Cool Ndiaye Penalty Pegs Back Arsenal

Everton's final meeting with Arsenal at Goodison Park – exactly 120 years on from the first – ended in a hard-fought 1-1 draw in Saturday's lunchtime kick-off.

The Gunners led at the half-time interval courtesy of Leandro Trossard's well-taken strike, before Iliman Ndiaye levelled with a cool penalty almost immediately after the restart.

The Blues, who also welcomed back Dwight McNeil as a late substitute following a four-month absence with a knee injury, then managed a late surge of pressure from the visitors to register a pleasing point.

FIRST HALF

Ndiaye returned to the starting line-up for the first time in more than seven weeks after recovering from a knee injury, as one of three changes to the Blues' side that started at Anfield less than 72 hours previously.

Tim Iroegbunam and Nathan Patterson were also given the nod from the start, with James Garner dropping to the bench and Vitalii Mykolenko missing out through injury.

Iroegbunam – on his first start since 14 September after momentum from a bright start to his Blues career was halted by a foot injury – was in the thick of the action less than two minutes in, providing a vital block to deny Raheem Sterling from 12 yards after the Gunners had attacked down the right following a slip by Jordan Pickford.

Six minutes later, it was Everton's turn to threaten, Ndiaye threading a seemingly impossible pass between two Arsenal defenders to release Beto, who did well to hold off William Saliba's challenge but after a clever back-heel into the path of Abdoulaye Doucoure, the midfielder opted against a first-time shot and Arsenal snuffed out the danger.

As the clock hit nine minutes, all four sides of Goodison – including the entire away section – rose to their feet to pay tribute to the late, great Kevin Campbell, a boyhood Arsenal fan who forged an unbreakable bond during an unforgettable playing career with Everton. As fate would have it - it was also exactly 26 years to the day that Campbell made his Goodison debut for the Blues.

Back on the pitch, while ceding a majority of the possession to their opponents, Everton continued to efficiently pick their moments to cause problems. 

Jack Harrison's inviting in-swinging delivery from a free-kick somehow evaded everybody before Ben White hacked clear, only for Ndiaye to pick Jakub Kiwior's pocket by the corner flag to the delight of the home crowd. Unfortunately, the Senegal international's low centre was cut out and the Gunners were able to clear their lines.

Midway through the first period, Arsenal nearly capitalised on another Everton error but Jarrad Branthwaite expertly tracked Leandro Trossard as he bore down on goal and the Toffees' defender intervened at the crucial moment with a crunching sliding challenge to the delight of the Gwladys Street.

That unique Goodison roar of appreciation – as it so often proves to be – buoyed David Moyes side to pour forward on the counter-attack and after a neat inter-change between Ndiaye and Doucoure on the edge of the penalty area, only a last-ditch block denied the former from threatening David Raya's goal.

The opening goal came 11 minutes before the half-time interval, Sterling seizing on Idrissa Gana Gueye's glancing header in midfield before bursting forward and finding Trossard, who set himself before firing an angled low shot past Pickford.

Everton's response was positive. Immediately from kick-off, Tarkowski's pass dropped just in time for Beto to win a corner, before a flowing move between Nathan Patterson – operating in an unfamiliar left-back role – and Ndiaye forced another corner from the opposite side. 

The Gunners initially dealt with a short corner routine but Harrison was presented with a second bite of the cherry and his cross was met by a powerful Jake O'Brien header, which flashed over the crossbar.

Mikel Arteta's side killed that wave of momentum with a sustained spell of possession before the break and went close to doubling their lead in stoppage time when Rice's shot was well blocked by James Tarkowski after Trossard's effort had been saved by Pickford.

SECOND HALF

Arsenal introduced fit-again duo Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka off the bench for the second period.

But it was Everton who came racing out of the blocks, and the Toffees had a penalty less than 60 seconds after the restart, after Jack Harrison was hauled down by Myles Lewis-Skelly.

After a VAR check, the on-field decision was confirmed and Ndiaye held his nerve, calmly sending Raya the wrong way from the spot for his ninth goal of the campaign in front of a sun-bathed and adoring Gwladys Street.

Goodison was rocking and Everton poured forward again moments later, Ndiaye stealing possession just outside the Blues' penalty area before a quick one-two with Gana eventually released Doucoure, who carried the ball forward before forcing Raya into a smart save at his near post with a shot from just inside the penalty area.

Arsenal, unsurprisingly for a team sitting in second place in the Premier League and a Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid to come, continued to enjoy plenty of possession and produce dangerous moments.

One of those came when Lewis-Skelly's mazy run from inside his own half only came to an end via a foul from James Tarkowski, and Declan Rice stung the palms of Pickford from the resulting free-kick.

Ndiaye – suffering with cramp after a monstrous effort on his first start back from injury – was afforded a standing ovation as he left the pitch in place of Charly Alcaraz with 15 minutes remaining.

Only a world-class Pickford save then looked to have denied Trossard a second of the contest, England's No.1 somehow palming a venomous half volley over the crossbar but it wouldn't have counted, with the referee then calling play back for a foul on Branthwaite.

Pickford was on hand again with another superb stop as the Gunners stepped up their pressure in the closing 10 minutes, diverting Martinelli's right-footed strike behind for a corner after the Brazilian had skipped in field from the left flank.

There was a warm welcome back for Dwight McNeil, who was introduced with four minutes remaining, having been absent with a knee issue since the beginning of December.

Arteta's side continued to push forward for a winner and went close to doing so when Mikel Merino headed a cross from the left narrowly wide of Pickford's right-hand post.

But Everton managed the pressure well and held on for a well-earned draw, with just three games at Goodison Park now remaining.