EVERTON claimed a late win to keep Arsenal from returning to the top of the Premier League on Tuesday. Ashley Williams headed home four minutes from time to complete a fine turnaround for Ronald Koeman’s men who claimed victory for the first time since October at Goodison Park.

    A win would have lifted Arsenal into first place.

    Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger blamed a number of factors: refereeing decisions, Everton’s physicality, misfortune.

    In the end, it was poor marking from two crosses that proved Arsenal’s undoing.

    Leading through Alexis Sanchez’s deflected free kick — his 12th goal of the season — Arsenal conceded an equalizer just before halftime when Everton’s full backs combined, with Leighton Baines crossing for Seamus Coleman to head home unmarked in the middle of the area.

    Everton’s winning goal also came from a curling cross into the area, with Williams rising unchallenged to meet Ross Barkley’s corner. Williams’ last goal was also against Arsenal, back in March when the Wales defender was a Swansea player.

    Arsenal missed the presence and positioning of Shkodran Mustafi, the Germany center back who was injured in the 3-1 win over Stoke at the weekend and will be sidelined for the next three weeks. Arsenal has lost three matches this season — twice in the league, to Liverpool and now Everton, and against Southampton in the League Cup — and Mustafi didn’t play in any of them.

    Wenger’s team also lacked spark going forward, which was surprising considering Arsenal arrived at Goodison Park in free-scoring form with at least three goals in each of its last three games. On tough nights like these, Arsenal also missed the creativity in central midfield of Santi Cazorla, who is also injured.

    Everton has been Arsenal’s most obliging opponent in the Premier League’s 24-year history, with the Gunners winning the fixture 29 times and with just one loss in the past 18 meetings. Not this time when the atmosphere is like it was in the final 10 minutes.

    “We came back with great character,” Everton manager Ronald Koeman said. “If you show that aggression and commitment, it is difficult to beat Everton at Goodison Park.”

    There was even room for Koeman to aim a little dig at Wenger following the Arsenal manager’s criticism of referee Mark Clattenburg. “I am not surprised about Wenger and his comments,” Koeman said. “It’s the third time in a row I won at home against Arsenal and three times in a row it was about the referee.”(SD-Agencies)