Why was Iliman Ndiaye absent for Everton against Arsenal?

Iliman Ndiaye was away with Senegal, competing in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Did Everton get a penalty against Arsenal?

Everton was denied a potential penalty after a challenge on Thierno Barry, which VAR reviewed but found no offense.

What is Everton's main transfer need?

Everton urgently needs to sign a quality striker in the January transfer window due to current players falling short.

Home / Sports / Everton's Striker Woes Haunt Arsenal Clash

Everton's Striker Woes Haunt Arsenal Clash

21 Dec, 2025

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Summary

Everton missed key forwards Ndiaye and Dewsbury-Hall due to international duty and injury.
Lack of a quality striker hampered Everton's attacking efforts throughout the match.
A controversial VAR decision denied Everton a potential penalty in the second half.

Everton's Striker Woes Haunt Arsenal Clash

Everton faced a significant challenge against Premier League title contenders Arsenal, severely weakened by the absence of key offensive players. Iliman Ndiaye is unavailable due to his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, while Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is sidelined with a hamstring injury. These absences were keenly felt, as the team's ability to create chances and score goals was diminished.

Despite a promising start to the match, an uncharacteristic error by O'Brien resulted in a penalty against Everton. The team felt further aggrieved in the second half when a strong claim for a penalty, after William Saliba's challenge on Thierno Barry, was dismissed by the VAR. While the team displayed considerable effort, their attempts to advance offensively were consistently undermined by a distinct lack of quality in the striker position.