Premier League report: Everton 0-0 Arsenal

It turned out the most exciting action occurred before kick-off when Everton finally announced the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti as their new manager, an hour before the game.

The Italian was in the stands to watch his new charges, along with Arsenal's new head coach Mikel Arteta, and both will have been uninspired by their new teams and potentially regretting their decisions to join their respective clubs.

The first half saw no shots on target from either side, while Arsenal managed just one off target, which came in the 44th minute, while no offsides also highlighted how poor this contest was in an attacking sense.

The one bonus for Arsenal was that the result presented them with an early Christmas gift of their first clean sheet in 15 matches.

The match signified the final matches in charge for Duncan Ferguson and Freddie Ljungberg.

Ferguson's only defeat in four tough fixtures came on penalties against Leicester in the Carabao Cup in midweek and he used his programme notes to thank the fans and players, saying the experience had surpassed his expectations.

Ljungberg has been considerably less successful since stepping in following the sacking of Unai Emery, winning just one of his six games, and this performance summed up Arsenal's troubles.

Everton at least offered some intensity and purpose and managed five shots, but none were on target, with Sigurdsson's 18th-minute free-kick the closest they came.

The Toffees had to contend with another injury, meanwhile, Alex Iwobi forced off after only 11 minutes with a right hamstring issue and Cenk Tosun coming on.

Arsenal had more possession but did very little with it, not managing a single effort on goal until the 44th minute, when Lucas Torreira played a fine through ball for Martinelli, who shot just wide.

The Gunners looked more fired up after half-time and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang produced the first shot on target in the 51st minute, his snap-shot from a corner well saved by Jordan Pickford, though the striker probably should have scored.

Everton threatened in the 68th minute when the ball was cut back for Calvert-Lewin on the edge of the box and his shot was half blocked before the ball eventually span just wide of goal off defender Calum Chambers.

VAR checked for a possible penalty after Calvert-Lewin's shot hit a diving Torreira on the arm but nothing was given.

As he had against Manchester United, Ferguson chose to substitute a substitute, although this time it was Moise Kean who came on, with a furious-looking Tosun the man removed.

Ferguson again did not even look at Tosun as he marched off and headed straight down the tunnel.

He did not miss any meaningful action, with referee Kevin Friend's final whistle something of a relief.

OPTA Stats

• Everton have kept consecutive league clean sheets against Arsenal for the first time since August 1978.
• This was Arsenal’s first goalless draw in 77 Premier League games, since drawing 0-0 at West Ham in December 2017.
• Everton failed to record a single shot on target in a Premier League home game for the first time since New Year’s Day 2018, when they lost 0-2 against Manchester United.
• Arsenal’s first shot in this match came in the 44th minute, via Gabriel Martinelli. It’s the longest the Gunners had to wait for their first attempt in a Premier League match since May 2015 vs Manchester United (51 minutes).
• At 24y 50d, this was Arsenal’s youngest starting XI in a Premier League match since May 2011 (24y 24d vs Fulham), while it was the also the first time the Gunners named three teenagers in a league game in their starting lineup since March 2007 vs Reading.
• No manager has taken charge of more Premier League games without ever losing than Everton caretaker Duncan Ferguson (3, same as Pat Rice and Trevor Brooking).
• Cenk Tosun became the third substitute to be subbed off in a Premier League game this season, with the other two occasions also being Everton players (Alex Iwobi v Man City and Moise Kean v Man Utd).

As it happened:

Relive our live blog....

Full time: Everton 0-0 Arsenal

Our pain is ended as this game is put down. The two new managers have had a first hand look at how much work is to do with their new sides, both lacking badly in confidence and creativity

At least for Arsenal they've kept their first clean sheet in 15 matches

90: Injury time

Three minutes added on

88: Davies shoots

He fires across goal from 25 out. Always going wide, but one of rare shots today

87: Everton pressing

Everton are pressing for the winner, but again, poor passing and poor first touches mean they keep giving possession away and failing to build

86: Yellow Card

Arsenal's Chambers goes in the book after losing possession near his own box, how he has rather than his centre-back colleague Luiz is amazing

80: Kean to score

Is it written? Career at Everton not got going yet; subbed at Old Trafford after 18 minutes from coming on as a sub himself; now a fellow Italian in charge of him. Kean to score is 16/1 to score next and 12/1 anytime

78: Everton sub

Would you believe it, Ferguson is doing it again - he is subbing the sub.

Tosun, who came on early in the first half for an injury is subbed off after 78 minutes.

The man that's on is Kean, the sub subbed after 18 minutes at Old Trafford last weekend

Tosun, by the way, didn't look happy and just walked straight down the tunnel.

77: Arsenal sub

Aubameyang off, Lacazette on. Seems a bit odd not to have both on when you need goals

74: Yellow Card

Sigurdsson in the book for a challenge from behind to stop an Arsenal counter.

73: In-play tip

Luiz has made four fouls in this match and lucky not to see a yellow yet.

One more and surely he goes into the book - he is 6/5 to be booked

70: Everton sub

Toffee's second change of the day sees Michael Keane on for Delph, who has just returned from injury and looks tired.

67: Everton so close

Great flowing move from Everton, breaking quickly, with one touch passing moving the ball from right to left.

The ball eventually comes to Richarlison on the left, he drives into the box, squares it to Calvert-Lewin and his low shot is blocked by desperate diving Arsenal defenders.

If deflects to the right, four yards out and another Everton player deflects it towards goal, but it hits another defender and goes for a corner.

That comes to nothing

60: Last 30 minutes

For both of these caretaker bosses, which will taste a final, rare victory - Ferguson or Ljungberg? Or are we destined for a bore draw?

Everton are currently 2/1 to win; Arsenal 5/2 and the draw 11/10

Full Sky Bet market here

60: Arsenal stronger now

Arsenal on top now, without creating any scoring chances. So much better than their first half effort, although that's not saying much

56: Now it's serious..

Duncan Ferguson has now taken off his jacket in the Everton dugout - it's go time!

54: Everton corner

Game getting better as Everton attack now. Sigurdsson lines up a shot from the edge of the box and his stinging shot is deflected wide for a corner.

From it Everton can't create anything and Arsenal clear and counter, but it comes to nothing.

52: Arsenal shoot again

More like it from Arsenal and they stretch Everton down the left. Ball comes across the face of the box and Aubameyang picks up and shoots as he slips and it tamely goes through to Pickford.

Much better from the visitors.

50: Pickford save

Arsenal get another corner and from the left it is flicked on at the near post by Chambers. It falls to Aubameyang at the back post two yards out and he flicks towards goal to surely score.

Pickford though is across quickly and superb reflexes see him somehow tip the ball over the bar right on the line. Great save

49: Arsenal corner

The Gunners get the first corner of the second half. Fired in from the right, out-swinging, but Everton clear with ease

46: Everton chance

Richarlison collects the ball in the Arsenal box at a tight angle on the right, and shoots across the face of goal. Had an Everton player gambled at the back post they would have had a tap in

45: Second half

Here we go, it can only get better, can't it?

No changes

If a comment summed it up...

Sky Bet Price Boost

At half time Sky Bet have Price Boosted

• Both teams to score in the second half to 15/8
• Calvert-Lewin to score the 1st goal to 7/1
• Aubameyang to score the 1st goal to 6/1

Full markets here

Great / terrible stat

Sporting Life ACCA

We've had a good few wins with our Sporting Life EFL ACCA recently, so let's go and earn some extra cash to spend on Christmas presents - or a beer...

Head here to back Millwall, Coventry, Cambridge & Colchester all to win enhanced to 14/1 with Sky Bet

We'll start in the Sky Bet Championship where MILLWALL are backed to get the better of Barnsley in what could be a contest with goals. Gary Rowett's side are enjoying a seven-game unbeaten run while Barnsley have lost their last four away.

Dropping into Sky Bet League One and COVENTRY are the solo selection in this division to beat Lincoln. The Sky Blues have the second-best home record in the league and face a Lincoln side who have lost seven of their eleven games on the road.

Two from Sky Bet League Two and we'll start with CAMBRIDGE. They have won three of their last four games at home and this week sees them come up against Leyton Orient who are winless in three away.

Finally, we're backing COLCHESTER to get the better of Carlisle. They've won four of their last five home league games while Carlisle have the third-worst away record in England's fourth tier.

Highlights

A reminder that from 5.15 we will have highlights from every Premier League match from today.

Then from 6pm we will also have match highlights from all of Saturday's Sky Bet Championship games.

There's not many places you can get both league's highlights on one website, so why go anywhere else?

More blogs

Remember we have two more live blogs for you today.

From 2pm we have the buildup and full coverage of the afternoon games. Followed at 5.30 by Manchester City against Leicester City, as the two battle to keep up with leaders Liverpool

So stay with us for the day for the best coverage of Saturday's football.

Half-time: Everton 0-0 Arsenal

Thank goodness that is over. No shots on target from either side, and Arsenal just one in total overall.

No keeper saves, no offsides, no energy, no tempo.

I'm off to paint a wall and watch it dry over half time, it will be more interesting.

44: Arsenal shoot...

...And it is terrible. Martinelli is played in down the left by a lovely Torreira through-ball which curls round Mina, and from the left he smacks the ball wide from a decent enough position.

44: Yellow Card

Everton's Tom Davies is the first in the book today

43: No offsides

There's not been one off side in this match so far, or a keeper save, which says so much about this game

42: Over

Sidibe has space on the right with Saka slow to come out and close him down, gets the ball into Davies who smashes a low cross off of Tosun and over. The Turkish striker will want slightly more inviting deliveries than that

40: Everton cross

Everton drive down the left and attempt a cross at the byline through Tosun, but straight into the hands of Leno.

Everton have not made the most of their dominance or the sun in the keeper's eyes in this first half, as they too have failed to have a shot on target in this game so far

36: Lack of box time

Not sure the above it an actual expression, but let's run with it....

In the opening 35 minutes Arsenal have had just one touch of the ball in the Everton box - ONE - which explains why they've yet to have a shot in this contest

34: Nothing is happening

Lots of giving the ball away in midfield by both teams in the last few minutes. Uninspiring stuff currently

28: Arsenal free kick

Arsenal finally get going in an attacking sense and win a free kick on the right edge of the area

Floated into the penalty spot and Pickford comes out and punches clear well and Everton counter and win their own free kick

25: Big job for Arteta

If he didn't know it before, Arteta knows what a big job he has on his hands after this opening 15 minutes. Arsenal have been terrible so far.

They are just lucky that Everton have been as poor in the final third and thus failed to convert their dominance into a goal.

Almost 40% of this game has been played in the Arsenal half!

22: Everton free-kick

Luiz commits another foul and somehow avoids a yellow card, it must be his last warning.

From 40 out on the right touchline Everton whip it in to the back post. Everton player gets half a head on it and heads into the ground and Arsenal unconvincingly clear

21: Everton to score

We know Arsenal love a counter attack goal, so this can always be a risk, but it is all Everton now. Firing plenty of balls into the box and winning free kicks around the edge of the box.

Everton to score next is 8/11 with Sky Bet

19: Everton free kick

Free kick to the home side on the left edge of the penalty area after a foul by Luiz.

Sigurdsson whips it a couple of feet wide of Leno's right-hand post.

17: Everton on top

Everton are on top, having delivered a decent set piece and cross into the box in the last few moments, both cleared by Arsenal.

Everton's problem is their passing, not accurate and it means Everton have blown two further chances to get the ball into the box, with the ball out running their intended target and rolling out of play

14: Martinelli down

Martinelli is now down and looks in a fair bit of pain after Sidibe accidentally stood on his foot. That will sting in the cold of Merseyside.

He should be fine

12: Early impact

Tosun straight into the action, putting himself about, smashing off Arsenal defenders in the final third and then firing a wild shot well over the bar.

Good intensity from the sub

10: Everton sub

Duncan Ferguson is forced into an early change, with Iwobi pulling a hamstring and he is replaced by Tosun.

Shame for Iwobi against his old club

05: Arsenal push forward

Arsenal get space down the left and Martinelli crosses deep to the back post, but Everton head clear.

Only to the edge of the box and Nelson drives into it, causing panic in the Everton defence, lots of ping pong as neither side can get hold of the ball, but eventually Everton clear.

Expect goals

Having kept a clean sheet in both of their opening two Premier League games this season, Everton have conceded at least once in 14 of their last 15 matches.

Meanwhile, in all competitions, Arsenal are without a clean sheet in their last 14 games, their longest streak since a run of 21 games between October 1983-February 1984.

02: First corner

Everton win the first corner of the day in bright sunlight at Goodison Park. It is right in the eyes of Gunners keeper Leno and his defenders.

But Everton can't make the most of it with a poor set piece from Digne, hitting the first defender low and easily cleared

That sun could cause Arsenal problems later

Kick-off

Here we go. Everton in the normal home kit of blue shirts and white shorts; Arsenal in the Yellow and black

Teams out

A remainder of the teams, as they step out for their final game before they can dig into the mince pies, turkey and mulled wine

Everton: Pickford, Delph, Mina, Sidibe, Digne, Iwobi, Holgate, Davies, Sigurdsson, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin

Substitutes: Stekelenburg, Baines, Keane, Tosun, Bernard, Coleman, Kean

Arsenal: Leno, Maitland-Niles, Luiz, Chambers, Xhaka, Torreira, Smith-Rowe, Nelson, Saka, Martinelli, Aubameyang

Substitutes: Martinez, Lacazette, Pepe, Mustafi, Mavropanos, Willock, Guendouzi

Big Duncan's thoughts

Soccer Saturday Price Boost

Sky Bet have Price Boosted:

• Wolves, Celtic and Aston Villa all to win to 8/1
• Wolves, Celtic to win and Villa to draw with Southampton to 12/1
• Wolves, Celtic and Southampton to win to 10/1

Check out full markets and bet here

Ljungberg pre-match thoughts

Best Bet

Sporting Life's best bet for this early kick-off is...

Everton to win and BTTS at 3/1

The hosts are around 13/10 favourites and, going on their displays so far under Ferguson, you cannot argue against it. The Scot's influence has clearly fired Blues players up and if they dig in and show that attitude again here they can get the better of Arsenal's lacklustre defence.

The Toffees only made one change in midweek and have not kept a clean sheet in their last eight and the Gunners can at least get on the score sheet, so this combination looks a good-priced option.

Is Carlo right for Everton?

Former Toffee's boss Sam Allardyce certainly thinks so

Arsenal team news

Freddie Ljungberg is also standing in the dugout for the final time this lunchtime.

Arsenal make five changes to the team that lost at home to Manchester City in the Premier League last weekend. David Luiz and Granit Xhaka both return, with Emile Smith-Rowe, Reiss Nelson and Bukayo Saka also handed starts.

Mesut Ozil misses out altogether.

Arsenal: Leno, Maitland-Niles, Luiz, Chambers, Xhaka, Torreira, Smith-Rowe, Nelson, Saka, Martinelli, Aubameyang

Substitutes: Martinez, Lacazette, Pepe, Mustafi, Mavropanos, Willock, Guendouzi

Everton team news

Duncan Ferguson takes charge for the last time, having made a real postive impact on the team.

He makes four changes to the team that lost on penalties to Leicester in the Carabao Cup in midweek.

Gylfi Sigurdsson captains the Toffees after recovering from illness, while Djibril Sidibe, Lucas Digne and Fabian Delph also come in.

Leighton Baines, Michael Keane, Bernard and Seamus Coleman drop to the bench.

Everton: Pickford, Delph, Mina, Sidibe, Digne, Iwobi, Holgate, Davies, Sigurdsson, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin

Substitutes: Stekelenburg, Baines, Keane, Tosun, Bernard, Coleman, Kean

Arteta watching brief

Like Ancelotti, Arsenal's new boss will also be watching from the stands today before officially taking charge of the Gunners.

The former Arsenal captain has a huge challenge ahead to turn around a team that has problems across the board.

More on Arteta's appointment here

Everton appoint Ancelotti

So we've been waiting and waiting for Everton to confirm the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti, and when better to do it than an hour before you play Arsenal.

Gives the fans a huge boost, although makes more work for us journalists - not bitter, honest.

The Italian has signed a four-and-a-half-year deal and will watch from the stands today, with Big Duncan Ferguson still in charge for this one.

Full story and analysis of Carlo Ancelotti's appoint here

Highlights

A reminder that from 5.15 we will have highlights from every Premier League match from today.

Then from 6pm we will also have match highlights from all of Saturday's Sky Bet Championship games.

There's not many places you can get both league's highlights on one website, so why go anywhere else?

Welcome

Good afternoon and season greeting to you. Thank you for being with us for our first of three live blogs today.

This one has Everton at home to Arsenal in the early Premier League kick off. Then from 2pm we have the buildup and full coverage of the afternoon games. Followed at 5.30 by Manchester City against Leicester City, as the two battle to keep up with leaders Liverpool

So stay with us for the day for the best coverage of Saturday's football.