ARSENAL WASTED A chance to cement their place in the Premier League’s top four as the Gunners were held to a 0-0 draw by Everton on Tuesday.
Arsene Wenger’s side would have moved four points clear of fifth placed Tottenham with a win at the Emirates Stadium.
But they were forced to settle for a point as obdurate Everton’s physical approach succeeded in frustrating the hosts.
Third placed Arsenal are now two points clear of Chelsea and Tottenham in the race to qualify for the Champions League.
However Arsenal still have plenty of work to do as Chelsea have two games in hand on Wenger’s team, while Tottenham have played a game less than their north London rivals.
Everton remain in sixth place, two points behind Chelsea having played two games more, and a spot in the Europa League now looks their best bet.
David Moyes’ men should have taken the lead in the opening moments when Steven Pienaar eluded the statuesque Bacary Sagna and raced onto Seamus Coleman’s pass.
But with just Wojciech Szczesny to beat, the South African midfielder lifted his shot high over the crossbar.
Despite admitting he had rushed Jack Wilshere back from an ankle injury too quickly, Wenger gave the England midfielder his second appearance in four days.
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And the Frenchman was wincing as Wilshere came in for some rough treatment in the early stages.
Crunching challenges from Ross Barkley and Kevin Mirallas left Wilshere writhing on the turf while Wenger leapt to his feet to berate referee Neil Swarbrick for failing to afford his player more protection.
Everton’s aggressive approach had knocked Arsenal out of their rhythm and it took a mistake from Marouane Fellaini to gift the Gunners their first sight of goal.
Fellaini’s wayward pass was collected by Kieran Gibbs in space on the edge of the penalty area, but the left-back’s powerful strike flashed over the bar.
Everton’s attempts to stifle Arsenal were becoming increasingly crude and Darron Gibson’s foul on Theo Walcott finally brought a booking from Swarbrick.
Gibson was fortunate to avoid being sent off for a second booking soon after when he barged into Walcott with no attempt to play the ball.
Swarbrick settled for a quiet word with the Everton midfielder, in the process infuriating the increasingly exasperated Wenger, who made his feelings clear to fourth official Kevin Friend.
The temperature rose even higher when Pienaar was booked for taking out Walcott.
But Victor Anichebe went close to opening the scoring when his shot from Barkley’s pass was blocked by Szczesny.
The best chance of the half fell to Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud.
Aaron Ramsey’s burst down the right produced a teasing low cross that picked out Giroud, only for the France international to drag his close-range effort woefully wide.
Santi Cazorla threatened for Arsenal early in the second half as the Spaniard’s half-volley forced a good save from Tim Howard and moments later Giroud clipped a first-time shot narrowly over.
Everton went even closer in the 65th minute when Barkley worked space for a superb strike that beat Szczesny but curled agonisingly past the far post.
Wenger responded by taking off Wilshere and Walcott, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Lukas Podolski coming on.
Oxlade-Chamberlain should have made an immediate impact when Cazorla’s pass sent the England winger through on goal, but instead of shooting he opted to pass to Giroud, allowing Coleman to get back and clear.
Arsenal had Moyes’ side on the ropes, yet couldn’t deliver the knockout blow as Giroud lashed over from a tight angle.
@Ray Ridge: St Thomas showed the way to beat them. Nullify Philip Mahony in the game and you beat ballygunner. Seemingly their backline is getting on in age, and appears they haven’t really blooded any new backs onto their team over the last five years. Could be found wanting come Munster championship if they beat Abbeyside next week
@v5OTKkXN: The frees won it for Thomas’s. Of which several were of the soft nature. Granted, munster will be hard won. Some very good teams in it. Na piarsaigh to name just one.
@Ray Ridge: a score is a score whether from a placed ball or from play. Frees are winning most matches these days. Whoever comes out of Limerick will have a big say this year. Those extra few weeks for the county stars to be back with clubs will make a big difference
@Ray Ridge: maybe I’ll be proved wrong but I don’t see them do two all irelands in a row. Ballyhale will be chomping at the bit in kk and Leinster this year
@v5OTKkXN: I fancied Clarenbridge the last couple of seasons, but they didn’t deliver, but maybe with Donoghue back with them, they might do it this year. Loughrea, Turloughmore and of course Thomas’s are the obvious contenders.
@Ray Ridge: I’d say as long as it remains a knockout championship both Galway champs and ulster teams would prefer it to remain the same, but if it became a round robin that might entice them to think differently
@David Jackman: there been talk that the club numbers are far exceeding the opportunities for players especially in underage teams. Could be a bit like when roanmore formed in the 70’s when they broke away from Mount Sion due to same reasons
@Niall McCarthy: ballygunner is a townsland in eastern Waterford, ruled by the O Sullivan clan. That dynasty may be crumbling like the USA these days with the sending off last week of Shane O Sullivan and this week of Darragh O Sullivan. Their nephews thought, the O Mahonys may be the next rulers of the iron throne, with their cousins the Fitzgerald lad and the Foley lad as their henchmen. Time will tell
@David Jackman: would ballygunner be an old Viking settlement there in Waterford David? Would the old meaning Baiile mhic Gunnar be the town of the son of Gunner?
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Should have won the All ireland last season. More than likely will this season all things being equal.
@Ray Ridge: St Thomas showed the way to beat them. Nullify Philip Mahony in the game and you beat ballygunner. Seemingly their backline is getting on in age, and appears they haven’t really blooded any new backs onto their team over the last five years. Could be found wanting come Munster championship if they beat Abbeyside next week
@v5OTKkXN: The frees won it for Thomas’s. Of which several were of the soft nature. Granted, munster will be hard won. Some very good teams in it. Na piarsaigh to name just one.
@Ray Ridge: a score is a score whether from a placed ball or from play. Frees are winning most matches these days. Whoever comes out of Limerick will have a big say this year. Those extra few weeks for the county stars to be back with clubs will make a big difference
@v5OTKkXN: Thomas took a heavy beating in Galway championship tonight. Only second round of group games however.
@Ray Ridge: maybe I’ll be proved wrong but I don’t see them do two all irelands in a row. Ballyhale will be chomping at the bit in kk and Leinster this year
@v5OTKkXN: Thomas won’t be winning back to back all Irelands Jed. That’s a cert.
@Ray Ridge: who do ya think will reign in Galway this year?
@Ray Ridge: Ah tweedle dom and dee
@v5OTKkXN: I fancied Clarenbridge the last couple of seasons, but they didn’t deliver, but maybe with Donoghue back with them, they might do it this year. Loughrea, Turloughmore and of course Thomas’s are the obvious contenders.
@Ray Ridge: could you ever see the Galway champs go into Leinster club championship like the county team
@Square: talk about dumb and dumber.
@v5OTKkXN: There’s certainly an argument for it for. Would probably need to do the same with Antrim and Derry champions.
@Ray Ridge: I’d say as long as it remains a knockout championship both Galway champs and ulster teams would prefer it to remain the same, but if it became a round robin that might entice them to think differently
@Cian O: oh yes
@Square: goone full circle deep in there with CianO young man.
@v5OTKkXN: i like my liverpool fans
@Square: what about the small ball game fans? Which of them ya like?
Split Ballygunner in two for the love of the game!
@Mick O’K: was about to say split them into four
@Mick O’K: why
@David Jackman: there been talk that the club numbers are far exceeding the opportunities for players especially in underage teams. Could be a bit like when roanmore formed in the 70’s when they broke away from Mount Sion due to same reasons
Where is ballygunner
@Niall McCarthy: ballygunner is a townsland in eastern Waterford, ruled by the O Sullivan clan. That dynasty may be crumbling like the USA these days with the sending off last week of Shane O Sullivan and this week of Darragh O Sullivan. Their nephews thought, the O Mahonys may be the next rulers of the iron throne, with their cousins the Fitzgerald lad and the Foley lad as their henchmen. Time will tell
@v5OTKkXN: all of them a family a 6th or 7th generation from Ballygunner.
@David Jackman: would ballygunner be an old Viking settlement there in Waterford David? Would the old meaning Baiile mhic Gunnar be the town of the son of Gunner?