Arsenal traveled to Merseyside for a must-win match in their title chase, but came away with only a point after a frustrating 1-1 draw against a resilient Everton side. Despite controlling the tempo and carving out more opportunities, the Gunners were once again haunted by their finishing woes. Everton, meanwhile, made the most of their rare forays forward, snatching a goal against the run of play and defending doggedly to secure a valuable point.
? Stat Breakdown: Dominance Meets Wastefulness
The data tells a tale of imbalance:
Shots: Arsenal 12 – 5 Everton
xG: Arsenal 2.21 – 1.07 Everton
Possession: Arsenal 66% – 34% Everton
Box Touches: Arsenal 39 – 12 Everton
Final Third Entries: Arsenal 55 – 35 Everton
Arsenal generated more than double the xG of Everton and had nearly three times as many touches in the opposition box. But when it came to efficiency, Everton edged it-scoring from just five shots and two on target.
? Match Momentum: Arsenal Climb, Everton Clinch
The xG timeline reveals Arsenal’s gradual buildup, punctuated by Leandro Trossard’s 34th-minute goal (xG 0.14) after a well-worked move. But just minutes into the second half, Everton hit back. Iliman Ndiaye smashed home with a clinical finish in the 49th minute (xG 0.76)-a massive moment from their only high-quality chance.
Arsenal continued to pressure and generated consistent chances late on, but couldn’t find a winner. The momentum graph shows Everton’s flat line post-equalizer-classic low-block tactics to grind out a draw.
? Shot Maps & Goal Threats
Arsenal xG per shot: 0.184
Arsenal fired 12 shots, but only 4 hit the target. The central channel was congested, with most shots coming from inside the box, yet only one clear-cut opportunity (xG 0.44) was squandered from the left side of the six-yard area. Trossard’s goal came from a tight angle and was well-taken.
Everton xG per shot: 0.214
Everton’s few shots were more efficient. Despite taking just five attempts, they scored from their highest-quality look and rarely bothered Raya beyond that.
A small edge for Everton in shot quality despite volume being heavily in Arsenal’s favor.
? Possession Tactics: Control vs Compactness
Arsenal’s pass map showed the typical U-shape of high possession teams, with heavy central involvement from Jorginho, Merino, and Rice. The left side, featuring Trossard and Nwaneri, was more active, while Sterling remained isolated on the right. Build-up consistently started from Saliba and Raya, with quick vertical progression through midfield triangles.
Everton’s pass map was more fragmented, with Pickford and the centre-backs often bypassing midfield. Beto acted as a lone out ball, supported by bursts from Ndiaye and Harrison. The right flank saw more action than the left, but progression was limited-highlighting their reactive setup.
? Final Thoughts
This was a match Arsenal should have wrapped up early, but the lack of ruthlessness in front of goal cost them dearly. Everton, meanwhile, will be delighted with a point from minimal possession and low attacking involvement. One team played the football, the other played the moment-and both walk away with just a single point.