Ndiaye penalty secures Everton point as Arsenal lose further ground at the top

The draw leaves Arsenal 11 points behind league leaders Liverpool with only seven games to play. Liverpool can stretch their advantage to 14 points with a victory over Fulham on Sunday. 

Iliman Ndiaye scored Everton's equaliser from the penalty spot against Arsenal after Myles Lewis Skelly was deemed to have fouled Jack Harrison inside the box. Pic: Martin Rickett/PA Wire.

Premier League: Everton 1 (Ndiaye pen 48) Arsenal 1 (Trossard 34)

Everton gave neighbours Liverpool's Premier League title hopes a boost by holding Arsenal to a draw for the second time this season.

Leandro Trossard gave the Gunners a first half lead but it was cancelled out by Illiman Ndiaye's penalty early in the second half as Everton followed up their goal-less draw at the Emirates in December by taking another point off the frustrated London club.

The result leaves the Gunners 11 points behind and a vastly inferior goal difference, with only seven games left - and Liverpool can stretch that to 14 points if they win at Fulham tomorrow.

Mikel Arteta's only consolation was that he didn't pick any more injuries ahead of their Champions League quarter-final clash with holders Real Madrid at the Emirates on Tuesday.

With one eye on that intriguing game, the Arsenal manager left some of his key attacking players, Bukaya Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinell, on the bench - although all three were introduced in the second half as the Gunners looked in vain for the win to keep their faint title hopes alive.

The only bit of real quality in a scrappy, free-kick littered first half was Arsenal's goal after 34 minutes.

It stemmed from Idrissa Geuye's mis-directed header that sent Raheem Sterling racing through. The former Liverpool player, booed with every touch, gave the perfect response to the terrace taunts, by feeding Trossard who, despite the close attentions of Jake O'Brien and James Tarkowski, fired a fine shot past Jordan Pickford and into the far corner.

Everton failed to test David Raya in the first period but were level within three minutes of the second half with a controversial goal.

Myles Lewis Skelly's showed his inexperience by wrestling Jack Harrison to the ground and referee Darren England pointed to the spot although the initial foul was committed outside the area.

A VAR review backed England's decision - because Lewis-Skelly had continued to impede Harrison as he tumbled in the box - leaving Ndiaye to keep his nerve and sent Raya the wrong way from the spot.

James Tarkowski, who was so lucky not to be red carded in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday, picked up his 64th yellow card in the Premier League - the Everton defender is the player with the most cautions without ever being sent off.

Arsenal pressed hard for the win but were denied by Pickford who made fine saves from a Declan Rice, Trossard and Martinelli while Mikel Merino headed wide from a good chance near the end.

Everton were effectively safe from the drop a while ago but the draw continues their revival under David Moyes - this was their 18th point in 12 League games since his return for a second spell as boss - although the game won't live long in the memory banks.

EVERTON (3-5-2): Pickford 6; O'Brien 7, Tarkowski 7, Branthwaite 7; Patterson 5 (Young 75, 5), Gueye 6, Iroegbunam 5 (Garner 65, 5), Doucoure 6, Harrison 6 (McNeil 86, 5); Ndiaye 8 (Alcaraz 75, 5), Beto 5 (Broja 65, 5) 

Booked: O'Brien, Tarkowski.

ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Raya 6; White 6 (Timber 61, ) Saliba 6, Kiwior 6, Lewis-Skelly 6 (Tierney 76, 5); Rice 7, Jorginho 6 (Odegaard 71, 6); Sterling 6 (Martinelli 46, 6), Trossard 8, Nwanieri 6 (Sake 46, 6); Merino 6.

Booked: Jorginho.

Referee: Darren England 7.