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.

“I thought we deserved a point and it was a really good game, it was end to end,” insisted Everton manager David Moyes. “We had to defend well at times. It was never going to be easy for us and I’m not sure what a point does for us to be honest. But I’m not too despondent with a point. It keeps us going. It probably means we need to win all our games to have any chance now of the top four. I don’t know what it does for Arsenal either; Tottenham will probably be happiest with the point.”

For that reason, in particular, Arsenal may be more disappointed not to end the night with victory. But at least they rediscovered their competitive spirit, their energy, their passion just when it matters — there was even an old-fashioned confrontation in the tunnel at half-time.

Some of the old faults are still there — it can’t make Giroud a better goalscorer and it can’t help Bacary Sagna cross a football; but it does make playing Arsenal a completely different prospect for opponents who feel they are in for an easy time when they arrive at the Emirates.

Everton are used to bossing opponents in a physical contest — and in Marouanne Fellaini they have a midfielder capable of mixing with virtually anyone. But this time Arsenal stood up to the challenge and went toe to toe with their rivals; they just didn’t have enough at the sharp end to finish their work.

In many ways this performance was old-school Arsenal — the kind Patrick Vieira would have enjoyed. It was a full of ferocious challenges, full-blooded tackles and thunderous surges forward from midfield where the energy of fit-again Jack Wilshere set the tone for everything It’s tempting to say Wilshere’s return was the catalyst; but the midfielder was missing when Wenger’s men ground out a victory at in-form West Brom recently, holding on with 10 men against the odds — so may be there is more to it than that. Maybe Arsenal, in the face of so much criticism from outside, have just found their fire at last.

Everton certainly have plenty of that commodity; and in the first half Irishman Darron Gibson was fortunate to stay on the pitch following two thunderous challenges on Theo Walcott, who caused problems for the visitors all night. He was booked for the first but somehow got away with the second — a blatant physical block when Walcott had sped past him — with referee Neil Swarbrick opting not to take action. Should have been sent off? “Yes,” insisted Wenger afterwards.

There were chances, too, in a hugely competitive first half which Arsenal edged but in which Everton gave regular glimpses of their own potential.

In fact Everton’s Steven Pienaar had the first real opportunity of the match when he lifted a shot over the bar after six minutes before Giroud missed a wonderful opportunity for Arsenal, surging on to a low cross from Aaron Ramsey.

The visitors, with young midfielder Ross Barkley impressive and defender Phil Jagielka almost impenetrable, were always in it; and having survived a shot from Cazorla which was well saved in the second half they almost took the lead with a stunning effort from Barkley which flew only centimetres over the bar.

Seamus Coleman then denied Giroud with a remarkable saving tackle before the Frenchman lifted an excellent opportunity over the bar with the last real chance of the match — although Arsenal won a string of corners which were all defended.

So where does it leave Arsenal, whose remaining fixtures are Fulham on Saturday, home to Manchester United on April 28, away to QPR on May 4, home to Wigan on May 14 and finally away to Newcastle on May 19, the last day of the campaign? “We should have won the game but it keeps us in a strong position for the top four,” insisted Wenger, who also claimed his team should have been better protection in a physical match.

“We responded well to the physicality and showed good commitment. I can only congratulate my players. We dropped two points but are on a good run; let’s look at ourselves and come back in the next game. I don’t want to depend on results of other teams. My belief was always strong and still is.

“We showed fantastic focus for 90 minutes. It was disappointing we couldn’t take our chances.

“Overall, we kept a clean sheet, which was the target. We had the chances to score. Maybe we looked too much for power and not enough to place the ball.”

“We’re in a strong position. we are on a strong run. If we keep this fighting spirit I’m sure we’ll get there.”

ARSENAL: Szczesny 6, Sagna 6, Mertesacker 7, Koscielny 6, Gibbs 7 (Monreal 90), Ramsey 7, Arteta 8, Wilshere 7 (Oxlade-Chamberlain 68; 6), Walcott 7 (Podolski 68; 7), Giroud 6, Cazorla 7.

EVERTON: Howard 7, Coleman 7 Jagielka 9, Distin 6, Baines 6, Pienaar 6, Gibson 7, Barkley 7 (Jelavic 76), Mirallas 7 (Oviedo 90), Fellaini 8, Anichebe 6 (Naismith 90).

Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)