Gunners show steel, but can’t break Toffees

Arsenal 0 Everton 0

A goalless draw against a strong Toffees side themselves holding slim hopes of Champions League football next season isn’t on the face of it a disaster, especially as it is enough to keep Arsenal in third position in the Premier League; but both Chelsea and Tottenham have games in hand and season is certainly heading for a nervous finale.

The reason Arsenal didn’t win was two-fold; partly because Oliver Giroud wasted three excellent opportunities to score as he once again proved frustratingly profligate in front of goal — and partly because Everton were so strong in defence and so organised, they proved impossible to break down.