Gallant Everton defence ultimately embarrassed by 16-year-old kid

Gallant Everton defence ultimately embarrassed by 16-year-old kid Arsenal 2 - 0 Everton Everton defended brilliantly for 89 minutes against Premier League leaders Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on Saturday evening without their two best centre-backs, both missing from the heart of the defence. But the match ended after 16-year-old Max Dowman created the first easy tap-in with a clever cross that fooled Jordan Pickford, before he ran the full length of the field to score into an empty net after Pickford and the entire Everton team had gone upfield for a final corner. With Jarrad Branthwaite and James Tarkowski both 'unavailable', Michael Keane started alongside Jake O'Brien as the Blues' centre-backs at the Emirates.

James Garner switched to right-back, with Vitalii Mykolenko on the left side of defence. Tim Iroegbunam (the correct spelling) partnered Idrissa Gana Gueye in defensive midfield. The front line stayed the same with Dwight McNeil and Iliman Ndiaye on the flanks, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in the No 10 role, and Beto preferred to Barry up front.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford – bidding for his 100th clean sheet for Everton – captained the team in the absence of James Tarkowski. First Half The game started with Everton attacking, Declan Rice going down because someone stood on his foot. But the expected [pattern of Arsenal passing and possession soon set in.

Arsenal took a very quick free-kick when Gana tangled with Eze. That resulted in a throw-in, then a corner taken short and a fierce shot from Madueke that Pickford parried. It was frenetic as Arsenal tried to force their way in, Tim Iroegbunam across well to deny Havertz, but they won the ball back and Calafiori's shot was deflected for another corner.