Arsenal vs Everton live: Alexis Sanchez, Hector Bellerin and Aaron Ramsey seal win as Laurent Koscielny sent-off
Follow the latest from the Premier League fixture at Emirates Stadium
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal beat Everton 3-1 but it was not enough to force their way into the top four as Liverpool beat Middlesbrough 3-0, meaning the Gunners miss out on the Champions League for the first time under Arsene Wenger. Re-live the action here.
- Arsenal 3-1 Everton
- Laurent Koscielny sent-off and will miss FA Cup final
- Hector Bellerin puts Arsenal ahead
- Alexis Sanchez doubles lead before half-time
- Romelu Lukaku penalty gets Everton back in the game
- Aaron Ramsey secures victory for Gunners
Follow the live action below...
Preview...
Arsenal face Everton knowing only a win is likely to do if they are to have any chance of overhauling Manchester City or Liverpool for a place in the top four.
Heading into the final day of the Premier League season, Arsene Wenger’s team know destiny is out of their hands as they look to secure Champions League qualification for the 21st consecutive year.
Though the Gunners have won their last four matches and seven of their last nine, their late upturn in form will have been in vain unless City lose at Watford or the Merseysiders fail to beat relegated Middlesbrough at Anfield.
In their way stand an Everton side who have enjoyed a solid first season under Ronald Koeman but have precious little left to play for.
What time does it start?
Arsenal vs Everton kicks off at 15.00 BST
Where can I watch it?
The match will not be shown live on UK television, but highlights will be shown at 22.30 BST on BBC One.
It’s a big game for…
Alexis Sanchez: On what could easily be his final Arsenal appearance at the Emirates, as ever the Chilean’s form will be key to his side’s chances of success against the Toffees. The Gunners are outsiders to scrape into the top four but the 28-year-old will be out to ensure the Londoners at least fulfil their end of the bargain.
Best stat…
22: The combined number of top-flight titles won by Arsenal and Everton – making them the third and fourth most historically successful clubs in English league football. The Gunners have 13 and last tasted Premier League glory in 2004, while the Blues’ most recent of their nine successes came in 1987.
Remember when…
A frantic end to Everton’s 2-1 win over Arsenal last December saw the Gunners have two efforts cleared off the line, a penalty appeal turned down and Everton waste a golden chance to seal victory on the break.
Player to watch…
Ross Barkley. The Everton midfielder has still not signed a new contract with the Toffees amid growing uncertainty over his future. With Koeman stating he wants the 23-year-old to make a final decision by the end of the season, Sunday’s game marks the cut off point for the England international to reveal his intentions.
Past three-meetings…
Everton 2 (Coleman, Williams) Arsenal 1 (Sanchez), Premier League, December 2016
Everton 0 Arsenal 2 (Welbeck, Iwobi), Premier League, March 2016
Arsenal 2 (Giroud, Koscielny) Everton 1 (Barkley), Premier League, October 2015
Form guide…
Arsenal: WLWWWW
Everton: WWDLLW
Odds…
Arsenal to win: 23/50
Everton to win: 23/4
Draw: 10/3
(Odds provided by 888 Sport)
Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of today's Premier League encounter between Arsenal and Everton, brought to you live from pitchside at the Emirates Stadium on the final day of the season.
TEAM NEWS...Arsenal: Petr Cech; Gabriel Paulista, Laurent Koscielny, Rob Holding; Hector Bellerin, Granit Xhaka, Aaron Ramsey, Nacho Monreal; Alexis Sanchez; Mesut Ozil; Danny Welbeck.
Subs: Per Mertesacker, Olivier Giroud, David Ospina, Theo Walcott, Theo Walcott, Alex Iwobi, Francis Coquelin, Mohamed Elneny.
Everton: Joel Robles; Mason Holgate, Phil Jagielka, Ashley Williams, Leighton Baines; Morgan Schneiderlin, Idrissa Gueyye, Tom Davies, Kevin Mirallas; Enner Valencia, Romelu Lukaku.
Subs: Ross Barkley, Arouna Kone, Gareth Barry, Muhamed Besic, Matthew Pennington, Mateuzs Hewelt, Joe Williams.
Arsenal go with a 3-4-3 once again, with Danny Welbeck leading the line instead of Olivier Giroud. He'll be aided by the in-form Alexis Sanchez - who I'm sure will be attracting plenty of interest from Fantasy Football players this weekend - and Mesut Ozil, who has also been improving of late. There's no Shkodran Mustafi though, ruled out with injury, so Gabriel Paulista is back in the starting line-up.
For Everton, Ronald Koeman has dropped Ross Barkley to the bench, which is no surprise given the contract stand-off that has raged between the player and club. Barkley looks certain to leave Everton in the summer if anyone meets the £50m valuation that's been placed upon him. With Barkley absent, Morgan Schneiderlin, Tom Davies and Idrissa Gueye start in the centre of midfield, with Kevin Mirallas, Romelu Lukaku and Enner Valencia forming the attack.
So the big news this week came in a failed takeover bid from Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov, who saw a £1bn offer rejected by current majority shareholder Stan Kroenke, who owns 67 per cent of the club. We understand that the Russian billionaire will continue his attempt to buy the club, as Ian Herbert explains.
Just under half an hour until kick-off, and the stands here at the Emirates are virtually empty. They'll start to fill up slowly, but it's worth noting that the Arsenal supporters are still protesting against manager Arsene Wenger, the owners of the club and they way the team have been playing this season, and it could be another poorly-attended encounter.
We also brought you the exclusive news that Chelsea will try to test Arsenal's resolve with a summer move for Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean has just a year remaining on his contract, and Chelsea will try to lure him across London with a summer bid, reports our Chief Football Correspondent Miguel Delaney.
Hector Bellerinn starts again this afternoon in his more advanced wing-back role, but he may have upset his manager this week after accepting a call-up for the European Under-21 Championships this summer, when Wenger wanted him to rest ahead of the new season.
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