LIVERPOOL, England: Everton eased some of the pressure on manager Rafa Benitez as they won a 2-1 comeback against Arsenal in the Premier League on Monday, with Demarai Gray bagging a stunning stoppage time winner after setting up an equaliser.
Brazilian forward Richarlison, whose two goals were dropped for marginal offside after VAR checks, was right 79 minutes into the game after Gray hit the crossbar, canceling Martin Odegaard’s first-half opener for the visitors.
The result left Arsenal seventh with 23 points from 15 games, four points outside the top four, while Everton, who announced that Sunday football director Marcel Brands https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/struggling-everton-part- ways-with-director-football-brands-2021-12-06 had left his position, climbing to 12th on 18 points.
Everton captain Seamus Coleman praised the home fans who lifted the Toffees in the face of adversity after falling behind, also picking out Gray’s fine performance.
“We knew what goes on behind the scenes, the fans always come here to support us,” Coleman told Sky Sports. “They were behind us from minute one to minute 90 and helped us across the line.
“I tell him (Gray) every day. Sometimes these players don’t realize how good they can be. He has bundles of ability. He has to work hard every day because that’s what the top players do. He did that this week.”
Everton dominated the first half, creating several half chances before Richarlison headed in a 44th minute free kick from Andros Townsend, but his effort was disallowed.
Norwegian Odegaard then scored on the stroke of half time of Arsenal’s first deliberate move and sent the ball past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford as he came in from the left at the end of Kieran Tierney’s cross.
Richarlison thought he had equalized in the 57th minute as he drove the ball into the nearest post from close range, but Everton was again denied by VAR, causing the Brazilian to shake his head in disbelief.
But it was Richarlison’s third lucky streak when he defeated Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale with a looping header from a rebound after Gray’s long-range shot went off the woodwork, triggering a frenetic climax.
With some of the spoils ahead, Gray sent home fans into raptures when he cut two players in and defeated Ramsdale with a 25-yard lightning bolt that went off the post, giving Everton their first league win in nine games.
(Written by Zoran Milosavljevic; edited by Ken Ferris)
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