EPL: Flamini Own-Goal Costs Arsenal 2 Grave Points as Everton Beat Newcastle 3-0
Arsenal’s down sliding continued as an injury-time Mathieu Flamini own goal meant they shared a 2-2 draw with relegation-threatened Swansea at Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners had appeared still afflicted by their 6-0 weekend mauling against Chelsea after falling behind to Wilfried Bony’s 11th-minute header leading into the last quarter of the game.
Quickfire goals from Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud appeared to dramatically turn the game their way. Podolski turned in the equaliser on 73 minutes before he supplied the ball for Giroud to send the Gunners ahead a minute later. But Arsene Wenger’s side failed to hold on as Flamini put the ball into his own net with no time for the hosts to respond.
Arsenal’s draw allowed fifth-placed Everton to close the gap behind them to six points after Roberto Martinez’s won 3-0 at Newcastle.
The Toffees’ success was highlighted by Ross Barkley’s first-half opener, when the young England midfielder ran from inside his own half and into the home penalty area before coolly converting.
Romelu Lukaku and Leon Osman netted after half-time to keep Everton, who have a game in hand over Arsenal, in the hunt for a Champions League place.