Everton battled well all afternoon earlier today, but through a huge slice of fortune, Arsenal ran out victors.
It was all they could in the final-day race for the title, as they then were forced to rely on West Ham United to desperately try and snag some kind of result at the Etihad.
Falling beside inside two minutes, it looked increasingly unlikely, and despite pegging Manchester City back just before the break, they were powerless. Pep Guardiola’s side were, and always are, just too strong, and they made it an unprecedented four Premier League titles in a row, the first side to ever complete such a feat.
They are unstoppable and unrelenting, and one of the greatest sides we will ever see in this division. But the Gunners ran them close.
And that is what made today such a memorable performance from the travelling Toffees, who were resolute throughout and saw a late point stolen due to a contentious decision.
Paul Merson, a notorious Arsenal fanatic, has now given his verdict.
Paul Merson gives his opinion on Everton vs Arsenal result
Speaking to Sky Sports following the full-time whistle, which condemned his beloved former side to another second-placed finish, he was surprisingly complimentary of Everton.
His words were magnanimous, as he told Evertonians how they should be feeling following such a disappointing result, but such a spirited performance.
The former Gunners midfielder claimed: ‘You’d be proud if you were an Everton fan today. They’ve turned up and put in a performance.
‘They thoroughly deserve a draw at the moment.’
Given how relentlessly they defended and how incisive they often looked on the counter, troubling one of the division’s top sides in their own back garden, Merson is certainly not wrong.
If one match could sum up Everton’s season…
However, if you were to comb through the statistics, it does not make for great viewing.
The hosts naturally dominated the ball, enjoying 69% possession, however they would turn that into tangible opportunities, forging five big chances which amounted to 2.89 expected goals too, via Sofascore.
But that is perhaps disingenuous to the job Sean Dyche’s men did in north London, and whilst their opener was a heavily deflected first-half free kick, Dominic Calvert-Lewin did also strike the post before seeing a driving run and fierce effort saved by David Raya in the second half.
They rode their luck at times, as all clubs have to away to these kinds of teams, and were good value for a draw. Fortunately, with safety already assured, they will not care. Onwards and upwards into the new campaign.
