I hope Richard Masters was watching Everton supporters – controversial moment defied belief

Everton’s Premier League campaign came to an end on Sunday afternoon when they lost 2-1 to Arsenal.

Idrissa Gueye’s deflected free kick gave the Gunners the lead, but goals from Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kai Havertz gave them all three points. But the controversial German winner was only given out after a VAR review.
And despite having two different point deductions during the season, the Blues were still able to finish 14 points above the drop zone in 15th place in the standings. Our Everton jury has reconvened to offer their opinions on what transpired at the Emirates Stadium, all while keeping Sunday’s match fresh in mind.

Luke Davies: An impressive season

On Sunday afternoon, Everton had nothing to play for when they went to Arsenal. Still, they demonstrated the resolve and character that Sean Dyche had ingrained in them.

To dispel any ideas of being ‘on the beach’, every player on the pitch continued to give it their all. This is a credit to the players and management team, as it tells a story of “never say die” that is consistent with the season’s main plot.

Ultimately, the outcome did not fully tell the story of the game; Everton’s defence held firm despite Arsenal having the better chances. Jordan Pickford was performing at his very best once more. I don’t want to talk too much about VAR, but if the referees declare Gabriel Jesus’ handball to be legal, then it is obviously ineffective. If a player from Everton had prevented Arsenal from winning the league, would this still be the case? This summer, we’ll find out if the clubs are sick of technology.

Alex McMonnies A highly dubious refereeing call

Thus, Everton was unable to finish the season undefeated, which their performance at the Emirates Stadium most likely deserved.

The players under Sean Dyche appeared to enjoy the fact that, for once, the focus was on their opponents rather than on themselves, and they played without the fear that has been apparent in so many previous trips to that location over the years. Idrissa Gueye, who it has been confirmed will remain at Goodison Park for the upcoming season, gave the Blues the lead, demonstrating that they were unwilling to back down and play their part in the story.

Paul McParlan: An unfortunate turn of events

As they have felt for the majority of the season, Everton felt cheated as their season came to an end.

It was simply unbelievable that referee Michael Oliver, even after a VAR review, chose to ignore Gabriel Jesus’ obvious handball that resulted in Arsenal’s winning goal in the final minute of normal time. Last Sunday, it cost Everton a hard-earned point that would have given us a six-game winning streak to finish the season.

It appeared unjust and unfair. It is very simple to believe conspiracies when you are an Everton supporter! If someone hadn’t followed football before, they might have mistakenly believed that the Toffees, not Arsenal, were the team vying for the championship.

Everton produced enough opportunities to win the game, demonstrating discipline in their performance. Throughout the match, the players maintained their composure and appeared at ease handling the possibility of facing a team that might have won the Premier League.