What is it with teams from Merseyside? We have only lost two league games this season - the opening day defeat by Liverpool and now 2-1 against 10-man Everton at Goodison Park.
Although it took some defending of the highest quality to stop us from getting at least a point Everton, in truth, were worthy winners as they pressed us well. But without being disrespectful to the Toffees, we never really got out of first gear and should have done far better in the final third than we did and that was very disappointing to see.
This is a huge week for us, but now we are still three points behind leaders Chelsea and they have a game in hand. So, unless they somehow muck up at struggling Sunderland, we will be even further behind ahead of the weekend's massive game at Manchester City. We should have put ourselves into a far better position going into that game, but we failed to really wake up against Everton.
Chances were few and far between for both sides in a rather uninspiring first half, but at least we took the lead to give us something to cheer about. After Mesut Ozil had fired an early effort over the bar we broke the deadlock after 20 minutes as Alexis Sanchez's free-kick deflected in off defender Ashley Williams.
At the other end, former Tottenham midfielder Aaron Lennon twice shot off target before Everton grabbed an equaliser right on half-time as Seamus Coleman headed home Leighton Baines's cross.
Arsenal really should have re-taken the lead within eight minutes of the restart as Sanchez's clever cut-back found Ozil, but somehow the German international blazed over when it looked easier to score. Ozil nearly had another chance soon after but goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg rushed out quickly to smother the ball and stop the midfielder getting it.
Everton also came close to a second when Ross Barkley sent a shot agonisingly wide as the game remained firmly in the balance and, at that point, it was very hard to call which way it would go.
Arsenal were struggling to create too many clear-cut chances as substitute Alex Iwobi saw his effort go wide.
Everton continued to push forward in the closing stages and, shortly after Phil Jagielka had been denied by Cech, Williams headed home a Barkley corner to send the home fans into raptures four minutes from time.
The hosts were dealt a blow when Jagielka was dismissed for a second bookable offence in stoppage time, but luckily it didn't have too much impact on the game as there was less than two minutes remaining.
Arsenal, however, did very nearly snatch a point at the death albeit for some heroic defending. Everton deserve their win and I am certainly not making excuses, but the defending by Baines in the final minute was truly incredible and stopped us from getting what would have been a certain point. Ramiro Funes Mori had already cleared a shot off the line before Baines came up with an even better block to keep the ball out. Although we had been poor in attack for much of the game, how on earth this effort didn't go in left me baffled. It wasn't about poor finishing on that particular occasion, but simply a quality defensive block so take a bow Baines...even if it did make me very frustrated as it meant game over and the end of our unbeaten league run.
OPPOSITION VIEW
Everton fan Paul O'Neill felt the team that wanted it more on the night got the result.
"Tonight Everton were 3/1 for a home win," said O'Neill. "Normally a great price, but having only won one in the last eight I don't think anyone could see Arsenal losing this one. But that wasn't to be thanks to two simple headers in fairness and great assists from Barkley and Baines.
"This was an end-to-end match and to be honest I felt we wanted it more. You could see the passion there, fighting for everything, and what it meant to Ashley Williams redeeming for the deflection earlier on.
"Hopefully this will propel Everton on to much better performances and results that the people's club deserve. Unlucky Arsenal, fair result."
O'Neill's fellow Toffees fan David Bridson was also left delighted by the performance.
"On the back of a shocking run and in the first of a tough run of fixtures I feared for Everton," added Bridson. "To not only equalise, but win the game against potential league winners shows the Blues still have that determination to hold our own against any opposition.
"Though the victory has also come with the hefty price of Phil Jagielka's sending off we dearly needed three points. I'm hoping our confidence has increased tenfold heading into the Merseyside derby on Monday."
MY FINAL THOUGHTS
Defeats are never nice and this one is no exception. Without knocking Everton, who deserved the win, this really hurts as it is such a big week for us.
Wins against Everton and Manchester City would have thrown the gauntlet down and shown we are serious title contenders, but we have failed at the first hurdle. We now need an even bigger display against City if we are to prove that we have any chance this year and are not just going to fade away as we have in recent previous seasons.
Normally I would say a draw at Manchester City would be a great result, but after the way the Everton game went nothing other than a win will do. Yes, a point would still be impressive, but if we are really serious about this we must prove it and get a victory over Pep Guardiola's men!
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
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