EVERTON struck twice in the final 11 minutes to end an eight-game winless run with a 2-1 victory over Arsenal in the English Premier League (EPL) that lifts the pressure on manager Rafael Benitez.

It was all thanks to winger Demarai Gray whose offseason arrival from Bayer Leverkusen for 1.7 million pounds (US$2.25 million) is proving a bargain.

Gray sent in a fierce strike from the edge of the area that struck the crossbar and was headed in by Richarlison off the rebound for Everton’s equalizer in the 79th minute.

Then, from further out, Gray cut inside from the left and unleashed a right-footed shot with even more venom in the second minute of stoppage time. The ball flew in off the inside of the post and Gray celebrated by removing his jersey and wading into a section of fans beside the field.

It sparked wild celebrations inside the stadium at the end of a game that featured a walkout by some fans after 27 minutes, in a signal of their unhappiness at the Everton board’s running of the club amid the 27th season without a trophy.

Some of the fans were seen making their way toward the exits inside Goodison as play continued, with the score at 0-0.

The majority that hung around saw its team fall behind again thanks to Martin Odegaard’s volley in the second minute of first-half injury time, which put Arsenal on course for a win to climb back into fifth place.

The visitors rode their luck, with Richarlison having two goals — a header in the 43rd and a low finish in the 57th — ruled out by video review because of marginal offside decisions.

The Brazil forward kept plugging away and got his reward with the equalizer inspired by Gray, who then produced the crowning moment of the game.

“It was a crazy moment, my best moment here so far,” Gray said. “It was important to get that win. We have gone through a bad patch but we stuck together.”

It was Everton’s first win since Sept. 25 and moved the team eight points clear of the relegation zone.

“It is clear — when the fans, the players, everybody sticks together, we are stronger,” Everton manager Rafa Benitez said. “The reaction of the team to the goals that were disallowed and conceding a goal at the end of the first half, we still scored goals and reacted.

“Every player and fan is expecting that. Everybody is really pleased and hopefully it is the right step forward.”

Arsenal will regret late chances squandered by substitute strikers Eddie Nketiah, who headed against the base of the post from point-blank range when the score was 1-1, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who side-footed wide with one of the last kicks of the game.

(SD-Agencies)