Everton finally ended their winless run by edging out Arsenal.
Rafael Benitez’s side thought they had opened the scoring late in the first half when Richarlison turned the ball home before VAR disallowed it for offside.
The visitors took an undue lead on the stroke of half time when Martin Odegaard was left unmarked in the box to jink home a cross from the left.
Technology conspired against Richarlison for a second time after the interval as he had raced clear and scored before that effort, too, was flagged up.
But nothing denied the Brazilian’s third attempt as Demarai Gray’s shot cannoned off the woodwork into his path for a looping headed equaliser.
In stoppage time, Gray snatched the spoils for the Blues with a stunning 25-yard strike which ended an eight-game run without a Premier League victory.
Here were the key talking points from Goodison Park:
Is this the Blues’ turning point?
Let it never be said that Everton do things the easy way.
A testing week which began with a Merseyside derby humiliation and ended with both supporter unrest and boardroom upheaval prefaced Arsenal’s visit.
Failing to win their last eight Premier League games also meant the pressure was firmly on Rafael Benitez’s side against similarly out of form opponents.
But the Goodison Park floodlights brought out the best in the Blues as they rallied to produce their most stirring performance of the season to date.
Demarai Gray 🚀 pic.twitter.com/r9v3ApOUuy #EVEARS #EFC
— Everton FC news (@ClickEverton) December 6, 2021
Were it not for the controversial intervention of VAR to chalk off Richarlison’s two well-taken efforts, they would have led far sooner than the 92nd minute.
Despite those setbacks, they kept plugging away and have now claimed 10 points from losing positions this term – more than any other top-flight team.
Benitez remained steadfast in his view that one victory would banish Everton’s previously barren run and help reignite their impressive early-season form.
Maintaining this level of performance consistently in the weeks and months ahead could see this result become a genuine a turning point in their season.
No end in sight for Mina’s woes
Benitez believed Yerry Mina’s return would help restore Everton to normality.
That logic appeared sound enough with his defence shipping eight goals in six games with the Colombian compared to 16 in their next seven without him.
Mina’s comeback against Arsenal also augured well given that he had lost just one of the previous four games when tangling with Mikel Arteta’s charges.
His first appearance since October’s draw at Manchester United, just before the wheels started coming off, should have been a cause for celebration.
Instead, the 27-year-old lasted barely half an hour before another injury cast fresh doubts about his undisputed status as Everton’s leading centre-back.
Worryingly there is no end in sight to Mina’s perennial treatment table woes or even identifiable traits for why he continues to break down so routinely.
Coleman tastes sweet redemption
No one had felt last week’s derby defeat more than Seamus Coleman.
Criticism gravitated towards the Everton captain after his botched attempt to control a simple pass culminated in Liverpool running away with that game.
Some concluded that Coleman’s failure to keep pace with Mohamed Salah during that surging had effectively killed his career in a royal blue shirt.
History threatened to repeat itself as he failed to track Martin Odegaard in the build-up to the visitors taking an undeserved lead on the stroke of half time.
The Republic of Ireland international, however, refuses to accept being beaten and re-emerged from the interval with a genuine point to prove.
Little found its way past Coleman during the remaining 45 minutes, including his previous tormentor when the game was finely poised on a goal apiece.
An intuitive sliding challenge which denied Odegaard’s close-range effort showcased the 33-year-old’s best attributes as the Gunners chased a winner.
Revenge may be sweet but redemption is just as delectable; something Coleman can attest after responding to his critics in such emphatic fashion.