3 positives & negatives from Arsenal's 2-1 win at home to Everton

Arsenal beat Everton 2-1 at home but missed out on the Premier League title following Manchester City's win over West Ham.

Very rarely does a win feel like defeat, but there is an overriding feeling of dejection after today's game, as the Gunners missed out on the Premier League title by just two points.

Arsenal enjoyed an abundance of possession in the first half but, as the crowd fell flat given Manchester City's early goals, the team struggled to cultivate much threat in the opening stages.

Everton took the lead in the 40th minute as Idrissa Gueye's free-kick deflected off of Declan Rice, wrong-footing David Raya and leaving space for the ball to bundle into the back of the net.

The Gunners equalised just minutes later, however, thanks to Takehiro Tomiyasu, at the same time as West Ham pulled a goal back against Manchester City.

Leaving it late, Arsenal won the game thanks to a Kai Havertz tap-in, but it was all for nothing in the end as Manchester City saw out a comfortable 3-1 win against West Ham, ensuring that the Cityzens lifted their fourth successive Premier League title.

Despite the disappointment of the Premier League title heading north once again, there were plenty of positives and negatives to digest from today's game.

Positive #1: Another win to end a record-breaking season

This season saw Arsenal score more goals than they have in any previous Premier League campaign, concede fewer goals than any other side in England's top four leagues and record more Premier League wins than in any previous season.

In short, it has been a phenomenal season for at least one half of North London.

Rounding the campaign off with a win, while ultimately in vain, means that the players did all that they could, and it simply was not to be this season.

It is important to not let the immediate disappointment overshadow an overwhelmingly successful season, and one that has instilled a new level of hope within the club.

Negative #1: Bukayo Saka suffers injury

What a shock. Another week, and another negative dedicated to concern for Bukayo Saka's fitness. This is the price paid for a lack of rotation and a lack of protection from match officials over the course of an entire, or even multiple, seasons.

Ahead of the game, the club announced: "Bukayo Saka missed out on today's squad due to a slight muscle issue," on X (formally Twitter), which spread concern among fans.

It feels a long time coming and now all we can do is hope that the issue is as minor as the club have suggested, as we desperately need him fully fit for the start of next season.

These hopes will not be aided by his almost certain inclusion in England's EURO 2024 squad this summer, which will add further strain to the 22-year-old's fitness.

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