Arsenal fail to make most of Liverpool slip with draw against Everton

LONDON :Arsenal spurned several chances and failed to take full advantage of Premier League leaders Liverpool's slip-up against Fulham when they were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Everton on Saturday.

Mikel Arteta's side kept their gap to Liverpool at six points but after their rivals were held to a 2-2 draw, title hopefuls Arsenal will be disappointed not to have made up some ground.

Arsenal remain third in the table on 30 points from 16 games, one point behind second-placed Chelsea, who host Brentford on Sunday.

Everton, who are 15th with 15 points, snapped a three-match losing streak against Arsenal and kept the north London club off the scoresheet by swarming them every time they got near the penalty area.

"They're a fine side. We know that. The players put a big shift in. The commitment to doing the basics - pressing and recovering and staying true to it for 90 minutes; I was proud of the players," Everton manager Sean Dyche told the BBC.

"They were trying to cross it to force something which shows how defensively solid we were. It's another step in the right direction."

PICKFORD HEROICS

In a lively start at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes, making his return from a hamstring injury, thwarted Abdoulaye Doucoure with an excellent block while Martin Odegaard twice shot wide from promising positions.

Odegaard was heavily involved in Arsenal's attack throughout the first half and the Norwegian midfielder was played in by Bukayo Saka in the 29th minute but his deflected shot was well kept out by Jordan Pickford.

Arsenal dominated possession but lacked their typical intensity, though they were able to test Pickford once again before the break, forcing the England stopper into another fine save to deny