Demarai Gray clinched a dramatic added-time winner to give Everton their first victory in nine games and lift the Goodison Park gloom.
Rafa Benitez’s side looked as if they would have to settle for only a point after an upbeat display – but Gray had different ideas.
The winger cut in from the left, evaded two challenges before thundering a shot into the top corner to complete a spirited comeback after Martin Odegaard had put Arsenal in front on the stroke of half-time.
It was no more than Rafa Benitez’s much-maligned side deserved after a performance that suggests they can turn round their fortunes.
Richarlison had sparked Everton’s fightback with an equaliser that was a case of third time lucky.
The Brazilian striker was twice left a frustrated figure when he had goals disallowed by VAR for marginal offside decisions either side of the half-time break.
But he kept plugging away and finally netted a goal that stood in the 79th minute. He was in the right spot to head home after Gray’s shot had come back off the crossbar.
The 27th-minute protest by the home fans – to mark their anger at 27 years without a trophy – brought a mixed reaction.
Some fans left their seats but the vast majority stayed put and actually raised the volume level.
And by the final whistle there was a raucous atmosphere of approval that will have delighted the players, Benitez and the much-maligned board of directors.
Everton vs Arsenal player ratings
Everton (4-4-1-1):
Pickford 7
Coleman 7
Mina 6
Keane 7
Godfrey 6
Gray 7
Allan 6
Doucoure 7
Gordon 6
Townsend 6
Richarlison 8
Subs:
Holgate 6
Gomes 6
Iwobi N/A
Arsenal (4-2-3-1):
Ramsdale 6
Tomiyasu 6
White 6
Gabriel 5
Tierney 7
Partey 5
Xhaka 5
Saka 6
Odegaard 7
Martinelli 6
Lacazette 5
Subs:
Tavares 6
Nketiah 5
Aubameyang N/A
It looked ominous though for Everton when Odegaard timed his run into the box to perfection to convert Kieran Tierney’s fine cross with a side-foot volley.
It was his third of the season and made amends for the unnecessary challenge on Fred that gifted Cristiano Ronaldo the penalty winner at Old Trafford last Thursday.
That came moments after Richarlison had had his first goal disallowed – a header from Andros Townsend’s free-kick – and left Everton wondering when their luck would change.
Richarlison scored Everton’s equaliser after two goals were ruled out (Photo: Getty)
Analysis: Why Richarlison offside call was right
Richarlison had the ball in the net three times but finished the game with just the one goal. A tight offside call ruled out his header just before Odegaard but Arsenal 1-0 up.
The Brazilian then thought he had the equaliser when slotting past Aaron Ramsdale, but once again VAR intervened to deny the forward.
On this occasion the freeze frame made it look much tighter, but the angle was deceiving, with Richarlison’s foot in the air and therefore a few centimetres in front of Gabriel’s trailing foot. A close call, but in the end it appeared to be the right call.
Unfortunate for Everton, but angle is misleading – Richarlison's foot isn't on the line (defender's is).
Richarlison's foot is in the air and ahead of the defender beyond the tolerance level. If camera were square on (tech does this) it would be clear he was in front. #EVEARSpic.twitter.com/a3EAckFMWk
No surprises, then, that Richarlison looked behind him before celebrating his actual goal. It was no more than he deserved, and it was his perseverance which paved the way for Gray to score a stunning winner.
There was more disappointment when Odegaard put the Gunners ahead and then again early in the second half when Richarlison fired home from Abdoulaye Doucoure’s pass only to be denied by VAR.
After the Merseyside derby when they were 2-0 down after 20 minutes and lucky the margin wasn’t wider, Everton had to start well to try and keep their fans on board. They showed intent from the kick-off, pressed high and hard.
There is one sure-fire way to get disgruntled fans back on your side, and it is a great old fashioned full-blooded tackle. There was a collective sharp intake of breath as Ben Godfrey flew into what looked a 30-70 against challenge with Takehiro Tomiyasu in the eighth minute.
The versatile former Norwich defender, playing at left-back in place of the axed Lucas Digne – might have been red carded, but referee Mike Dean waved play on and the Goodison Park crowd roared their approval.
Godfrey was a clearly a man with a mission. He then clattered into Bukayo Sako and then left his boot in the face of Tomiyasu prompting a VAR review that told Dean no red card was necessary.
A setback for Everton was their loss of Yerry Mina in his comeback game from injury but this hard-earned win will give them enormous confidence and most importantly it got the fans back on their side.
The defeat completes a miserable set of results for the Gunners in Manchester and Merseyside. They lost 5-0 at the Etihad, 4-0 at Anfield, and 3-2 at Old Trafford before this defeat.
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