Two matches concluded the Saturday program of the 17th round of the Premier League.

Premier League 2025/26, 17th Round

Everton – Arsenal – 0:1

Goal: Doku, 27 (pen.)

Leeds – Crystal Palace – 4:1

Goals: Calvert-Lewin, 38, 45+4; Ampadu, 60; Stach, 90+11 – Devaney, 90+2 (pen.)

Vitaliy Mykolenko started for Everton in the match against Arsenal. It was a ricochet off the Ukrainian that started a fatal spell for the “Toffees” in the middle of the first half. The ball flew to the far post, where O’Brien perfectly held back Doku. He didn’t let the Swede finish, and didn’t “bring” a penalty.

However, on the same corner, an 11-meter penalty did happen in O’Brien’s name. Everton’s right-back imagined himself as a volleyball player, raised both hands high, and touched the ball. Arsenal players and the field referee miraculously missed the violation, but on replay, it was obvious. Mykolenko, with emotional protests, only talked himself into a yellow card. Doku approached the spot and nearly tore the net with a powerful strike.

Arsenal didn’t rush to develop their advantage, but also didn’t give Everton any chances. The “Toffees” didn’t manage a single shot before the break, not even an inaccurate one. At the start of the second half, some approaches to Raya’s goal appeared, but nothing serious. Meanwhile, Arsenal could have doubled the lead. Timber cleverly played back to Saka, who shot past Pickford, but the goalkeeper was backed up by Tarkowski.

Barry twice asked for a penalty. If the moment with Zubimendi didn’t warrant it, then Saliba clearly hit Thierry on the leg. VAR for some reason didn’t call Sam Barrott to the monitor.

Overall, Arsenal’s superiority raised no doubts. The right post twice saved Everton after shots from Trossard and Zubimendi. Saka fell in the penalty area, but the referees didn’t intervene there either. By the way, Mykolenko did a good job containing the formidable right flank of the “Gunners.” However, no points for that. Everton remains in tenth place in the Premier League, while Arsenal regains the lead, overtaking Man City by 2 points.

Dynamo “cursed” Crystal Palace. If the “Eagles” have a midweek match in the Conference League, then the following weekend they inevitably fail to win in the Premier League – one draw and now against Leeds, it was the fifth defeat.

The hero was Dominic Calvert-Lewin, whom Everton let go for free in the summer and is suffering with their unlucky forwards. Leeds’ number nine scored in his fifth match in a row, this time even a brace. After the break, Ampadu brought the score to a rout, whose throw-ins from the touchline provoked the first two goals. The goal exchange at the end of the match didn’t matter much. Leeds moves 6 points away from the relegation zone, while Palace couldn’t return to the European spots.