Arsenal thump Everton but miss out on top four

Published on: 22 May 2022

Gabriel Martinelli stroked home his sixth goal of the season from the spot

Arsenal missed out on Champions League qualification for a sixth successive season despite a comfortable victory over Everton on the final day.

The Gunners needed to beat Frank Lampard's side and hope Tottenham lost at already relegated Norwich, but with Spurs winning 5-0 at Carrow Road theirs was a forlorn task.

Mikel Arteta's side took the lead midway through the first half as Gabriel Martinelli stroked home a penalty after his shot struck Alex Iwobi's arm, with the spot-kick awarded after a video assistant referee check.

Eddie Nketiah nodded in following a corner to extend the hosts' lead on 31 minutes, before substitute Donny van de Beek, in what is likely to be his last game for Everton, side-footed in.

It proved to be a short reprieve as two second-half goals in three minutes ended the game as a contest. Both came from corners as Cedric Soares slotted home, then Gabriel poked in after Everton had initially cleared.

Martin Odegaard added a late fifth as Arsenal finished in fifth place, two points behind Tottenham. Though they missed out on the top four, their fans were at least able to celebrate a return to the Europa League after missing out this season.

Everton's record-equalling 13th away defeat, meanwhile, meant they finished four points clear of the relegation zone.

Arsenal celebrate but rue late-season stutter

The Gunners did all they could to try to finish in the top four for the first time since 2016, but the damage had been done in their two previous games - defeats at north London rivals Spurs and resurgent Newcastle.

The second of those losses prompted Granit Xhaka to question his team-mates' character, but they showed an appetite to make up for their performance at St James' Park by putting Everton under pressure from the start.

Buoyed by the home crowd, who booed former Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli on his first Everton start, Odegaard was Arsenal's key orchestrator and had two efforts blocked. Asmir Begovic, who replaced Jordan Pickford in goal, also denied Martinelli.

Everton looked like they had weathered the storm initially, but then former Gunner Iwobi gifted the hosts a penalty.

Martinelli's shot hit the Everton midfielder's arm, and although referee Andre Marriner missed it, once he had checked on the VAR monitor, he reversed his decision.

The goal was Martinelli's sixth of the season, and he had a hand in the second too, flicking on a corner, which Alli had failed to clear, and Nkeitah headed in.

The two-goal lead allowed the hosts to settle, though there were chances for Demarai Gray before Rob Holding allowed the ball to run across him for Van de Beek's first Everton goal since his loan move from Manchester United.

Two goals in three minutes put the match out of Everton's reach, though, and a second-half comeback akin to their heroics against Crystal Palace on Thursday never looked likely, especially when Odegaard grabbed the goal his performance deserved.

Despite the disappointment of missing out on the top four, the season can still be seen as progress for Arteta's young side.

Everton poor away form continues

Everton fans will be further relieved their team extended their 68-year stay in the Premier League on Thursday, as their wretched away form continued.

They have secured only one win away from Goodison Park since August, and a much-changed side showed glimpses of attacking threat before Arsenal wrestled back control.

Top scorer Richarlison missed out through injury, while Pickford was rested. Tom Davies also made his first start since November following a knee problem.

For much of the first half, Lampard's side had to retreat to a back five, and although Gray drew a save from Aaron Ramsdale and fired over, they could not deal with Arsenal's superior movement and energy.

But what will disappoint Lampard most was his side conceding three goals from corners, especially with Michael Keane, Mason Holgate and Jarrad Branthwaite making up the back three.

The visiting supporters were in good spirits until Arsenal took a three-goal lead, but having celebrated their top-flight survival on Thursday, their partying was probably done.

They still found the energy to celebrate, though, when they heard Manchester City had taken a 3-2 lead against Aston Villa, denying Liverpool the title.

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Player of the match

Gabriel MartinelliGabriel Martinelli

with an average of 7.43

    ArsenalArsenalArsenalEvertonEvertonEverton

ArsenalAvgSquad number35Player nameGabriel MartinelliAverage rating

7.43

Squad number9Player nameLacazetteAverage rating

7.11

Squad number8Player nameØdegaardAverage rating

7.04

Squad number23Player nameSambi LokongaAverage rating

7.03

Squad number7Player nameSakaAverage rating

6.96

Squad number30Player nameNketiahAverage rating

6.90

Squad number19Player namePépéAverage rating

6.81

Squad number6Player nameGabriel MagalhãesAverage rating

6.58

Squad number32Player nameRamsdaleAverage rating

6.57

Squad number34Player nameXhakaAverage rating

6.47

Squad number25Player nameMohamed ElnenyAverage rating

6.40

Squad number17Player nameCédric SoaresAverage rating

6.26

Squad number16Player nameHoldingAverage rating

6.16

Squad number20Player nameNuno TavaresAverage rating

6.01

EvertonAvgSquad number36Player nameAlliAverage rating

6.32

Squad number30Player namevan de BeekAverage rating

6.29

Squad number9Player nameCalvert-LewinAverage rating

5.75

Squad number11Player nameGrayAverage rating

5.50

Squad number17Player nameIwobiAverage rating

5.37

Squad number5Player nameKeaneAverage rating

5.26

Squad number32Player nameBranthwaiteAverage rating

5.24

Squad number4Player nameHolgateAverage rating

5.23

Squad number15Player nameBegovicAverage rating

5.17

Squad number16Player nameDoucouréAverage rating

5.17

Squad number2Player nameKennyAverage rating

5.16

Squad number26Player nameDaviesAverage rating

5.13

Squad number60Player namePriceAverage rating

5.02

Squad number24Player nameGordonAverage rating

4.69

    Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text

Line-upsArsenal

Formation 4-2-3-1

32Ramsdale17Cédric Soares16Holding6Gabriel20Tavares25Elneny34Xhaka7Saka8Ødegaard35Martinelli30Nketiah

    32Ramsdale17Cédric Soares16Holding6Gabriel20Tavares25Elneny34XhakaSubstituted forSambi Lokongaat 63'minutes7SakaSubstituted forPépéat 78'minutes8Ødegaard35Martinelli30NketiahSubstituted forLacazetteat 67'minutes

Substitutes

    1Leno4White9Lacazette10Smith Rowe19Pépé23Sambi Lokonga65Oulad M'hand69Swanson87Patino

Everton

Formation 5-4-1

15Begovic17Iwobi4Holgate5Keane32Branthwaite2Kenny11Gray26Davies16Doucouré36Alli9Calvert-Lewin

    15Begovic17Iwobi4Holgate5Keane32Branthwaite2Kenny11Gray26DaviesBooked at 69minsSubstituted forPriceat 77'minutes16DoucouréSubstituted forvan de Beekat 37'minutes36AlliSubstituted forGordonat 67'minutes9Calvert-Lewin

Substitutes

    19Mykolenko20Tosun23Coleman24Gordon30van de Beek31Lonergan60Price61Dobbin64Welch

Referee:Andre MarrinerAttendance:60,201Match StatsHome TeamArsenalAway TeamEvertonPossessionHome74%Away26%ShotsHome26Away6Shots on TargetHome9Away2CornersHome12Away2FoulsHome8Away9Live TextPost update

Match ends, Arsenal 5, Everton 1.

90'+4'Full Time

Second Half ends, Arsenal 5, Everton 1.

90'+3'Post update

Attempt saved. Nicolas Pépé (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Albert Sambi Lokonga.

90'+1'Post update

Attempt missed. Isaac Price (Everton) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

89'Post update

Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

89'Post update

Foul by Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton).

88'Post update

Attempt blocked. Demarai Gray (Everton) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jonjoe Kenny.

87'Post update

Foul by Nuno Tavares (Arsenal).

87'Post update

Demarai Gray (Everton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

86'Post update

Attempt missed. Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Gabriel Martinelli.

84'Post update

Attempt missed. Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Anthony Gordon.

82'goalGoal!

Goal! Arsenal 5, Everton 1. Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Nicolas Pépé.

79'Post update

Attempt missed. Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Martin Ødegaard.

78'Post update

Foul by Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal).

78'Post update

Michael Keane (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

78'Substitution

Substitution, Arsenal. Nicolas Pépé replaces Bukayo Saka.

77'Substitution

Substitution, Everton. Isaac Price replaces Tom Davies.

75'Post update

Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Asmir Begovic.

74'Post update

Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Asmir Begovic.

74'Post update

Attempt saved. Albert Sambi Lokonga (Arsenal) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Gabriel Martinelli.

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Source: bbc.com

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