Arsenal 1-1 Brentford

Two wins in the last seven league games and Arteta making five changes per match lately spell a definite end to the Gunners' title challenge.

When Rice raced 70 yards with the ball and fed Partey to blast Arsenal ahead, it looked like it could be a lacklustre three points.

Wissa had different ideas though, equalising with a deft flick that perhaps Raya could have done better with.

Arsenal finished the game with ten men after Jorginho picked up an injury. 

Clearly, all Arsenal's eggs are in one basket now: the Champions League.

Arsenal 0-0 Brentford (half time)

More like a pre-season friendly than anything, with the title all but lost and the little matter of a second leg versus Real Madrid to contend with.

Nevertheless, it provided a good run out for Tierney, who scored a header which was chalked off for offside and Zinchenko, so good he had his own song but now can't get into the team.

A lack of intensity is what the fans saw in the first 45 minutes, so it's hard to see how this game is going to go.

Everton 1-1 Arsenal

I just want to congratulate VAR and the match officials, who are allegedly fair people, for deciding the fate of the title with their decision-making, which has swerved from the vex-crime (yep, I made that word up, so does that make it a neologism?) to the ridiculous.

Quite honestly, Arsenal did just enough to win this game, but the Fates were against them. How was the Lewis-Skelly 'foul', when it was six of one and half a dozen of the other, given in the penalty box. I wasn't even sure it was a foul, but it was so clear and obvious that VAR didn't even show replays of the incident. I suspect there were other reasons why they didn't want their decision-making in the public eye, but we'll never know now.

Anyway, the penalty was despatched and Arsenal's last chance of putting any pressure on Liverpool at the top was effectively over, if it wasn't before.

Pickford was in imperious form in the Everton goal, and he was tested by a Martinelli pile driver, but not much else.

Arsenal had most of the possession, but the substitutes, apart from Tierney to some extent, offered no more than the players they replaced, so it was no surprise that the Gunners' title challenge faltered, after yet another VAR setback.

The referee's performance was questionable to say the least. He signalled for full time before the extra minutes had been played and then had to backtrack. As well as that, he allowed some agricultural challenges on Raya, as he was kicking the ball out. I thought that had been ruled out in modern football, but not at Goodison Park with this referee!

Of course, the penalty decision was an absolute travesty of justice. Jorginho thought so too and complained for so long and hard that he ended up with a yellow card. 

Despite the result, Arsenal can hold their heads up high, as it was a valiant performance.

Everton 0-1 Arsenal (half time)

The team selection for this game illustrated that Arteta's priority is the Champions League showdown against Real Madrid. 

Surprise starters included Sterling and Kiwior, the latter less so after Gabriel's season-ending injury. Also drafted in was Ben White, with Timber, who got a knock in the last game, moving to the bench.

I was disappointed to hear that Merino would start in midfield, as I thought his goal against Fulham would guarantee him a start upfront.

As usual, Arteta demonstrated his ability to pick the right team, as Sterling raced clear to unselfishly supply the pass for Trossard to place a shot into the far corner, putting Arsenal  ahead.

Trossard had a chance to double the lead but was thwarted in the attempt by Pickford, who successfully narrowed the angle and may have inadvertently injured the Belgian in the process.

The last thing Arsenal need right now is another body in sick bay, but they do need three points and at half time, fans could say: 'So far, so good.'

However, Everton and particularly Beto, looked dangerous on the break, so it's going to take all of Arsenal's resilience to keep their goal intact and keep up their long-distance breathing down the league leaders' necks.

Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea

It was quite a comfortable win in the end, albeit a narrow one.

Merino was closest to adding to the score line with a sidefoot volley from a Martinelli cross that was well saved by Sanchez.

Generally, the game was characterised by some full-blooded challenges and, in the end, the team that wanted it most won.

Tierney and Nwanieri came on as substitutes to help Arsenal see out a game that they deserved to win on the balance of play and chances created.

Now all Arsenal can do is try to keep winning to maintain second spot, as the points gap between them and Liverpool is too large to bridge.