Arsenal Revival Gathers Pace As Aubameyang Downs Everton
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang boosted Arsenal’s hopes of gate-crashing the race to reach the Champions League as his double clinched a 3-2 win against Everton on Sunday.
For much of a troubled season Arsenal have been written off as also-rans in the battle to qualify for Europe’s elite club competition.
But, recovering from the wreckage of the Unai Emery era, their revival under Mikel Arteta is gathering pace.
Richarlison levelled for Everton to cap a dramatic first half, but Gabon striker Aubameyang had the final word seconds after the break.
Arsenal climbed above Everton into ninth place and sit four points behind fifth-placed Manchester United.
With second-placed Manchester City banned from European competitions for the next two years, as it stands finishing fifth could secure Champions League action pending the result of City’s appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
There is growing belief at Arsenal that they could take advantage of the punishment for Arteta’s former club.
The Gunners are now unbeaten in their last 10 games in all competitions, including seven without defeat in the league after a second successive victory.
Everton must recover quickly to avoid their own European hopes being dashed after a first defeat in six league games.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side were hoping for a statement victory and they made the perfect start after 49 seconds.
Gylfi Sigurdsson’s inswinging free-kick was met with a misjudged attempt to head clear from David Luiz, who only succeeded in glancing the ball up on the air off his shoulder.
Calvert-Lewin’s reaction was inspired as he threw himself into a spectacular overhead kick from six yards out that left Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno rooted to the spot.
It was the 22-year-old’s seventh league goal in his last nine games. Already reeling from their limp start, Arsenal were dealt another blow when left-back Sead Kolasinac was forced off with his right arm in a sling after an aerial collision with Djibril Sidibe
