African Superstar Leads Arsenal To Thrilling Victory
24 February, 2020
English Premier League
Result: Arsenal 3-2 Everton
Date: 23 February 2020
Venue: Emirates Stadium
African superstar Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang bagged a brace as Arsenal defeated Everton in a five-goal thriller at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday evening.
Gunners manager Mikel Arteta made a number of changes that included the return of Hector Bellerin, Mesut Ozil, Dani Ceballos, Nicolas Pepe and Sead Kolasinac while young forward Eddie Nketiah started ahead of Alexandre Lacazette.
Everton grabbed the lead in the first minute of the match courtesy of Dominic Calvert-Lewin' gorgeous overhead kick in the box following the hosts failed to deal with a free-kick whipped in by Gylfi Sigurdsson.
Arsenal were then dealt a personal injury blow in the 18th minute after Kolasinac landed awkwardly on his arm from an aerial challenge with Sidibe and was replaced by Bukayo Saka.
However, Saka's arrival paid off as the 18-year-old delivered a inviting cross into the box where Nketiah was readily available to volley past Jordan Pickford for the equaliser.
Six minutes later, Aubameyang completed the turnaround with a curling strike in to the far bottom corner after he beat the offside trap to latch onto David Luiz's pass.
Everton applied the pressure in the closing phase of the first stanza and were rewarded when Richarlison levelled matters in first-half stoppage time with an outstretched finish after one from Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
Arteta's men had a bright start in the second stanza, as Aubameyang gifted the Gunners the lead barely one minute from the break with a powerful header at the near post from Pepe's cross.
Everton were pinned back their own half for longer periods and Ancelotti made a double change just after the hour-mark, as Andre Gomes came on for Morgan Schneiderlin for fresh legs in midfield and Bernard replaced Iwobi in a tactical move.
The visitors came near to snatching the equaliser with 18 minutes remaining after Calvert-Lewin latched onto Richarlison's deflected header, clear on goal in the six-yard box but his close range shot was brilliantly saved by Leno.
Nketiah was unlucky never to give Arsenal a two-goal lead within the last three minutes after pouncing on a back pass by Pickford as his curling effort crashed against the the frame of the target.
Calvert-Lewin almost snatched the equaliser for the Toffees in stoppage time with a glancing header but his effort sailed wide of the mark as Arsenal held to claim a 3-2 win to move up to ninth spot.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za