Arsenal suffered back-to-back Premier League defeats after a 2-1 loss at the hands of Everton on Monday night.
Gunners captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang started on the bench, while Kieran Tierney, Granit Xhaka, Bukayo Saka and Alexandre Lacazette were thrown back in the side by Mikel Arteta,
Everton enjoyed a bright start well inside the midway period with Abdoulaye Doucoure getting on the end of a loose ball in the area but he was quickly thwarted by goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
The Toffees were then forced to make a substitution with the half-hour mark gone after Yerry Mina, back after a spell on the sidelines vacated duty for Mason Holgate.
Although, the host did put the ball in the net through a header by Richarlison from a free-kick by Andros Townsend five minutes to the break but it was disallowed after it went for a review.
The Toffees misfortune turned to gain for the Gunners seconds to halftime when Martin Odegaard volleyed Tierney’s well-timed delivery into the near corner of the net.
Rafael Benitez’s men looked to hit back immediately after the break from a volleyed attempt by Anthony Gordon following a free-kick, but Ramsdale tipped over the crossbar.
The Toffees had the ball in the net again with 58 minutes played from a smart finish by Richarlison following a pass by Doucoure, but it was disallowed again after the Brazilian strayed offside.
Richarlison came good at long last when he pounced on a rebound off the crossbar following Demarai Gray’s shot 12 minutes from time to head in as the Gunners battled to keep shape.
Arsenal missed a big chance to go ahead again minutes later after Eddie Nketiah’s close-range header from a cross came off the post before it bounced out of play.
The Toffees though stole the tie two minutes in time added on when Gray dropped a shoulder outside the area to curl in off the far post.
A third goal looked on the cards after former Arsenal man Alex Iwobi ran on the end of a through pass to go level with Ramsdale, but the latter smothered as the hosts were able to hold out for the win.
