Mikel Arteta's side saw two more points slip away at Goodison Park after being pegged back in controversial fashion
Leandro Trossard's first-half strike was cancelled out by Iliman Ndiaye's controversial penalty as Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw at Everton on Saturday.
With Tuesday night's crucial Champions League quarter-final first leg against Real Madrid looming large, Mikel Arteta made five changes to the team that beat Fulham in midweek, with the likes of Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka all left on the bench.
But in an open first half it was the much-changed visitors who broke the deadlock, with Trossard finishing well having been found by Raheem Sterling.
Saka and Martinelli were then introduced at half-time, only for Everton to level almost immediately through Ndiaye's spot-kick after Myles Lewis-Skelly was harshly adjudged to have pulled down Jack Harrison in the box, even though it was the Everton man who appeared to have fouled the Gunners teenager.
There were chances for Arsenal to still go on and win it, with Odegaard firing over before Jordan Pickford saved well from Martinelli and Merino headed wide from Kieran Tierney's cross. Liverpool will now have the opportunity to move 14 points clear at the top as the Gunners' fading title hopes suffered another blow.
GOAL rates Arsenal's players from Goodison Park…
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David Raya (6/10):
Made one sharp stop at his near post to deny Doucoure. Went the wrong way for the penalty.
Ben White (6/10):
Good to see him back in the XI. Got on the overlap well in the first half. Promising display before being replaced in the second half.
William Saliba (7/10):
Solid as always and you could see him looking to encourage Kiwior alongside him.
Jakub Kiwior (7/10):
Made one great block in the first half. If he is to start against Madrid, then this performance will have done him some good.
Myles Lewis-Skelly (7/10):
Really unlucky with the penalty decision, which was very harsh. Made one spectacular run in the second half before being fouled just outside the box.
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Jorginho (6/10):
Looked to get things moving. Struggled when running back towards his own goal, but still so clever when he's on the ball.
Declan Rice (6/10):
Worked as hard as always, but not at his influential best.
Mikel Merino (6/10):
Survived an injury scare in the warm-up. Back in a midfield role and put in a good shift, without doing anything spectacular. Headed a good chance wide late on.
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Raheem Sterling (6/10):
Struggled to beat his man at times when one on one, but kept putting himself about and set up Trossard well for his first-half goal.
Leandro Trossard (7/10):
Lovely finish to break the deadlock in the first half. Had a couple of other opportunities on the break that he could maybe have done better with.
Ethan Nwaneri (5/10):
Quiet afternoon. Unable to get himself into the game over on the right-hand side.
AFPSubs & Manager
Bukayo Saka (6/10):
On at half-time for Sterling. Never really threatened.
Gabriel Martinelli (7/10):
Got the ball in some good areas and saw one good effort saved by Pickford. Lively cameo.
Jurrien Tmber (7/10):
Replaced the tiring White with half an hour remaining. Solid as always.
Martin Odgeaard (6/10):
Missed a good chance after being set-up by Tierney. Poor finish.
Kieran Tierney (7/10):
Only on for 15 minutes, but set-up good chances for Odegaard and Merino.
Mikel Arteta (6/10):
Rotated his team ahead of Madrid and gave some players some valuable minutes. Will no doubt feel aggrieved by the penalty decision.
