Arsenal revival gathers pace as Aubameyang downs Everton
Arsenal beat Everton 3-2 in their clash at the Premier League on Sunday.
LONDON (AFP) - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang boosted Arsenal s hopes of gate-crashing the race to reach the Champions League as his double clinched a 3-2 win against Everton on Sunday.
For much of a troubled season Arsenal have been written off as also-rans in the battle to qualify for Europe s elite club competition.
But, recovering from the wreckage of the Unai Emery era, their revival under Mikel Arteta is gathering pace.
Rocked by Dominic Calvert-Lewin s first-minute goal at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal equalised through Eddie Nketiah and took the lead thanks to Aubameyang.
Richarlison levelled for Everton to cap a dramatic first half, but Gabon striker Aubameyang had the final word seconds after the break.
Arsenal climbed above Everton into ninth place and sit four points behind fifth-placed Manchester United.
With second-placed Manchester City banned from European competitions for the next two years, as it stands finishing fifth could secure Champions League action pending the result of City s appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
There is growing belief at Arsenal that they could take advantage of the punishment for Arteta s former club.
The Gunners are now unbeaten in their last 10 games in all competitions, including seven without defeat in the league after a second successive victory.
Everton must recover quickly to avoid their own European hopes being dashed after a first defeat in six league games.
Carlo Ancelotti s side were hoping for a statement victory and they made the perfect start after 49 seconds.
Gylfi Sigurdsson s inswinging free-kick was met with a misjudged attempt to head clear from David Luiz, who only succeeded in glancing the ball up on the air off his shoulder.
Calvert-Lewin s reaction was inspired as he threw himself into a spectacular overhead kick from six yards out that left Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno rooted to the spot.
It was the 22-year-old s seventh league goal in his last nine games.
Already reeling from their limp start, Arsenal were dealt another blow when left-back Sead Kolasinac was forced off with his right arm in a sling after an aerial collision with Djibril Sidibe.
There was a saving grace to the substitution as Bukayo Saka replaced Kolasinac and made an instant impact.
Saka is only 18 but the Arsenal youth academy graduate already has a reputation for producing devastating crosses and he conjured another to lay on the 27th-minute equaliser.
Surging onto Granit Xhaka s pass, Saka whipped a pin-point cross into the six-yard box where the 20-year-old Nketiah got behind Yerry Mina to cushion a volley past Pickford.
Before their latest meeting, Arsenal had scored 327 top-flight goals against Everton, more than any other opponent has scored against another in the highest tier of English football.
They took that tally to 329 with a classic counter-attack in the 33rd minute.
For all Luiz s faults as a defender, the Brazilian can unfurl a pretty pass and his superb through ball sent Aubameyang clear of Sidibe to guide a clinical finish into the far corner.
Richarlison was fortunate to earn just a yellow card for a rash lunge that sent Dani Ceballos flying.
And Arsenal were left to rue that decision as Richarlison bagged his 12th goal of the season in first-half stoppage-time.
When Sigurdsson s scuffed shot bounced high into the penalty area, the Gunners defence stood flat-footed and Mina headed on for Richarlison to poke home from close range.
Arsenal responded emphatically, emulating Everton s fast start to the first half with a goal 26 seconds after the interval.
Nicolas Pepe curled in an inviting cross and Aubameyang got clear of the hapless Sidibe to guide a glancing header past Pickford for his 19th goal of the season.
Leno preserved Arsenal s victory with a fine save from Calvert-Lewin, who also headed inches wide in a tense finale.
