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Arsenal 3-1 Everton

  • Goals from Bellerin, Sanchez and Ramsey ensured victory for Arsenal.
  • The Gunners fought well after going down to 10 men, Laurent Koscielny was dismissed for a horror challenge on Enner Valencia.
  • Everton halved the deficit in the second half through Lukaku and had several chances to score.
  • Despite the win Arsenal will have to contend with Champions League football next season, after Liverpool beat Middlesbrough 3-0 at Anfield.
Arsenal vs Everton
Reuters

Full-time: Arsenal 3-1 Everton

A spirited display from Wenger's men, especially after they were reduced to 10 men early on, but the victory was not enough for them to sneak back into the Champions League positions.

The Gunners took the lead through Hector Bellerin and doubled it through Alexis Sanchez, but in between the two strikes was the dismissal of Koscielny, who will now miss the FA Cup final against Chelsea.

Everton halved the deficit through Romelu Lukaku and threatened to haul the Gunners back, but Aaron Ramsey's delightful late effort ensured victory for Arsenal, who will have to make do with the Europa League next season.

Arsenal vs Everton
Reuters

Barkley shoots from outside the box again but just misses Cech's left post. Everton have had their chances, but cannot really complain about the result.

A wonderful curled effort from Ramsey to seal the three points. All smiles from the Welshman, but Europa League still beckons no matter what.

GOAL! Arsenal 3-1 Everton (Ramsey)

Barkley picks his head up and fires a shot wide of Cech's post.

We're into stoppage time at The Emirates Stadium now. Five minutes left to be played.

Lukaku almost threads through a glorious ball for Barkley but Cech comes and claims well.

At the other end, Iwobi dances past a creaking Everton defence but cannot find a way past Robles, who has made a number of superb saves.

Welbeck misses another chances to put the game beyond doubt from close range.

Everton force another corner through Baines, but nothing comes of it.

Final change for Everton as Arouna Kone replaces Enner Valencia.

Everton still pressing for an equaliser, but Arsenal are holding on.

Everton really coming on strong now. Barry forces a corner that's taken by Mirallas, but Jagielka can only guide the ball onto the roof of the net.

Mirallas almost restores parity to the scoreline with a rasping effort that flies inches over the bar. Good work from the Belgian to evade Bellerin, but his short just could not find the target.

Another booking!

This time for Baines, who trips Ramsey cynically. The verve and tempo has been sapped from this second half, but Robles had to be on hand to deny Ozil from restoring Arsenal's two-goal lead.

Valencia has the ball in the net but is adjudged to have fouled Holding as he rose to head the ball past Cech.

Wenger sees fit to introduce Iwobi in place of Sanchez. The Chilean did not seem too enamoured with the decision.

Schneiderlin boots Ozil. Oliver resists another red. The Frenchman is riled up today.

Arsenal make a change as Coquelin replaces Xhaka.

Oliver is card happy today, and he needs to be. Holding goes into the book for cynically shoving Valencia, who has certainly been in the wars today.

From the free-kick Barkley whips in a lovely ball that nobody can connect with, and the danger is eventually cleared.

An angered Schneiderlin receives a yellow card for clattering into Xhaka.

Lukaku makes no mistake from the spot. That's his 25th league goal of the season, and only his first penalty. Game on!

GOAL! Arsenal 2-1 Everton (Lukaku)

Monreal stupidly handles a cross in the area and gives away a needless spot-kick.

PENALTY TO EVERTON!

Williams tripped Welbeck and looked set to be sent off by Michael Oliver, but a word from Schneiderlin seemed to persuade the referee from getting his card out his pocket. Interesting turn of events.

Claims for an Everton penalty waved away by Michael Oliver. Valencia took a tumble after a challenge from Mertesacker, and looked bemused as to why he was not awarded a spot-kick.

Gabriel's race is run. He is replaced by Per Mertesacker, who is making his first appearance of the season.

Arsenal come close to making it three but Robles does well to deny Welbeck and Ozil from ending the contest.

Play is now stopped with Gabriel and Valencia needing treatment. It doesn't look good for the Brazilian.

Reminder that the FA Cup final is one week away and the Gunners will already be without Koscielny for it due to his earlier red card.

Oh, and Liverpool have made it 2-0 against Middlesbrough. It never rains but it pours.

Everton look bright in the second half but Lukaku is simply getting everything wrong today.

A half-time change for Everton with Gareth Barry replacing Idrissa Gueye. Back under way for the second half at The Emirates.

Hmmm. A bit much, no?

Away from The Emirates Stadium for a moment. What a goal by young Joshua Harrop on his senior debut for Manchester United! Mourinho's men lead Palace by two goals to nil.

Sanchez scored his 24th league goal of the season in the first half, but his Golden Boot quest is all but over after Harry Kane's brace at Hull City.

Alexis Sanchez
Reuters

Half-time: Arsenal 2-0 Everton

An entertaining game of football with chances for both teams. Arsenal, down to 10 men after Koscielny's red card, are in the lead courtesy of goals from Hector Bellerin and Alexis Sanchez. Romelu Lukaku has missed a host of chances for the Blues.

Arsenal are doing their bit, but Liverpool have just taken the lead through Gini Wijnaldum.

As it stands, Europa League beckons.

Another Everton attack ends in a chance for Lukaku, but the Belgian skews his shot harmlessly wide of the post. Should have done much better there.

Lukaku tests Cech again with a strong header that is clipped over. The corner is cleared but Baines wins the ball back and fins Valencia, who tests Cech from long range.

Gueye picks his head up and shoots from distance, Cech has to parry for a corner.

Everton's corner is cleared with ease but Ozil cannot lead a successful counter. It's very end-to-end, this.

Somehow, it remains 2-0. Cech makes a great save from Lukaku, but Barkley and Valencia spurn very good opportunities. Lukaku then tries to pounce in the box, but Cech just gathers.

Arsenal break quickly through Sanchez, who receives a whack from Jagielka. Yellow card.

Lukaku looks to latch on a Holgate cross but Cech does well to read the danger. The Belgian then tries to find Valencia, but his pass is abysmal.

The moment Koscielny saw red for his wild challenge.

Arsenal vs Everton
Reuters

Sanchez almost make it three with a cheeky attempt to catch Robles off-guard. The Spaniard just about deals with the whipped effort.

30 minutes gone, Arsenal are comfortable despite being a man down. Everton have nothing to play for, but Koeman is far from happy with his players, uttering a few choice words in the technical area.

Sanchez starts and ends the move. His shot is blocked by Jagielka but only into the path of Welbeck, who evades Robles, squares the ball and tees up the Chilean who taps the ball home.

GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Everton (Sanchez)

Everton break quickly but Mirallas' pass is poor.

Koeman sees fit to make a change as Ross Barkley comes on for Tom Davies, who does not seem to be injured.

Sanchez wins a free-kick from Schneiderlin but hits it straight at the wall. The Gunners make another chance from a set piece, but Gabriel heads over.

Lukaku makes some space and tries to find Davies with a low cross, but the ball just about evades the young starlet.

At the other end, Ramsey almost darts into a shooting position before being blocked out by Jagielka.

Ashley Williams picks up a yellow card for hauling Sanchez to the ground. Jagielka clears the resulting free-kick before Ozil fouls Mirallas. The German seemed frustrated as he booted the ball away.

Valencia is back on his feet and seemed to be held back by Xhaka as he attempted to burst through on goal. A stunning burst of pace from the Ecuadorian, who has every right to feel aggrieved.

Koscielny sees red for a wild challenge on Enner Valencia. His feet were in the air as he wildly lunged in. Arsenal players surround Michael Oliver, but they can have no complaints.

Deserved sending off.

RED CARD! Koscielny is off!

Everton finally getting their foot on the ball at The Emirates but are yet to trouble Arsenal.

Kevin Mirallas tries to find an already isolated Lukaku but his attempt is in vain. The winger then goes for glory himself but his stinging shot is grasped well by Cech.

Welbeck's blushes are spared.

Great work from Ramsey and Ozil to make space in Everton's penalty area. The German finds Welbeck with the goal at his mercy, but he manages to hit the ball backwards.

Luckily for him, Bellerin is on hand to fire the Gunners in front.

GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Everton (Bellerin)

Bellerin's causing problems again. The Spaniard darts away from the attention of Baines but Gueye cuts his run just as he darted into Everton's area. It's a one-man show so far!

Bellerin has the freedom of The Emirates Stadium in the opening exchanges it seems.

The young right-back is found by Ozil in loads of room but his cross is a poor one.

Almost 1-0 for Arsenal!

Great work from Sanchez and Bellerin finds the Spaniard in space in the area. He cuts the ball back for Welbeck, who can't find the target.

Everton get things under way at The Emirates Stadium.

The teams are in the tunnel. Kick-off just moments away.

An interesting statistic courtesy of Everton's new sponsors. SportPesa.

Less than 15 minutes to go until kick-off at The Emirates Stadium. A reminder of today's teams:

Arsenal: Cech, Holding, Koscielny, Gabriel, Bellerin, Ramsey, Xhaka, Monreal, Ozil, Alexis, Welbeck.

Everton: Robles, Baines, Jagielka, Williams, Holgate, Gueye, Schneiderlin, Davies, Valencia, Mirallas, Lukaku.

Could this be Sanchez's last game for Arsenal?

The Chilean has scored 23 Premier League goals this season, and will be hoping to end the campaign with a flurry in order to pip Romelu Lukaku and Harry Kane to the Golden Boot.

Despite scoring the winning goal against Watford last week, Ross Barkley does not start against Arsenal.

Fans on social media have taken that as a sign that he has rejected Everton's contract offer. That may not be true, but Koeman admitted that he was not confident about keeping the 23-year-old in his press conference on Friday.

Asked if he was confident about keeping Barkley at Everton and away from the clutches of Tottenham et al, Koeman said: "No because it's a long time that he's thinking about his future. I'm not worried because I want to work with players who like to stay at Everton, it's not about his decision, we will go on, we're looking at players in his position.

"I spoke to the player, the board spoke to the player and his agent, we need an answer. We'll see what it will be, I don't know what will happen if he doesn't give an answer."

Ronald Koeman and Ross Barkley
Koeman has been firm with Barkley. Reuters

A damning statistic from an Everton perspective.

Everton have a rather appalling record when playing against the Premier League's top teams in recent seasons. Can they start rectifying that at The Emirates Stadium, a ground they have never won at before?

Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku may play their final games for Everton today, but Idrissa Gueye truly hopes that isn't the case.

"There is no reason to believe at the moment that they are not going to be with us come the start of pre-season," Gueye told The Liverpool Echo. "I think it would be a good thing for them and for us as players if they are with us. We are all about growing this club and improving it.

"It's great for the club if guys like that do stay. On a personal level I get on great with both of them, we have a laugh in training. I have a great relationship with them off the field but an even better one with them on the field, passing the ball and working with them.

Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku
Lukaku and Barkley may not pull on an Everton shirt again. Reuters

No place for Shkodran Mustafi in the Arsenal squad, but Laurent Koscielny is fit and starts. Danny Welbeck spearheads the attack, while Hector Bellerin gets the nod as a right wing-back. Will this be the team to face Chelsea in the FA Cup final.

TEAM NEWS

Arsenal substitutes: Ospina, Elneny, Mertesacker, Coquelin, Iwobi, Walcott, Giroud.

TEAM NEWS

Everton substitutes: Hewelt, Pennington, J.Williams, Barry, Besic, Barkley, Kone

TEAM NEWS

Everton: Joel, Baines, Williams, Jagielka Holgate, Schneiderlin, Davies, Gueye, Mirallas, Valencia, Lukaku.

Everton make one change from the side that beat Watford 1-0, and it's an interesting one.

Ross Barkley, still mulling over his Everton future, is replaced by Enner Valencia.

TEAM NEWS

Arsenal have fond memories of previous home encounters against Everton. Take a look at this sumptuous goal from Patrick Vieira, from all the way back in 2005.

Passing ✅ movement ✅ finish✅ #Arsenal #AFCvEFC #PremierLeague

A post shared by Arsenal Official (@arsenal) on

The Gunners are also in the building. They'll be aiming to shoot down the Merseysiders and hoping their local foes slip up against Middlesbrough at Anfield.

The Blues are out of the bus and in the stadium.

Failing to qualify for the Champions League could lead to a host of departures this summer. Attacking duo Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez are two men courting interest and uncertainty over their futures but Arsene Wenger thinks the pair want to remain in north London.

Asked whether Arsenal will have trouble keeping Ozil and Sanchez if they fail to qualify for the Champions League, Wenger said in his press conference: "No. First of all they are under contract and they behave like they want to be at the club. I don't question their focus and their determination because in every game they turn up with strong performances."

Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil
Sanchez and Ozil both have one year left to run on their current deals. Reuters

All smiles for the Everton gang on the way to London. Will they be just as jubilant on the way home? We'll find out in due course.

Good spirit in the train to London 🔵⚪️ #perudo

A post shared by Morgan Schneiderlin (@schneiderlinmo4) on

Arsenal need three points against Everton to keep their slight Champions League hopes alive, but they will have to attempt to secure victory without Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, while Laurent Koscielny is also doubtful due to his troublesome Achilles. Wenger did offer some encouraging news on the injury front, though, with playmaker Aaron Ramsey fit to play against Ronald Koeman's men on Sunday.

"[Alex] Oxlade-Chamberlain is still out," added Wenger. "We have uncertainty about Koscielny. He will have a test today or tomorrow and then I will make a decision. Aaron Ramsey is alright."

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Reuters

Gunners fans still as divided as ever, it seems.

Arsenal
Reuters

Arsenal are hoping for a real bolt from the blue from already-relegated Middlesbrough at Anfield, but they need to take care of business against the boys in the royal blue jerseys.

A win against Everton is a must for Arsene Wenger's men, but the Frenchman has a rather poor record against Ronald Koeman, who is hoping to guide the Blues to their first victory away against the Gunners since 1996.

Ronald Koeman and Arsene Wenger
Koeman has a rather impressive record over Wenger. Reuters

Good afternoon and welcome to IB Times UK's live coverage of Arsenal vs Everton.

It's judgement day at The Emirates Stadium. Arsene Wenger's men could miss out on the Champions League for the first time in over 20 years if Liverpool secure victory against Middlesbrough at Anfield, and the lack of involvement in Europe's premier club competition could lead to a flurry of summer exits.

There is a lot on the line for Arsenal, but Everton have nothing to play for apart from pride. The Toffees are not going to roll over in north London, though, and Toffees boss Ronald Koeman boasts a rather impressive record against Wenger.

Stick with IB Times UK for team news, match updates and the latest reaction as the drama unfolds at the Emirates.

The Emirates Stadium
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