Did Arteta get it right at Everton?
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Highlights from the Premier League match between Everton and Arsenal
Mikel Arteta’s priorities could be seen in his team selection against Everton. With Liverpool effectively out of sight at the top of the Premier League, the trip to Goodison Park was used as preparation for Tuesday’s all-important Champions League quarter-final first leg against Real Madrid, who lost 2-1 at home to Valencia on Saturday.
There were five changes from the 2-1 win over Fulham. Thomas Partey was given a breather as an unused substitute, while Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard were only used off the bench to conserve their energy. Bukayo Saka, meanwhile, continued to build towards a start, coming on at half-time after a 30-minute cameo on his comeback in midweek.
Arsenal, rocked by news of Gabriel Magalhaes’ season-ending hamstring injury in that game, could at least call on Ben White, who got through 60 minutes on only his second start since November having recovered from a niggle, and Jurrien Timber, who replaced him having shaken off a knock to his knee.
There was a start for Jakub Kiwior alongside William Saliba. The Poland international came on for Gabriel against Fulham and looks most likely to start as Arsenal’s left-sided centre-back against Real Madrid following an assured display at Goodison Park which featured some eye-catching passes.
But White and Timber’s availability means Kiwior is not Arteta’s only option. “We have alternatives there,” he said, adding that he will “assess the best option for the back line” in the coming days. Saturday’s draw, however frustrating, will help inform his choice.
Nick Wright
Ndiaye’s return boosts Everton
Image: Iliman Ndiaye levelled for Everton from the penalty spot
Everton’s penalty against Arsenal was contentious, with Mikel Arteta insisting it was the incorrect decision to penalise Myles Lewis-Skelly, but Iliman Ndiaye certainly took it well.
The 25-year-old was making his first start for Everton since February following a knee injury and his coolly-converted spot-kick ensured it was a decisive return to action.
Ndiaye brings flair to a functional forward line and David Moyes was delighted to see him back. “We missed him,” he said afterwards. His goal took him to seven in the Premier League this season, making him their outright top scorer and underlining his importance.
Nick Wright
Plucky Palace good enough for Europe?
Crystal Palace completing a league double over Brighton for the first time since 1932-33 – and for the first time ever in the top flight – will please Oliver Glasner no end. But what will thrill the manager most is how strongly his side are finishing a campaign that started so bitterly.
Palace have now won three home games on the bounce for the first time since May 2024, despite going down to nine players in a carnival atmosphere at Selhurst Park. They showed grit and stubbornness to protect their lead, while Dean Henderson pulled off two outstanding saves – one in each half.
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Highlights from the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Brighton.
This is the bones of a very good team. One that has a really solid spine with the necessary sprinkling of stardust. Adam Wharton pulls the strings in midfield, Eberechi Eze torments defenders with every dribble and Jean-Philippe Mateta scores for fun. Mateta and Eze have assisted each other to score 12 goals in the Premier League.
And with an FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa to come later this month, this could yet be a very special, very memorable season indeed for the resurgent Londoners. Who knows, maybe a run at Europe is on the cards after all?
Laura Hunter
International break stalls Brighton momentum
The international break came at the wrong time for Brighton. Ahead of it, Fabian Hurzeler’s side were on a run of seven without defeat and had lifted themselves back into the conversation for the European spots after navigating through a difficult winter.
Since, Brighton have crashed out of the FA Cup and suffered back-to-back league defeats to stall their European ambitions.
That’s been the season-long tale for Fabian Hurzeler, a first season tinged by inconsistency, glimpses of promise followed by underwhelming runs. Injuries to key personnel haven’t helped his cause but Hurzeler has endured a baptism of fire in the 32-year-old’s first season in the top-flight.
William Bitibiri
Home discomforts for Ipswich
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Highlights from the Premier League match between Ipswich and Wolves.
Newly promoted clubs need to make their home ground a fortress to survive. That has been one of the big failings of Ipswich’s return to the Premier League. They’ve made Portman Road a welcoming place for visiting teams. Taking just seven points from their 16 games in front of their own fans has been the bedrock of their abysmal season.
Just one win – against Chelsea – has left the Portman Road faithful short of cheer. It’s been a tough slog watching Kieran McKenna’s team this season. They do a lot of things right but game management and being able to grind out results has proved a huge problem. Ipswich have managed to take the lead in 15 matches, including against Wolves, this season but have won just four of those games. The Championship beckons.
Lewis Jones
Pereira has been perfect for Wolves
The Wolves hierarchy have taken a huge amount of stick this season – and rightly so for some of their decision making. However, when the chips were down and they needed to make a season-defining call they got the Vitor Pereira appointment spot on.
Across the last 15 games in the Premier League, if just analysing points won, Wolves would be ninth in the table having taken 23 points in that period. The 10 points taken across their last four games have been achieved without Mathues Cunha, too. That’s a sign of a very accomplished manager to find solutions to problems. Wolves are in good hands.
Lewis Jones
In-form Evanilson key to Cherries ending season on a high
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Highlights from the Premier League as West Ham took on Bournemouth.
If Bournemouth are to have any chance of making a late charge for Europe, then the fit-again Evanilson’s goals will be key to those hopes, as the Brazilian showed at the London Stadium.
Without injured strike partner Justin Kluivert in the capital, the onus was very much on Evanilson to be the visitors’ attacking spearhead and the striker responded with a well-taken double to earn Andoni Iraola’s side a point that keeps them in with a slim chance of European football next season.
Image: Bournemouth’s Evanilson celebrates scoring his second goal at West Ham
Those two goals mean Evanilson has now scored four times in his last four Premier League appearances, having netted just one in his previous 10, with his manager hoping the forward can stay sharp in front of goal in the closing weeks to get the Cherries back to winning ways and moving up the table.
“Evanilson is in great form, the time he was out with a foot injury means he can finish the season strong, good for us to have him in a good moment,” said Iraola after the match.
Rich Morgan
