Arsenal faced a frustrating goalless draw against Everton at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, leaving fans disappointed and questioning their chances of contending for the Premier League title.
With the full-time whistle met by scattered boos, it was clear this game represented more than just two dropped points. Mikel Arteta's men had significant possession, dominating 76% of the ball and firing 13 shots. Yet, their inability to capitalize on these chances left them with just one point, as Everton's resolute defense proved too tough to crack.
Arteta expressed his frustration post-match, saying, "I am disappointed not to win the game. There is only one team who deserves to win and that's Arsenal." He noted his team's efforts, stating they conceded no shots and controlled the match but failed to score. Arteta lamented, "We generated chances but you have to score with all the dominance. I cannot ask more from the boys apart from putting the ball in the net. We have to put them away.”
Despite dominating possession and being able to dictate the game's pace, Arsenal struggled to put the ball behind Everton's goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. The England international made five key saves, including a spectacular reaction stop from Bukayo Saka's volley. The Toffees, under manager Sean Dyche, offered tenacious defense, with Dyche commenting on his side's resilience by stating, "They were trying to cross it to force something, which shows how defensively solid we were."
Reflecting on the match statistics reveals some telling insights about Arsenal's current form. With 30 points earned from 16 matches, they are now trailing behind league leaders Liverpool, who, coincidentally, also drew on the same day. Historically, Arsenal has struggled with draws, accumulating six this season. This pattern is about to become problematic for the title race if they can’t convert these opportunities. At this same stage last season, they were on 36 points and competing at the top of the table.
All eyes are now on Arsenal’s attacking prowess, and whether the team requires reinforcements during the upcoming January transfer window. There has been speculation about potential signings such as Newcastle’s Alexander Isak and Juventus's Dusan Vlahovic. Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown suggested the team could benefit from "a different tool in the box" to maximize their chances of scoring.
The absence of a prolific striker has led to discussions concerning their goal-scoring ability, particularly as Arsenal has scored four fewer goals than they had by this stage last season. With just 27 non-penalty goals to their name after 16 games this season—matching their figure from last year but showing weaker goal conversion—Arteta's side is stymied by their finishing. They also garnered just 1.42 expected goals from their chances against Everton.
Arteta has been vocal on the need for improvement up front, stating, "When you do what we did against them, you have to win the game. This is football, and the hardest thing is the last 20-25 metres." This acknowledgment of their shortcomings clearly indicates Arteta's desire for more quality from his players, particularly at the business end of the pitch. The Gunners also missed several set-piece opportunities, failing to convert from eight corners during the match, which had previously served as one of their most effective scoring methods.
The game's end left the Gunners with little margin for error if they hope to reclaim the title. After the match, Arsenal is reflecting on the results when every point is precious. Theo Walcott, former Arsenal winger, echoed the sentiments of many fans when he stated, "Any opportunity Arsenal doesn't get a result is always going to be a missed opportunity because Liverpool are relentless."
Under the pressure of maintaining title ambitions and addressing their scoring woes, Arsenal faces difficult questions about the direction they need to take to remain competitive this season. Without improvement and new contributions from the squad, their chances of catching Liverpool may diminish. Arteta sums it up well: "At the end, if you draw the game you always want more. We want more. But I cannot ask much more from the boys apart from putting the ball in the net."
