Everton 1-1 Arsenal: Match Report, Player Ratings and Reaction

Honours even after Gunners last ever visit to Goodison Park after Leandro Trossard's opener was cancelled out by Illiman Ndiaye’s penalty

Everton 1-1 Arsenal: On the whistle match report by Layth Yousif at Goodison Park

It was honours even in the Merseyside sunshine as Everton and Arsenal played out a 1-1 draw at grand old Goodison Park.

A first half opener from Leandro Trossard was cancelled out by Illiman Ndiaye’s penalty after the interval in front of 39,316 fans on Saturday lunchtime.

Arsenal boss Arteta made five changes to the side that beat Fulham. With Ben White, Jakub Kiwior, Jorginho, Leandro Trossard and Raheem Sterling all drafted in while Jurrien Timber, Gabriel, Thomas Partey, Martin Odegaard all Gabriel Martinelli dropped out. Bukayo Saka was also on the bench as the North Londoners looked to Tuesday’s blockbuster clash with Real Madrid.

In the ninth minute both sets of supporters broke into a heartfelt minute’s applause for the much-loved and much-missed Kevin Campbell, who served both clubs with such distinction.

With half an hour gone of a shapeless match, punctuated by misplaced passes and a general sense of lethargy in the Merseyside sunshine, the Goodison PA piped up during play to inform spectators that they would be ejected if they persisted to stand. After 30 mundane minutes it would have perhaps been somewhat of a blessing to have made early tracks up the road for the 4pm at Aintree rather than continue to endure the hugely underwhelming after on offer.

However, just as punters were thinking of perusing the Grand National race card as entertainment in lieu of what was on show, Arsenal scored through Trossard.

Despite the attentions of two Everton defenders, the Belgium attacker fired low across Jordan Pickford to put the visitors 1-0 on 33 minutes in what was barely their first attack of the half. Stung, Everton swept upfield, with Jake O’Brien heading over the bar from Jack Harrison’s cross, the Toffees No15’s receiving a blow in the face for his troubles from Mikel Merino. Whose close attentions saw the Arsenal midfielder come off second best, as the game halted to allow the 28-year-old to receive lengthy treatment for a head injury.

During the interval Arteta opted to switch Sterling for Gabi Martinelli and Saka for Nwaneri. It certainly had an impact.

But for Everton, as the home side won a penalty moments at after the restart when Myles Lewis Skelly felled Harrison in the box.

Up stepped No10 Illiman Ndiaye who slotted home to make it 1-1 as Goodison erupted. With the tempo now raised Toffees No16 Abdoulaye Doucoure tested Raya with a low drive that the Arsenal keeper did well to prevent.

With Arsenal weathering the storm, Arteta hooked White with an hour of football in his legs ahead of the Champions League clash with Carlo Ancelotti’s side in North London on Tuesday, with Jurrien Timber coming on, presumably also with the intention of proving his fitness after hobbling off during the win over Fulham in midweek.

On 63 minutes Declan Rice tested Pickford with a stinging free kick after Lewis-Skelly was felled following a driving run at the heart of the Toffees backline.

Leandro Trossard opens the scoring for Arsenal here at Goodison Park.

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Arsenal Player Ratings:

Arsenal Player Ratings as Gunners gain Goodison point

Find out who impressed during Arsenal's final match at Goodison Park

Arsenal Player Ratings:

GK: David Raya: 7/10

RB: Ben White: 710

CB: William Saliba: 7/10

CB: Jakub Kiwior: 7.5/10

LB: Myles Lewis-Skelly: 7/10

CM: Mikel Merino: 7/10

CM: Jorginho: 6/10

CM: Declan Rice: 7/10

LW: Raheem Sterling: 6.5/10

ST: Leandro Trossard: 7.5/10

RW: Ethan Nwaneri: 6.5/10

SUB: Bukayo Saka (46' for Nwaneri) 6.5/10

SUB: Gabriel Martinelli (46' for Sterling) 7/10

SUB: Jurrien Timber (62' for White) 6.5/10

SUB: Martin Odegaard (71' for Jorginho) 6/10

SUB: Kieran Tierney (75' for Lewis-Skelly) 6.5/10

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Another angle of Leandro Trossard scoring against Everton here on Merseyside.

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Match reaction

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking after the Gunners 1-1 draw at Goodison Park on Saturday lunchtime.

Leandro Trossard put the North Londoners ahead, prior to Illiman Ndiaye’s contentious second half penalty ensuring a point apeice for the teams in what was the Gunners last ever match at Goodison before the Toffees move to their new stadium at Bramley Dock next season.

Read on to find out what Arteta said after the match.

Penalty or no penalty

That is the main talking point again for Arsenal, a refereeing decision. Darren England had, for most, an absolute nightmare this afternoon.

On the penalty

The referee decides to give a penalty.

I've seen it 15 times and I cannot see...

On the rotation

Everybody has to be important, has to fill in.

Not for what was happening on Tuesday, but what happened in training they deserved to start the game.

[Bukayo] is in a much better place. He has played 49 minutes today. He's in a much better place.

On filling in for injured Gabriel at centre-back

We have alternatives there. Today we have players who have not played together. Let them have the minutes, have the understanding and we will assess who is the best combination for the game.

On his last game at Goodison

Well, I mean the Premier League has got a reputation all over the world for places like Goodison Park. I understand this is evolution of a football club.