Arsenal’s Premier League title aspirations suffered a fresh blow on Saturday afternoon as the Gunners were held to a 1-1 draw by a resilient Everton side at Goodison Park, further denting their hopes of ending the season as champions.
 ÂThe match started with Arsenal dominating possession and dictating the pace of the game. Their efforts were rewarded in the 34th minute when Leandro Trossard capitalized on a defensive lapse from the Toffees. The Belgian forward, stepping in for key players who were rested ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League encounter with Real Madrid, showed great composure as he slipped past Jake O’Brien and placed a low shot beyond Jordan Pickford to give the visitors the lead.
 ÂHowever, the Gunners' lead was short-lived. Just moments into the second half, teenage defender Miles Lewis-Skelly committed a costly foul on Jack Harrison inside the penalty area. Referee Darren England pointed straight to the spot without hesitation, and Iliman Ndiaye stepped up to coolly slot the penalty into the net, sending David Raya the wrong way.
 ÂThe equaliser rattled Mikel Arteta’s side, who struggled to regain control of the match. Everton nearly took the lead minutes later when Abdoulaye Doucoure came close to scoring, but David Raya pulled off an important save to keep the scores level.
 ÂArsenal did try to push for a winner, with Declan Rice firing a powerful long-range effort that was expertly tipped over by Pickford. Despite a flurry of chances on both ends, neither side managed to find a breakthrough before the final whistle.
 ÂArteta had made several changes to his starting lineup, prioritizing the upcoming midweek European clash, but the gamble appeared to cost his team the chance to collect all three points. With title rivals continuing to gain ground, Arsenal’s quest for Premier League glory is beginning to slip further from their grasp.
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