Arsenal's hopes of a top-four finish in the Premier League were dented on Sunday as Everton's Phil Jagielka took advantage of a late recall to score the only goal of the game at Goodison Park.
Everton's Phil Jagielka scores the winner against Arsenal at Goodison Park in Liverpool on Sunday.Credit:PA
The veteran defender, who was brought into the team for a rare appearance after Michael Keane had to withdraw in the warm-up through illness, scored after 10 minutes to earn his side a well-deserved third straight league win.
It marked a significant setback for disappointing Arsenal, who remain fourth in the table but missed an opportunity to leap ahead of their third-placed north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Unai Emery's side stay on 63 points, one behind Spurs, level with fifth-placed Chelsea and two clear of Manchester United in an increasingly tight battle for the Champions League berths.
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Everton's Lucas Digne and Arsenal's Mesut Ozil battle for the ball at Goodison Park.Credit:PA
The experienced Jagielka proved Everton's unlikely hero after his late call-up, becoming the oldest goalscorer in the league this season at 36 years 233 days when he poked home his finish after Arsenal failed to clear Lucas Digne's long throw.
The ball had fallen kindly after Dominic Calvert-Lewin got the final touch on to him in the aerial battle, allowing Jagielka to score his first league goal in two years and become Everton's second-oldest marksman in the Premier League era.
"I'm not normally a match-winner, full stop," laughed the former England defender on Sky Sports. "They're the best goals, the little tap-ins from two or three yards."
His goal signalled a hungry and aggressive display from Everton who, while moving up to ninth on 46 points, could have won far more convincingly if Gylfi Sigurdsson and Richarlison had converted any of the side's 23 attempts on goal.
"We got one goal but could have scored a few more," added Jagielka.
He earned special praise from delighted Everton manager Marco Silva: "He was to start on the bench, but showed how he is a good professional and prepares himself for what the coach and team needs. He is always ready to help the team."
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