the league title is probably quite far away for Arsenal at the moment,” said Moyes.
“I don’t know if they’ll have their mind more on the Champions League game on the Tuesday night.”
Both team sheets seem to reflect different priorities. It’s inconceivable Martin Odegaard would be on the bench if the gap to Liverpool was not so big, and if Real Madrid were not on the immediate agenda.
Moyes is also experimenting without a recognised left back, right-footed Nathan Patterson making his first appearance under Moyes. Could Moyes play wing-backs, with O’Brien reverting to a more orthodox central defensive role in a back five?
11:48 AM BST
Mikel Arteta’s pre-match thoughts
“What we are playing for is so important, you just have to move on.”
Mikel Arteta isn’t letting further injuries distract the Gunners from achieving their targets this season 💪
🎙 @lynseyhipgrave1 | 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/ttLqxIcI0N
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 5, 2025
11:47 AM BST
Berta in attendance at Goodison
The new Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is deep in conversation with one of his fellow exec directors on the touchline at Goodison Park. Sunshine is glorious for this midday kick-off.
11:36 AM BST
Back in action
11:30 AM BST
Man City accuse Premier League of favouring Arsenal
Manchester City’s latest “discrimination” claim accuses the Premier League of distorting spending check rules in favour of Arsenal and a handful of rivals.
City have taken renewed issue with shareholder loans being spared from the same level of fair market scrutiny as other sources of owner funding. As a result, Arsenal, Brighton, Everton and Leicester City in effect get preferential treatment, a statement of claim to an independent tribunal argues.
11:21 AM BST
Arsenal team news
Mikel Arteta rests some but not all of his key players ahead of the Real Madrid game. Bukayo Saka, still recovering from injury, is joined on the bench by Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber, Thomas Partey and Gabriel Martinelli.
With Gabriel injured there are five changes to the XI that started against Fulham: Ben White, Jakub Kiwior, Jorginho, Raheem Sterling and Leandro Trossard come into the XI. White is starting a Premier League game for the first time since November.
Arsenal (possible 4-3-3) Raya; White, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Trossard, Jorginho, Rice; Nwaneri, Merino, Sterling.
Subs: Neto, Timber, Tierney, Zinchenko, Partey, Gower, Odegaard, Martinelli, Saka.
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
🔙 White returns
©️ Jorginho skippers the side
⚡️ Trossard leads the lineLet’s do this, Gunners 👊
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 5, 2025
11:20 AM BST
Everton team news
David Moyes makes three changes from the defeat at Anfield on Wednesday. Nathan Patterson, Tim Iroegbunam and Iliman Ndiaye replace Vitalii Mykolenko, James Garner and Carlos Alcaraz.
Mykolenko isn’t on the bench so you’d assume he’s injured.
Today’s Toffees! 🔵#EVEARSpic.twitter.com/2orNV4NhMR
— Everton (@Everton) April 5, 2025
11:01 AM BST
Good morning
Hello and welcome to Telegraph Sport’s live, minute-by-minute coverage of Everton v Arsenal at Goodison Park. Three points are up for grabs, but Arsenal’s biggest priority is probably avoiding any more injuries ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid. Gabriel Magalhaes’s season-ending injury against Fulham was the latest blow to Mikel Arteta, who is down to the bare bones in defence.
Arsenal don’t have much to play for in the Premier League – they are 12 points behind Liverpool, 10 clear of fifth-placed Manchester City – so Arteta has the option to rest players ahead of their big night at the Emirates. In the medium term, he wants a bigger squad next season to deal with the increasing demands of modern football.
“Logically if we demand the players to play more games in more competitions with more travel and more intensity the only solution to deal with it is more players,” he said. “I don’t see any other solution.
“It’s been building up for a while and the fact that during the summer there are always competitions and then you have the African Cup. We’re going to have a new competition coming up now [the Club World Cup] this summer as well so this is all adding up.
“Every month the intensity, the quality and the pressure is increasing. We have to be very conscious that there are certain limits that the players can do.”
Everton’s don’t have much to play for in terms of their league position but they will be desperate to win today. They have four games left at Goodison Park and are keen to pick up as many points – and make as many memories – as they can.
Kick off 12.30pm.
“Super, Super Kev…” 🎶💙❤️
Show your love for the late, great man in the 9th minute. ⬇️ https://t.co/4CCouYrOhv
— Everton (@Everton) April 5, 2025
There may only have been the merest trace of a title race for Arsenal to participate in before today, but even before a ball was struck Mikel Arteta’s team selection suggested his mind lay elsewhere.
Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and Gabriel Martinelli all finished the game but none of them started as Arteta’s thoughts turned to Real Madrid on Tuesday. The last great hope of the season for Arsenal is at least a classic in prospect, against one of the great sides. That so many were either rested or, in the case of Saka, not risked with a start, was all the acknowledgement required that Arteta considers Liverpool too far ahead to catch.
Indeed, Arne Slot’s team now require just 11 points from their last eight games. Should they win their next three, starting with Fulham on Sunday, they could seal the deal in three weeks’ time in the fourth game in the sequence at home to Tottenham Hotspur. It is that close now for the 20th league championship in their history. Meanwhile the elite end of the Champions League awaits Arsenal and Arteta may feel that in Saka he has his best player ready just in time to unleash on this great Real side at the Emirates.
There will be no Gabriel Magalhaes against Real, and on this occasion it was Jakub Kiwior who played alongside William Saliba in the centre of defence. Arteta said that Ben White, who started this game, was also a possibility for that role on Tuesday. Saka and Martinelli came on at half-time. Timber and Odegaard followed in similar order. For all the slow fade-out of his team in the title race and two more dropped points, there was at least some promise for Arteta that his team are viable – or at least what is left of the available players. Saka, he said, now has two substitute performances and almost 80 minutes in total. “He [Saka] will be in a much better place [for it],” Arteta said.
The Arsenal manager is no longer even asked about a potential title challenge. The question of whether they can beat Real is now all that really matters at the end of the 2024-25 season. “One of the most beautiful games that you can play in football,” Arteta said in anticipation of Tuesday, “in the highest European competition against the team that has dominated that competition in the last 20 to 25 years. We are really looking forward to it.”
There was a major complaint from Arteta about the viability of the penalty that Darren England awarded against Arsenal at the beginning of the first half when Myles Lewis-Skelly wrapped an arm around Jack Harrison in the edge of the box. The Arsenal left-back eventually fell on the Everton man and while the penalty award looked marginal, the VAR Stuart Attwell did not order a review.
The challenge that led to Everton’s penalty.
Correct decision? 🤔
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/IAoT0g5LUZ
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 5, 2025
“I’ve seen it 15 times,” Arteta said of the foul that led to the penalty. “There’s no way, in my opinion, that’s a penalty. Because if there is, then [Joey] O’Brien has to be out [sent off for a separate incident] and Everton has to play with 10 men. That’s clear.”
It was less than clear what incident he was referring to and there was certainly a case for the penalty award which was dispatched confidently by Iliman Ndiaye, Everton’s most effective attacker.
Iliman Ndiaye keeps his composure in front of goal and levels the game up ⭐
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/ySaINcldTz
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 5, 2025
There were three second half saves from Jordan Pickford as Arsenal pressed for the winner. Under David Moyes, Everton now have more points, 18, than the total the club had accumulated when he was appointed at the turn of the year. That has been a remarkable development and safety has been secure for so long now that some in the restless crowd booed the team at the end of the first half.
Moyes will not yet concede that another Everton relegation battle has been won but he said that the very fact he was planning to visit the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock this week was a clue to his mindset. On 35 points it would be a spectacular collapse now to start the new season in a new division as well as a new stadium. “We were all disappointed and angry with each other at half-time,” Moyes said. “We started slowly and sluggishly and made mistakes. We tried to sort that out and made a change in how we were going to press Arsenal and great credit got a point.”
Leandro Trossard had scored a breakaway goal on 36 minutes, assisted by the former Liverpool man Raheem Sterling who was substituted at half-time. Sterling did well to carry the ball up-field after a misplaced header from Idrissa Gueye opened the pitch up for the Arsenal winger.
Everton are punished on the counter-attack as Leandro Trossard gives Arsenal the lead ⚽
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/2y6XBhTMsQ
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 5, 2025
After Ndiaye’s penalty Pickford would save from Declan Rice as well as Trossard and Martinelli in the second half. One suspects that less than half of this Everton team will still be first choice in 12 months’ time but Pickford should be among the survivors.
Having lost to Liverpool on Wednesday, it will not have been Everton’s preference to help push the title closer to Anfield, but they are nothing if not resilient. There are only three games left at Goodison Park now and this was the last for Arteta, an Everton old-boy. “This stadium is very much part of the history of this league,” the Arsenal manager said afterwards. “And when you want to describe to somebody from abroad how the Premier League looks, you say: ‘Go to Goodison Park and experience it’.”
Arteta fumes at Everton penalty
Mikel Arteta was fuming with the Everton penalty decision which left Arsenal’s dreams of a late twist in the title race in tatters.
Liverpool could soon be starting the engine on their open top bus thanks to the assistance of their Merseyside neighbours, who held Arteta’s side to a 1-1 Goodison draw.
The point was won courtesy of a controversial spot-kick, when Myles Lewis-Skelly was adjudged to have bundled Jack Harrison to the ground, cancelling out Leandro Trossard’s first half strike.
“The referee decides to give a penalty that changes the course of the game,” said Arteta.
“I’m here to give my opinion. I’ve seen it 15 times, there’s no way, in my opinion, that’s a penalty. Because if there is, then (Jake) O’Brien has to be out and Everton has to play with 10 men, that’s clear.”
Asked if big decisions have been a factor in the 11-point gap to Liverpool, Arteta said: “Credit to Liverpool, the way they are winning their football matches. I’m talking about a reflection of what happened today, what was really relevant for the score. There’s no question that apart from that they (Everton) had nothing, but obviously, that completely changes the momentum and the result.”
Arteta reasserted the view when speaking to BT Sport.
“It should not be a penalty. We conceded a penalty that, in my opinion, was not a penalty, very clear,” he said. “There is not enough contact & the contact starts outside, inside there is nothing.”
A much-changed Arsenal side could not break down a resilient home defence, Arteta having started with Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli and the returning Bukayo Saka on the bench.
The trio all appeared in the second half, but the initial selections and lack of intensity in pursuit of a winner hinted minds were already on the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid.
Arteta insisted his rotation was a necessity, regardless of the consequences for a failing title bid.
“There were four players that couldn’t start the game after what happened with Fulham and obviously the injury of Gabi (Gabriel), so that forces you to make some changes as well because players deserve to play minutes,” he said.
“Everybody has to be important, has to feel important. We have so many games coming up right now and we have to rely on all of them.
“It was not for what was happening on Tuesday, but because some of them haven’t trained, they haven’t had the opportunity to start the game.
“Bukayo played 30 minutes (in midweek), today he’s played 49. After that, he will be in a much better place.
“Today obviously we had players that haven’t played together, so that connection hasn’t been there. Ben (White) especially hasn’t played at all this season. So it’s good that they have the minutes, they have that understanding, and we will assess what are the best options for that back line.
“I think we deserved more, but that’s all we got in the end. What they (Everton) do they do well, constantly putting balls into the last line and dealing with second actions. We did not give any opportunities in the game, which is really positive.
“We were 1-0 up and had big opportunities but did not finalise the actions. We had two big chances (at the end) and didn’t convert them.”
Not a penalty kick for me
It is evident on video replays that Everton’s Jack Harrison initiated contact with Myles Lewis-Skelly, resulting in an untidy tangle.
This is not a penalty kick for me.
We see so much of this holding and grappling going on at corner kicks. It is difficult to understand why the VAR could not have resolved this one.
02:58 PM BST
David Moyes’s reaction
Our performance in the first half was really poor – it might be because we’d played Wednesday night and Arsenal had had an extra day’s rest. We got about them in the second half. Whether it was good fortune or whatever, we got the penalty and that settled us down.
Look, we had to make it difficult for Arsenal. We couldn’t go toe to toe with them and have a nice pure football game.
When I got the job I was thinking, ‘My goodness, if I take Everton down going into the new stadium it’ll be an absolute disaster! I don’t know where I’ll live, never mind anything else.’
The players have responded really well. The biggest thing for me is that we’ve carried an attacking threat – I’m not gonna say ‘exciting’ but we’ve looked more likely to score.
I think Everton need to have the confidence to shoot for the stars if we can. We need to bring in some more quality players to add to the squad, and if we do that I hope we can keep building.
02:47 PM BST
Follow Palace v Brighton and more
There are three 3pm games in the Premier League, including the M23 derby at Selhurst Park. You can follow those game with Richard Aikman’s clockwatch.
02:37 PM BST
Friends reunited
02:34 PM BST
Iliman Ndiaye’s reaction
I think it’s a great point. We lost earlier in the week so we needed to take something out of today.
It felt great to be back and score. At half-time the manager told us to turn things around and we put more into the second half.
“I think it’s a great point.”
Iliman Ndiaye is delighted with Everton’s response today following a midweek defeat 😁
🎙 @julesbreach | 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/RcHcruCmZj
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 5, 2025
02:31 PM BST
Full-time verdict
All pretty powderpuff from Arsenal in the end. The draw means Liverpool need 11 points to guarantee the title. Arsenal looked like they were thinking of the Champions League for most of that game, in all honesty.
02:30 PM BST
Full time: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Everton and Arsenal are the draw specialists of the Premier League alongside Brighton, so it’s no surprise this game ended level. It was a subdued game, partially overshadowed by Arsenal’s match against Real Madrid on Tuesday. Leandro Trossard put Arsenal ahead in the first half; Iliman Ndiaye equalised from the spot just after half-time.
02:29 PM BST
90+4 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Trossard has a slightly weird kick in the direction of Tarkowski, making no contact. Nothing comes of the resulting free-kick and that’s the end of that.
02:24 PM BST
90 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
There will be four added minutes.
02:23 PM BST
89 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Merino misses an excellent chance, heading Tierney’s inviting cross wide of the near post from 10 yards. He’s usually so good in the air but he mistimed that one.
If it stays like this, Liverpool will need 11 points to mathematically clinch their 20th league title.
02:21 PM BST
88 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Alcaraz is booked for delaying an Arsenal free-kick.
02:20 PM BST
87 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Everton substitution Dwight McNeil, who has been out through injury since early December, comes on in place of Jack Harrison.
02:19 PM BST
85 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Good save by Pickford! Martinelli runs at O’Brien on the left, zips inside and fires a rising drive across drive. Pickford reaches high to his left to push it over the bar with both hands.
02:17 PM BST
83 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Arsenal are having most of the ball, though they haven’t worked Jordan Pickford in open play since half-time.
They almost did a moment ago when Tierney got to the ball and arrowed a cutback towards Odegaard at the near post. He screwed a first-time shot that hit his standing foot and ricocheted well wide.
02:13 PM BST
79 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
There’s a slight end-of-term feel to the game now. Arsenal’s season hinges on their upcoming meeting with Real Madrid and Everton will be happy enough with a draw at home to one of Europe’s better teams.
02:11 PM BST
77 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Pickford makes an outrageous reaction save from Trossard, though it wouldn’t have counted as Trossard had been penalised for a foul on Branthwaite. Still, Pickford didn’t know that and he flew to his right to make a stunning stop.
02:09 PM BST
76 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Arsenal substitution Kieran Tierney comes on for Myles Lewis-Skelly at left-back.
02:08 PM BST
75 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Everton substitutions Iliman Ndiaye, so impressive on his return, has run his case. He has cramp and is replaced by Carlos Alcaraz. Everton also bring on Ashley Young for Nathan Patterson.
02:08 PM BST
73 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Mikel Merino told by ref Darren England to leave the pitch and have treatment on his head wound which is bleeding. The physio is taping up Merino, Terry Butcher-style and the dark tape matches his hair shade perfectly. Have we witnessed the end of the bloodstained white head bandage? Does the physio have all hair shades covered in that bag?
02:05 PM BST
72 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Arsenal have struggled to deal with Ndiaye, especially in the second half. He’s comfortably Everton’s best player today. Apart from the save from Rice’s free kick, Pickford has not had much to do since the equaliser, but the sense of urgency is growing in Arteta’s side.
02:04 PM BST
71 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Arsenal substitution Martin Odegaard on, Jorginho off.
02:02 PM BST
68 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
An Everton corner is delayed because of a wrestling match between Timber and Tarkowski. Eventually Garner swings it under the bar and Raya claims confidently.
Raya wants to throw the ball out but is blocked by O’Brien, who needs to be careful as he’s on a yellow card.
01:59 PM BST
65 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Double substitution for Everton James Garner and Armando Broja replace Tim Iroegbunam and Beto.
01:58 PM BST
64 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Rice’s free-kick is pushed away by Pickford. It was beautifully struck but straight at the goalkeeper.
01:57 PM BST
63 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Lewis-Skelly is fouled on the edge of the D by Tarkowski after a sensational 70-yard run. That’s how to respond to the disappointment of conceding the penalty.
Tarkowski is booked for the challenge.
There was only one way to stop Myles Lewis-Skelly here 😳⚡
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/W3K10sqNU6
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 5, 2025
01:56 PM BST
62 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Arsenal substitution Jurrien Timber replaces Ben White, who was never likely to play the full 90 minutes on his return.
01:55 PM BST
Watch: Was Everton’s penalty the correct decision?
The challenge that led to Everton’s penalty.
Correct decision? 🤔
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/IAoT0g5LUZ
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 5, 2025
01:54 PM BST
60 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
01:52 PM BST
59 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
… and Saka flashes it into the wall.
01:52 PM BST
58 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Arsenal win a free-kick 22 yards from goal, to the right of centre. Rice and Saka are over it…
01:51 PM BST
55 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Rice’s very deep corner is volleyed into orbit by the off-balance Trossard.
01:47 PM BST
52 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Usually when a penalty is awarded you hear it said ‘seen those given’. Not sure many were convinced VAR would uphold that decision. Even Jack Harrison did not claim. Still, it’s game on now…
01:46 PM BST
52 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Good save by Raya! Much better from Everton. Ndiaye snaps a pass into Doucoure, who lopes into the area and hits a left-foot shot that is pushed away at the near post by the diving Raya.
01:45 PM BST
50 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1
Arsenal won’t be happy with the award of the penalty. Lewis-Skelly allowed the ball bounce and was in trouble when Harrison got goalside. He then fell into Harrison, who accepted the invitation to go down. There was just about enough contact for the decision to be given and upheld.
#EVEARS – 46′
The referee’s call of penalty for the challenge by Lewis-Skelly on Harrison was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the contact deemed to be sufficient for a penalty and inside the area.
— Premier League Match Centre (@PLMatchCentre) April 5, 2025
01:43 PM BST
Goal!
49 min: Everton 1 Arsenal 1 (Ndiaye pen) Iliman Ndiaye calmly sends David Raya the wrong way to bring Everton level on his return to the side. Good penalty.
Iliman Ndiaye keeps his composure in front of goal and levels the game up ⭐
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/ySaINcldTz
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 5, 2025
01:42 PM BST
The penalty stands
48 min Yep, the decision has been confirmed. Arsenal captain Jorginho has been booked for delaying the penalty.
01:40 PM BST
Penalty to Everton!
46 min Harrison goes over just inside the area after a clumsy challenge from Lewis-Skelly, and Everton have a penalty inside the first minute of the second half.
There’s a VAR check ongoing. It’s pretty soft but I doubt it will be overturned.
01:39 PM BST
46 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 1
Arsenal get the second half under way.
01:38 PM BST
Double substitution for Arsenal
Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka are coming on at half-time in place of Raheem Sterling and Ethan Nwaneri.
01:24 PM BST
Half-time verdict
A walkabout in the sunshine for Arsenal once ahead at a quiet Goodison Park.
“Get into them,” was a shout from the Main Stand, summing up the lacklustre hosts. With power in reserve, Arteta will anticipate a professional job in the second half to finish this off. Moyes might be delivering the proverbial rocket up the backside. That was the worst half since his return.
01:24 PM BST
HT: Everton 0 Arsenal 1
So far so good for Arsenal, who lead through Leandro Trossard’s excellent goal and, just as importantly, haven’t picked up any injuries ahead of their date with Real Madrid on Thursday.
It was a fairly low-key first half in the Merseyside sunshine, with Arsenal’s Gabriel-less defence looking largely comfortable.
01:22 PM BST
45+6 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 1
Ndiaye, Everton’s brightest attacker in the first half, whips a shot over the bar from 25 yards. Not a bad effort.
01:20 PM BST
45+3 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 1
Good save by Pickford! Trossard spins behind Tarkowski, onto a fine long pass from Kiwior, and runs through on goal. Tarkowski lunges into a desperate tackle, misses the ball, and Trossard hurdles him before poking a shot that is well blocked by Pickford.
The ball runs loose to Rice, whose shot is excellently blocked by Tarkowski. Trossard stays down, having collided with Pickford after his shot was saved, but he looks fine.
Trossard could have gone down and claimed a penalty after the challenge from Tarkowski but he only had eyes for goal.
01:16 PM BST
45 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 1
All those stoppages add up to six minutes of added time.
01:12 PM BST
42 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 1
Merino is back up, having had some Vaseline applied to a cut on the head, and play is about to resume.
01:11 PM BST
41 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 1
Strange goal. When Trossard took aim there seemed to be a lot of cover for Everton and no obvious spot where – if he hit – he would score. But Pickford saw it late. The shot came from beyond the covering O’Brien and the Everton goalkeeper did not get down quick enough.
01:10 PM BST
40 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 1
O’Brien is on his feet but Merino remains down. He’s conscious but lying on his back while he receives treatment.
01:10 PM BST
39 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 1
Everton paid the price for conceding possession once too often, and this time Trossard punished them. It’s been a typical 12.30pm kick-off so far, but the opening goal will hopefully trigger more excitement. Arsenal are winning in second gear, which is ideal preparation for Real.
01:09 PM BST
38 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 1
Half chance for Everton Harrison’s cross from the left is headed over by O’Brien, who has a nasty clash of heads with Merino in the process. Both players will need treatment.
01:08 PM BST
36 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 1
Almost a chance for Everton after good persistence from Doucoure and Beto. White loses the ball in a dangerous area, allowing Beto to go round Raya near the byline, but his cutback is cleared at the near post.
01:05 PM BST
Goal!
34 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 1 (Trossard) A clinical counter-attack from Arsenal! Sterling seized upon a loose header from Gueye in his own half, scurried 50 yards and played the ball to his left to Trossard. He shifted the ball onto his left foot, just inside the area, and rifled a superb low shot back across Pickford.
Everton are punished on the counter-attack as Leandro Trossard gives Arsenal the lead ⚽
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/2y6XBhTMsQ
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 5, 2025
01:01 PM BST
31 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 0
Arsenal dominated the first 10 minutes but it’s a more even game now, if still a bit scrappy. Neither keeper has had a save to make.
12:57 PM BST
27 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 0
It is often a crunching tackle that ignites Goodison, and Branthwaite on Trossard certainly changed the mood. It had been sedate stuff until then.
12:56 PM BST
26 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 0
Possession so far: Everton 39 Arsenal 61.
12:55 PM BST
24 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 0
Superb defending from Branthwaite Arsenal break dangerously, with Trossard on the ball. He runs from the halfway line into the area before Branthwaite, the last man, comes across to make an emphatic and perfectly timed challenge. That was immaculate defending.
At the other end Ndiaye’s sweet shot from the edge of the area is well blocked by the sliding Kiwior.
12:54 PM BST
23 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 0
It’s becoming a niggly, stop-start game, with both teams claiming everything they can from the referee.
12:50 PM BST
19 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 0
It’s been a festival of set-pieces so far, Rice’s corners Arsenal’s great threat and now Harrison finally landing one in a dangerous spot into Arsenal’s penalty box.
12:48 PM BST
17 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 0
O’Brien is booked for manhandling White, who is back on his feet.
12:48 PM BST
16 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 0
Chance for Everton! Harrison, on the right, curls a wicked free-kick that bounces right across the face of goal and hits the shoulder of the unsighted O’Brien two yards out. On the face of it, it’s a terrible miss, but he saw it late and didn’t have time to react.
Just prior to that, White was thrown to the ground by O’Brien. He has stayed down…
12:44 PM BST
13 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 0
An emotional tribute to Kevin Campbell. His family is attending this match.
12:43 PM BST
12 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 0
A wicked inswinging corner from Rice beats Pickford and is headed off the line by Branthwaite. I’m not 100 per cent sure it would have gone in but Branthwaite couldn’t take any chances; it was a superb defensive header.
12:40 PM BST
9 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 0
There is a minute’s applause in memory of Kevin Campbell, who played with such distinction and decency for both clubs and wore No9 at Everton. His family are still searching for answers about his tragic death 10 months ago; an inquest into Campbell’s death will begin on 14 April.
12:39 PM BST
8 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 0
Good defending by Rice, who takes the ball off Beto’s toe just as he is about to shoot from 12 yards.
12:38 PM BST
7 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 0
It’s all Arsenal at the moment, with their front three of Sterling, Trossard and Nwaneri looking lively.
12:35 PM BST
4 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 0
Nwaneri slips Patterson and is brought down. The referee settles for a warning though that could easily have been a yellow card.
Arsenal have started well.
12:34 PM BST
2 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 0
Great block by Iroegbunam! An early chance for Arsenal. Trossard releases White, who cuts the ball back from the byline. Sterling whacks a shot from about 10 yards that would have gone in but for a crucial block from Iroegbunam. He was winded but the contact, but it was worth it.
Incidentally Arsenal have started with Trossard rather than Merino as their centre-forward. Declan Rice is playing in the position usually occupied by Martin Odegaard.
12:32 PM BST
1 min: Everton 0 Arsenal 0
Everton kick off from right to left as we watch. It’s a gorgeous spring day on Merseyside.
12:29 PM BST
A real toe-tapper
Just four games left at Goodison Park including this one. This beautiful old stadium, built in 1892, feels like it represents an era when people were just that bit smaller. Wherever one turns, there seems to be barely enough room. But still, a great place to watch football. The Park End is full of banners today with many of the greats mentioned, including David Moyes, Wayne Rooney, Joe Royle, Howard Kendall to name but a few. The jaunty “Spirit of the Blues” is playing, a track always described by my colleague Mike McGrath as – his words – “a real toe-tapper”.
12:17 PM BST
Mikel Arteta on David Moyes
He’s a very special person in my life. He was the one who gave me the opportunity to come to this incredible country and to the Premier League. We had some great times together and I’m glad he’s back because he’s the right man to take this club forward.
“Moyes was the one who gave me the opportunity to come to this incredible country and club. I’m glad he’s back at Everton.”
There’s nothing but respect between David Moyes and Mikel Arteta ahead of this afternoon’s meeting 🤝
🎙 @julesbreach | 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/ODDeOKQGTk
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 5, 2025
12:15 PM BST
David Moyes speaks to TNT Sports
I think we’re all beginning to realise that we’re running out of time at Goodison and we want to put on a good show for the fans.
[On Mikel Arteta] We’ll have a beer or a glass of wine after the game hopefully. We’re competing against each other but afterwards we’ll share a drink.
[On the return of Iliman Ndiaye] It’s great to have him back. We might be pushing it a bit but he’s trained really well and we want him to show that today.
12:10 PM BST
A reminder of the teams
Everton (4-2-3-1) Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Patterson; Gueye, Iroegbunam; Harrison, Doucoure, Ndiaye; Beto.
Substitutes: Virginia, Keane, McNeil, Chermiti, Young, Broja, Coleman, Alcaraz, Garner.
Arsenal (possible 4-3-3) Raya; White, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Trossard, Jorginho, Rice; Nwaneri, Merino, Sterling.
Substitutes: Neto, Timber, Tierney, Zinchenko, Partey, Gower, Odegaard, Martinelli, Saka.
Referee Darren England.
11:50 AM BST
Moyes promises no let up in intensity levels
Mutual respect abounds at Goodison, as the former pupil Mikel Arteta faces his old teacher, David Moyes.
Everton can do their neighbours a favour with a win or draw, of course, and David Moyes is adamant there will be no let up in intensity levels in his side.
“I think Evertonians want their team to win every week and I think the league title is probably quite far away for Arsenal at the moment,” said Moyes.
“I don’t know if they’ll have their mind more on the Champions League game on the Tuesday night.”
Both team sheets seem to reflect different priorities. It’s inconceivable Martin Odegaard would be on the bench if the gap to Liverpool was not so big, and if Real Madrid were not on the immediate agenda.
Moyes is also experimenting without a recognised left back, right-footed Nathan Patterson making his first appearance under Moyes. Could Moyes play wing-backs, with O’Brien reverting to a more orthodox central defensive role in a back five?
11:48 AM BST
Mikel Arteta’s pre-match thoughts
“What we are playing for is so important, you just have to move on.”
Mikel Arteta isn’t letting further injuries distract the Gunners from achieving their targets this season 💪
🎙 @lynseyhipgrave1 | 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/ttLqxIcI0N
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 5, 2025
11:47 AM BST
Berta in attendance at Goodison
The new Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is deep in conversation with one of his fellow exec directors on the touchline at Goodison Park. Sunshine is glorious for this midday kick-off.
11:36 AM BST
Back in action
11:30 AM BST
Man City accuse Premier League of favouring Arsenal
Manchester City’s latest “discrimination” claim accuses the Premier League of distorting spending check rules in favour of Arsenal and a handful of rivals.
City have taken renewed issue with shareholder loans being spared from the same level of fair market scrutiny as other sources of owner funding. As a result, Arsenal, Brighton, Everton and Leicester City in effect get preferential treatment, a statement of claim to an independent tribunal argues.
11:21 AM BST
Arsenal team news
Mikel Arteta rests some but not all of his key players ahead of the Real Madrid game. Bukayo Saka, still recovering from injury, is joined on the bench by Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber, Thomas Partey and Gabriel Martinelli.
With Gabriel injured there are five changes to the XI that started against Fulham: Ben White, Jakub Kiwior, Jorginho, Raheem Sterling and Leandro Trossard come into the XI. White is starting a Premier League game for the first time since November.
Arsenal (possible 4-3-3) Raya; White, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Trossard, Jorginho, Rice; Nwaneri, Merino, Sterling.
Subs: Neto, Timber, Tierney, Zinchenko, Partey, Gower, Odegaard, Martinelli, Saka.
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
🔙 White returns
©️ Jorginho skippers the side
⚡️ Trossard leads the lineLet’s do this, Gunners 👊
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 5, 2025
11:20 AM BST
Everton team news
David Moyes makes three changes from the defeat at Anfield on Wednesday. Nathan Patterson, Tim Iroegbunam and Iliman Ndiaye replace Vitalii Mykolenko, James Garner and Carlos Alcaraz.
Mykolenko isn’t on the bench so you’d assume he’s injured.
Today’s Toffees! 🔵#EVEARSpic.twitter.com/2orNV4NhMR
— Everton (@Everton) April 5, 2025
11:01 AM BST
Good morning
Hello and welcome to Telegraph Sport’s live, minute-by-minute coverage of Everton v Arsenal at Goodison Park. Three points are up for grabs, but Arsenal’s biggest priority is probably avoiding any more injuries ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid. Gabriel Magalhaes’s season-ending injury against Fulham was the latest blow to Mikel Arteta, who is down to the bare bones in defence.
Arsenal don’t have much to play for in the Premier League – they are 12 points behind Liverpool, 10 clear of fifth-placed Manchester City – so Arteta has the option to rest players ahead of their big night at the Emirates. In the medium term, he wants a bigger squad next season to deal with the increasing demands of modern football.
“Logically if we demand the players to play more games in more competitions with more travel and more intensity the only solution to deal with it is more players,” he said. “I don’t see any other solution.
“It’s been building up for a while and the fact that during the summer there are always competitions and then you have the African Cup. We’re going to have a new competition coming up now [the Club World Cup] this summer as well so this is all adding up.
“Every month the intensity, the quality and the pressure is increasing. We have to be very conscious that there are certain limits that the players can do.”
Everton’s don’t have much to play for in terms of their league position but they will be desperate to win today. They have four games left at Goodison Park and are keen to pick up as many points – and make as many memories – as they can.
Kick off 12.30pm.
“Super, Super Kev…” 🎶💙❤️
Show your love for the late, great man in the 9th minute. ⬇️ https://t.co/4CCouYrOhv
— Everton (@Everton) April 5, 2025
