Arsenal 1 Everton 1: Arsene Wenger insists a draw ‘not bad’ for Gunners

Arsene Wenger insisted that Arsenal can be satisfied with a point after watching his side be pegged back by high-flying Everton at Emirates Stadium.

After a goalless first half in which the Toffees were on top for large spells, Mesut Özil gave the Gunners the lead when he tapped home from close range in the 80th minute.

But Arsenal’s advantage lasted just four minutes as substitute Gerard Deulofeu’s dipping strike caught out Wojciech Szczesny and earned the visitors a deserved point.

The regret we have tonight, of course, is that we were 1-0 up with seven minutes to go and we were caught back

Arsene Wenger

Wenger’s men are now five points clear at the top of the Premier League table, and the Frenchman admits that his side were made to work hard by an energetic Everton outfit.

“It was a very intense game and you have to say that Everton were a very good side today,” Wenger told Sky Sports.

“They gave us a difficult time, especially in the first half an hour, and we had difficulties getting into the game.

“After that we had a better control in the final 15 minutes of the first half and the second half. But they remained always dangerous on counter-attack.

“The regret we have tonight, of course, is that we were 1-0 up with seven minutes to go and we were caught back to 1-1.

“But overall we got a point and you can say that it’s the logical result.”

Wenger, whose side travel to Napoli in the Champions League in midweek before a trip to Manchester City next Saturday, continued: “It’s not bad to take overall.

“Ideally we wanted to be seven [points clear] but at least we got [to] five points. It gives us little bit of a cushion to play in a serene way against the other teams.

“But now we go into the Champions League so let’s focus on that. It’s important that we recover. We have a difficult task in Naples and then we go to Manchester City on Saturday morning.”