Performance will boost Euro hopes

Everton show they fear no one as Arsenal pushed to end

- BY JOE THOMAS

Max Dowman leaves Jordan Pickford and the Everton players trailing as he breaks to score Arsenal's second

THE disappointment from this defeat will linger but this was a performance that should provide hope that Everton can still achieve the unthinkable.

After years of chaos on and off the pitch, that there lies the potential to qualify for Europe with eight games to go represents an astonishing change in fortunes.

For them to reach the promised land of midweek football on the continent they will need to pick up good results against teams chasing bigger prizes - Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool still lie in wait.

But if David Moyes takes anything away from this 2-0 defeat at the home of the probable champions of England, and potential champions of Europe, it is that his side should fear no-one.

In the end, it was the opportunism of a £64million striker in the 90th minute that decided this game. That is how fine the margins were, with teenage wonderkid Max Dowman adding a gloss deep in stoppage time that came only from Everton’s desperation for an equaliser.

Everton ended this game fighting for a point but if they had left with all three, it would not have been a smash and grab victory.

Three times David Moyes had his head in his hands.