Report: Arsenal 2-1 Everton (inc. goals)

Arsenal: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu; Partey, Rice, Ødegaard; Martinelli, Havertz, Trossard
Substitutes: Ramsdale, Timber, Zinchenko, Kiwior, Jorginho, Vieira, Smith Rowe, Jesus, Nketiah

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Arsenal beat Everton 2-1 on the final day of the Premier League season, but have finished second in the Premier League after Manchester City beat West Ham.

Mikel Arteta was forced into one change, with Bukayo Saka missing out with a muscle injury. Gabriel Martinelli started in Saka’s place.

In front of a loud and sun bathed Emirates Stadium, Arsenal kicked off, and Kai Havertz had a shot after 30 seconds that went wide of Jordan Pickford’s goal.

Ødegaard combined well with Martinelli on the right, but the Brazilian’s cutback for Havertz was blocked. Tomiyasu looked to run onto the loose ball in the middle of the box, but Everton cleared.

From a corner, Rice would cross for Tomiyasu, whose header went wide.

On 12 minutes, Havertz would block Branthwaite’s attempted crossfield pass. The ball came to Rice, who had to shift onto his left foot and hit a weak shot that Pickford gathered.

Martinelli would then be the next to have a good chance. He combined with White on the right, and then drove through the Everton defence, before taking an early shot that Pickford parried, and Seamus Coleman was on hand to clear before Havertz or Martinelli could get to the rebound.

Havertz would then collect White’s floated pass, drive inside, but see his shot blocked by Branthwaite.

Arsenal had been dominant, but Everton countered and could’ve taken the lead after half an hour. Partey was played around too easily in midfield, Calvert-Lewin was found in the space behind him, and shot beat Raya but not the near post. The rebound would come to Calvert-Lewin and he hit the side netting, fooling the traveling Everton fans.

The double Everton chance, though, would galvanise the atmosphere, which had understandably dropped after the predictable news of Manchester City’s goals came through.

Saliba would then play into Martinelli, who was taken out by Tarkowski’s ball-winning challenge.

After White lost possession in midfield, McNeil counter, and was fouled by Partey on the edge of the box, who was booked for the tackle.

From the free kick, Everton took the lead on 40 minutes. Idrissa Gueye’s free kick took a huge deflection off of Rice, leaving Raya helpless. 0-1.

Arsenal would equalise four minutes later. White slipped the ball into the inside right channel for Ødegaard, whose cutback to the top left of the penalty box was met by Tomiyasu, who slammed the ball past Pickford. 1-1.

Seconds later, a second roar would go up around the stadium as news came through that West Ham had pulled a goal back.

Partey would go close with an effort from outside the box in stoppage time.

Second Half

Arsenal had the first chance of the second half. Martinelli crossed from wide on the right hand side an Havertz beat Tarkowski in the air, but headed well wide of the goal.

Doucoure was booked for kicking out at Gabriel, after Gabriel beat Doucoure to a loose ball. Doucoure also grabbed at Gabriel’s shoulder, which led to the Brazilian being replaced by Zinchenko on 59 minutes and Tomiyasu going to left centre back.

Calvert-Lewin beat Saliba and then had a sharp shot from the left of the penalty box that Raya smartly saved on 63 minutes.

Martinelli cut in to the Saka zone of the penalty box, and floated a left-footed cross. Havertz met the cross but his header went off the post, with Pickford stranded.

On 69 minutes, Arteta made a double change. Emile Smith Rowe replaced Thomas Partey, and Jurrien Timber made his return from the ACL injury he suffered in August, replacing Ben White.

The changes were positive, and Arsenal should’ve taken the lead on 72 minutes. Rice played into Trossard, who cutback for Ødegaard in the middle. Ødegaard, though, shot low and straight at Pickford, and Smith Rowe had the rebound blocked.

Everton still offered a threat on the break, and Garner broke in to the space behind Zinchenko. Saliba, though, would mop up.

Arteta made one final change on 78 minutes, with Gabriel Jesus replacing Leandro Trossard. Jesus’ first involvement was to give the ball away, but he ran back to win the ball off Chermiti.

Arsenal were visibly tiring, and Raya and Rice, trying to pass out of pressure after an Arsenal corner, gave the ball away to Everton on the halfway line, but the Everton pass went out of play.

Smith Rowe would then hit the woodwork. Martinelli’s cross found Smith Rowe on the left, and he volleyed his shot into the ground. It beat Pickford, but not the crossbar.

Still, Arsenal were pushing for the winner, and Jesus’ curled shot was goal bound before Branthwaite headed it.

Martinelli, who was increasingly influential in the second half, drove in from the right and crossed for Havertz, who got the timing wrong and headed it over.

Finally, on 89 minutes, Arsenal found the breakthrough. Ashley Young’s crossfield pass was intercepted by Gabriel Jesus. Jesus drove on, found Ødegaard, who advanced on Pickford, and then kicked fresh air, but the loose ball came to Havertz who slammed the ball into the net. The goal, though, was checked by VAR, and Michael Oliver went over to the monitor. It appeared that Jesus had possibly handled the ball, but the referee stuck with his on-field decision and gave the goal! 2-1.

There were 5 minutes added on.

In the final minute Martinelli, whose play deserved a goal, collected a sharp crossfield pass, drove along the top of the box and then shot just other with his left foot.