Pressure mounted on Mikel Arteta as Arsenal slumped to their seventh successive Premier League game without a win.
The Gunners find themselves scrapping at the wrong end of the Premier League table as they were beaten 2-1 by Everton on Saturday.
Rob Holding’s own goal and Yerry Mina’s header were enough for Carlo Ancelotti’s side while Nicolas Pepe converted from the spot for the visitors.
Everton took the lead in the 22nd minute from their first piece of quality delivery.
Alex Iwobi’s cross picked out Dominic Calvert-Lewin and his glancing header, which appeared to be going wide, went in off Gunners captain Rob Holding.
Everton seemed comfortable with their lead but a poor defensive header from Mina left Davies with no option but to attempt to boot the ball clear but Ainsley Maitland-Niles nipped in and the Everton midfielder’s swing of his right foot brought down his opponent.
Nicolas Pepe sent Pickford the wrong way from the penalty spot for a 35th-minute equaliser.
Dani Ceballos was perhaps lucky to still be on the pitch when his nasty challenge on Mina went unpunished shortly before the break.
His studs caught the back of the Everton defender’s calf but the referee, and VAR, deemed no further action was needed.
When it looked like the hosts’ momentum had been killed, they went into half-time ahead.
Calvert-Lewin’s shot was tipped around the post by Bernd Leno and – from Gylfi Sigurdsson’s resulting corner – Mina rose highest to beat the goalkeeper at his near post.
The second half presented few real opportunities for both teams with Pickford and Leno rarely tested.
Gabriel Martinelli and Alexandre Lacazette were introduced to try and inject some life into the Gunners but could not find an equaliser.
The best chance fell Bukayo Saka’s way in the final minute of the game but Pickford was equal to the task.
(TalkSPORTS)
