Arsenal 1 - 0 Everton

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Sunday May 04 2008 01:30

Arsenal moved to within a point of Chelsea after securing a largely uninspiring 1-0 win over fifth-placed Everton.

A late headed goal by Nicklas Bendtner was enough to win all the points and keep alive their hopes of overtaking Avram Grant's side.

After a low-key start to the game, the first real shot of note came in the tenth minute from Arsenal's player of the month for April, Theo Walcott.

The youngster cut in from the left but his shot curled just wide of the right post.

Shortly after that Gilberto Silva met Bendtner's cute hoisted ball across the Everton penalty area, but the Brazilian could not stretch quite enough to guide his header towards goal.

It was Everton that came closest to opening the scoring on 28 minutes when Manuel Fernandes put through a delightful ball for Andrew Johnson to latch onto and his first-time shot was well-saved by the right boot of Lukasz Fabianski.

At the other end Emmanuel Adebayor got a toe to a couple of long ball over the top of the Everton defence, but nothing that overly troubled Tim Howard.

Gilberto again went close in the dying minutes of the first half when he rose unchallenged to meet a corner from the right, but he could not quite get over the ball so as to really test Howard.

Then, a minute later in to stoppage time, Adebayor should have made more or of Emmanuel Eboue's exquisite cross from the right, but only got a glancing connection with the ball and watched it fly agonisingly wide.

The second half began as slowly as the first with Joleon Lescott's shot being the only real chance on goal, and a half-chance at that.

While Everton did little to trouble the Gunners, they had more possession than their hosts which is a collector's item of a statistic.

Arsene Wenger tried to change things around on 70 minutes by getting Walcott to play on the right-hand side. He did that by bringing on Armand Traore as a left winger.

The tactic worked as the Gunners took the lead in the 77th minute. Bendtner found the young Frenchman with a slightly over-hit pass.

Traore got the ball under control quickly, burst down the left flank before delivering a perfectly flighted ball into the box that Bendtner powered home with a towering header.

Everton did not offer much of a response. David Moyes sent on Yakubu to try and bolster his attack, but to little avail. The Toffees' leading scorer was starved of any service as the Gunners went on to secure all the points.

  • 90
    The final whistle goes, and Everton fail to grab the point they needed to confirm a Uefa cup spot as Arsenal win there last home game of the season.
  • 90
    Into the final minute of stoppage time, and it seems that Arsenal have taken all the spoils.
  • 90
    Leighton Baines replaces Henriques Manuel Fernandes.
  • 88
    Everton have been very disciplined in defence today, but they had no response to Bendtner's rising header, and that could be the difference maker today.
  • 87
    Emmanuel Adebayor is replaced by Philippe Senderos as Arsenal look to keep it tight, and to keep it 1-0.
  • 83
    Arsenal usually leave it late to score, and it seems today is no exception, Moyes' late substitutions will make sure this game has a tense finish.
  • 80
    Yakubu and Victor Anichebe come on to replace Johnson and Carsley.
  • 76
    Nicklas Bendtner scores! A great cross into the box is powerfully headed home by Bendtner from close range and Arsenal take the lead!
  • 73
    Armand Traore fouls and Everton have a free-kick in a dangerous position to the side of the area, Lehmann however catches well, and the danger is avoided.
  • 70
    The substitution of Lehmann is one done purely in gesture, the german looks set to leave in the summer, therefore making this his last game at Arsenal.
  • 69
    Jens Lehmann and Armand Traore come on to replace Lukasz Fabianski and Kolo Toure.
  • 67
    It appears that Arsenal are looking to make some subtitutions, with Jens Lehmann being one of them!
  • 63
    A dangerous cross is put into the Arsenal box, and with Johnson closing in, Lukasz Fabianski did well to claim the ball.
  • 60
    An hour gone, and with a few injuries and suspensions, Arsenal have little attacking options to turn to on the bench.
  • 57
    A clever chipped through ball from Johnson finds Lescott, but his shot is well wide of the far post.
  • 55
    Arsenal continue to show little urgency in their play, combined with Everton's stern defending, this game is relatively lackluster at the moment.
  • 51
    With only Johnson to aim for upfield, Everton keep failing to retain the ball for any long periods of time, which then allows Arsenal to counter-attack.
  • 48
    Arsenal have started the second half on the offensive, as the Gunners stroke the ball around the edge of the Everton box, not a good sign for the away side.
  • 45
    The second half gets underway, and with the last 0-0 between these sides occuring 95 years ago, the odds would suggest that a goal will be scored at some point this second half.
  • 45
    Injury time is over and both sides go into the break without breaking the deadlock, the game is being played at a comfortable pace, and at the moment, that suits Everton.
  • 45
    Emmanuel Adebayor gets half a yard on Yobo and gets a free diving header towards goal, he cant get the direction on it however, and it goes wide.
  • 43
    Silva is allowed a free header in the middle of the box from an Arsenal corner, the header goes over the bar, and the Brazilian should have done better from that position.
  • 42
    Everton are playing very assertive football, and at this time have just as much right to win this game as Arsenal do.
  • 39
    Not long until the break, and Everton, only needing a point to secure the Uefa cup spot, will want to keep it tight at the back.
  • 35
    The game certainly has an end of season feel to it, but at least both sides have now woken up and are beginning to create chances.
  • 31
    Eboue receives a reverse pass and finds himself with the chance to shot on goal, the effort however is deflected wide by Yobo.
  • 29
    Gallas appears to backpass the ball to his keeper, Everton appeal for the free-kick inside the box, but the referee says no.
  • 27
    Joleon Lescott is cautioned for trying to kick the ball out of the keepers hands whilst he is still holding it.
  • 27
    Johnson get the first meaningful chance of the game as he latches on to a through ball, Lukasz Fabianski saves at his near post.
  • 26
    With Hleb, Flamini and Fabregas all on the sidelines through injury and suspension, Arsenal are certainly lacking their usual attacking flair at this present time.
  • 23
    A quarter of the game gone, and neither side, as of yet, have warmed the keepers gloves with any testing shots.
  • 19
    Gallas and Neville tangle feet inside the box and the Arsenal defender goes down appealing for a penalty, referee Wiley says no and waves play on.
  • 17
    Nicklas Bendtner shows good vision and puts in a great ball for Gilberto Silva, but Silva cant quite reach it and Everton have a goal-kick.
  • 13
    Theo Walcott tries his luck from just outside the box with a curling effort into the far corner, but the effort is wide.
  • 11
    Fabregas, who turned 21 today, is out injured, and his fantastic ability in the midfield could be missed today by the home side.
  • 8
    Some good one touch passing from Arsenal is defended well by Lescott as Everton clear the danger.
  • 6
    Both teams are slow out the blocks with neither keeper yet to be tested with a shot on goal.
  • 2
    Phil Jagielka makes Howard work early after a short backpass is nearly cut out by Emmanuel Adebayor.
  • 0
    Arsenal are currently unbeaten in 11 home games against Everton, and with the Toffee's last winning at Arsenal in 1996, history is certainly on the Gunners side today.
  • 0
    Hibbert comes in for Yakubu, who is on the bench, as Everton start with: Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott, Pienaar, Neville, Carsley, Fernandes, Osman, Johnson
  • 0
    Arsenal have made 2 changes from the side that thrased Derby as Silva & Adebayor start with the Gunners beginning with: Fabianski, Toure, Gallas, Song Billong, Clichy, Eboue, Silva, Denilson, Walcott, Adebayor, Bendtner

Statistics

Arsenal
Shots on target 2
Shots off target 9
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 10
Offsides 1
Corners 8

Everton
Shots on target 4
Shots off target 4
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 4
Offsides 2
Corners 3

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