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Tim Cahill's opener saw his team lead for an hour, but ultimately Robin van Persie's brilliant free-kick was the least Arsenal deserved for the huge pressure they exerted.
FULL TIME: ARSENAL 1-1 EVERTON: And it is all over at the Emirates, where Everton, despite being on the back foot, have finally ended their run of away defeats to Arsenal - the Highbury curse is broken!
Walcott slides in a great tackle from a rare Everton foray forward. Surely we've had all the stoppage time now?
Henry heads wide with just minutes to go in London. The Gunners fans are baying for another goal, but Everton continue to look strong and resilient
Walcott, by the way, has been playing at right-back since his arrival - and the fleet-footed Englishman has impressed there too.
It is still all Arsenal on the attack. Aliadiere heads just wide, Walcott sees crosses cut out by Lescott and Neville and van Persie sees further shots blocked and fly wide.
Arsenal's third change sees fit-again Aliadiere brought on for Hleb. Still no changes for Everton.
Now Fabregas is booked - the game's fifth yellow card.
Henry shoots wide and Hleb's shot is blocked as Arsenal now push for a winner. That would be harsh after Everton's graft this afternoon.
Everton goalscorer Cahill is now in trouble, this time for dissent! David Moyes won't be happy with that unnecessary booking.The Everton goalscorer is the latest to be in trouble, this time for dissent! David Moyes won't be happy with that
Now it's Arsenal 1 - Everton 1, with Robin van Persie's unsavable free-kick sailing past Howard into the corner to level the scores
That change just after a couple of rare attacks for Everton: first Lehmann this time dealt with Arteta's corner, then Djourou had blocked Johnson's low cross.
Walcott emerges at last, with defender Djourou the man making way - so a tactical switch as well as fresh legs introduced!
Still Arsenal pile forward, with Howard saving well from Fabregas, before Gilberto heads wide from close range
Arsenal have had almost 20 free-kicks, about 10 corners, probably 20 crosses and something like half of their 20 or so goal attempts on target.
Van Persie's free-kick hits Alan Stubbs in the latest Arsenal attack, but Rosicky's follow-up shot flashes wide. Still Everton hold out.
Osman goes in the book for a bad tackle on Alexander Hleb.
French sub Flamini flashes two shots off target in as many minutes - the first sails wide and the second goes over. Still no joy for Arsenal.
Though Arsenal will certainly need their attacking options should this continue - with Walcott and Aliadiere pushing for sub appearances.
It's worth pointing out that David Moyes had very few options for his defence today. The bench (three forwards, a midfielder and a goalkeeper) bears witness to that fact.
Arsene Wenger said before kick-off that this would be a tough one - looks like he was right as his side are still trailing to the visitors from Merseyside
Another miss for Arsenal, as Tomas Rosicky's lob over Howard lands on the roof of the net
Looks like both managers are content with their line-ups...for now at least!
The action restarts in London, where Henry continues where he left off with a dangerous header, saved again by Tim Howard
While Arsenal will point to potential penalties and their dominance, Everton deserve great credit for their stubborn attitude and exceptional workrate - but can it last the full 90?
Just that one goal separating the sides at the break then, with Tim Cahill's finish to Mikel Arteta's corner the vital event in a half that Arsenal certainly dominated in terms of shots, possession, corners and crosses
A few niggling fouls are put in by both teams, but the only important factor is the score, which Everton are bossing thanks to that early Cahill goal.
More bad news for Arsenal, as live-wire full-back Justin Hoyte is injured so Mathieu Flamini comes on to replace him.
Even Kolo Toure has a crack at goal, but still the visitors hold firm at the back and the Ivorian is denied.
Arsenal continue to threaten with shots and crosses raining in, but Phil Neville is looking particularly impenetrable and blocks Alex Hleb's effort.
And the Arsenal defender follows him into the notebook for his subsequent unsporting behaviour
A spat between Mikel Arteta and William Gallas sees first the Everton man booked for the challenge...
Another shot from Henry (missed) and another cross from Hoyte (cut out) come to nothing for the trailing Gunners
It's early days, of course, but Arsene Wenger does have Theo Walcott and cup-hero Jeremie Aliadiere on the bench for later, should this current score continue into the second half
Tim Howard neatly saves from Thierry Henry, moments after Cesc Fabregas had room to get a shot in, though his was off target.
Arsenal respond well, with Tomas Rosicky's shot sailing over and Jusin Hoyte crossing dangerously...but this Arsenal team are so much better when leading than trailing games.
It's Arsenal 0 - Everton 1, and Tim Cahill has scored his seventh of the season, against the run of play. He reacted quickest to turn home an Everton corner.
It's all Arsenal at this stage, and Djourou has had a good claim for a penalty turned down
Johann Djourou gets an early test for the Gunners, but deals well with Mikel Arteta's cross to clear the ball away
Recalled Tim Howard easily claims Thierry Henry's first test: an inswinging corner
And so the action starts, with Arsenal and Everton beginning another intriguing contest
Arsene Wenger has spoken of his admiration for Toffees forward Andrew Johnson in the build up. Can he score today?
More tellingly, Arsene Wenger names exactly the same side that thrashed Reading last Sunday
Arsenal make 10 changes from the side that beat West Brom in midweek. Only Johann Djourou is getting two games in a row for them
They welcome Neville, Howard and Yobo back today - changes from the side that beat Luton
And David Moyes knows victory would see his team go above the Gunners, with fourth spot a possibility
But Everton are in pretty good form too, with two victories behind them of late.
Arsenal could rise to third today, though if results go against them, seventh would also be possible
The Gunners are also out to lengthen their home run of league victories against the Toffees to 11 matches
Kick-off is looming at the Emirates then, where Arsenal seek a sixth straight league win
Arsenal and Everton shared the points in an exciting 1-1 draw, although David Moyes was clearly the happier manager. Both sides lost ground in the race for the Championship, but the Gunners should really had made more of their dominance. A first-half goal from Tim Cahill shocked the Gunners, but Robin van Persie's thunderous equaliser spared Arsenal's blushes, but Arsene Wenger would be right to believe his side deserved more for their efforts. Arsenal had began brightly and Johan Djourou's run into the box had Tim Howard rushing out smartly to narrow the angle, while Alan Stubbs touched the ball away for a corner after five minutes. The Gunners were full of running but could not quite open up any clear cut chances as Everton squeezed the space by flooding the midfield and leaving Andrew Johnson as the lone raider in attack. Despite all their energy and possession, it was Everton who opened the scoring, albeit in fortuitous fashion. Kolo Toure's attempted clearance of Mikel Arteta's corner hit Cahill in the body and it was the Everton player who reacted first to latch on to the loose ball and fire it into the roof of the net from close range. The Gunners continued to pour forward and keep the visitors under pressure but could not quite carve out any clear chances. Thierry Henry forced Howard to punch the Gunners striker's 20-yard drive clear on 20 minutes and the Everton keeper gathered well from Toure's thunderous 30-yard drive. Long-range efforts, including an injury-time power drive from van Persie was as good as it got for the Arsene Wenger's team in the first half. Everton on the other hand were content to play on the counter-attack, and Johnson's pace was always a threat that ensured that Arsenal were not too cavalier about sending their defenders forward. A goal down at half-time, the Gunners came out quickly off the blocks after the re-start. The Gunners were quickly on the attack and Howard was forced to make the best save of the game to that point when he parried a powerful Henry header from Cesc Frabregas' pin-point cross on 46 minutes. Tomas Rosicky went close on the hour after Robin van Persie's free-kick cannoned back off the wall and into the path of the Czech player. His stinging shot flew inches wide of the left post. Howard was on hand to deny Fabregas a minute later when he athletically palmed away the young Spaniard's shot from the right side of the area. The American keeper was again on hand to keep his team in the lead just seconds later, doing just enough to distract Gilberto to ensure his powerful header from van Persie's cross was directed just wide. Wenger brought on Theo Walcott as right-back on 68 minutes with a clear licence for the youngster to make marauding runs along the flank. Within minutes Arsenal were level following a magnificently struck van Persie 30-yard free-kick that Howard could only help on its way into the roof of the net. Arsenal came close to claiming all the points in injury time when Tierry Henry's header from van Persie's free-kick was glanced just wide of the left post with Howard well beaten. Despite the Gunners piling on the pressure and claiming almost 70 per cent of the possession they could not make the breakthrough.
Corners
Fouls
Goal attempts
Shots off target
Offsides
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