RAFA’S UP FOR A TOFFEE GRAPPLE
Gray’s injury-time winner bliss for Benitez
EVERTON ........... ARSENAL ............
DEMARAI GRAY scored a stunning injury-time goal to earn Everton their first win in nine games and transform the mood around Goodison.
Martin Odegaard put Arsenal ahead and Everton looked to be heading for another defeat before Richarlison nodded a leveller with 10 minutes left.
Then in added time, Gray cut in from the left, beat two men and fired home off the inside of the far post.
Goodison went wild and suddenly all the negativity from their Merseyside derby hammering was forgotten amid jubilant celebrations.
Toffees boss Rafa Benitez said: “It’s very clear when the fans, the players, everybody stick together that we are stronger. Everybody is really pleased – the fans, players, the staff. Hopefully it’s the right step forward.”
After a muted protest during the game and owner Farhad Moshiri’s no-show, the club is showing the first signs of pulling together.
And Everton got a huge break when Ben Godfrey escaped a red card for standing on Takehiro Tomiyasu’s face.
He clocked Tomiyasu before standing on the defender as he fell on his back and was extremely lucky to get the benefit of the doubt from VAR.
The planned walk-out in 27 minutes by Everton fans in protest came to little and only a couple of hundred left.
Those who remained thought Richarlison had scored just before half-time, only for his header to be disallowed for offside by VAR.
Arsenal took the lead in first-half stoppage time when Kieran Tierney escaped down the left and crossed for Odegaard to volley home expertly.
Everton knew their luck was not in when Richarlison had a second effort ruled out for a hairline offside decision but all that changed in a frantic finale to the delight of the fans.