Everton vs Arsenal: See the amazing moment Petr Cech comes just inches away from being the Gunners’ unlikely hero

PETR CECH was inches away from becoming Arsenal's unlikely hero at Goodison Park.

The 6ft 4in keeper rushed up the pitch to attack an injury-time free-kick deep in Everton's half as Arsenal trailed 2-1.

5

Cech escaped marker Ashley Williams and jumped to meet a whipped Mesut Ozil cross.

Keep up to date with ALL the Arsenal news, gossip, transfers and goals on our club page plus fixtures, results and live match commentary

But opposite number Maarten Stekelenburg produced an acrobatic save the Czech veteran would have been proud of and batted the ball away from harm.

Pictures showed Cech was certain to connect with the ball had Stekelenburg not been on top form.

5

5

Goals from Seamus Coleman and Williams were enough to see off Arsenal, who scored through star man Alexis Sanchez.

The result leaves Chelsea, who are three points above Arsenal at the top of the table with a game in hand, with breathing room.

Arsene Wenger admitted his players struggled to cope with the physicality of Ronald Koeman's men.

Related Stories

WILL POWER

Everton 2 Arsenal 1: Ashley Williams the late hero for Ronald Koeman's men as tame Gunners blow chance to go top

French connection

Olivier Giroud and Francis Coquelin agree new Arsenal deals as Sanchez and Ozil contracts draw closer

Ash, bash and crash

Ashley Williams flattens Idrissa Gueye with horror tackle then deflects in Alexis Sanchez's goal

'unbelievable!'

Petr Cech tweets shock as Swansea beat Palace 5-4 thanks to two injury-time goals from Fernando Llorente

The Gunners boss said: "It was a very physical game and I think we faced some challenges.

"It disturbed our game and at the end of the day I think we were a bit unlucky to lose."

The Frenchman, 67, added: "We fought very hard and I can't fault the attitude."

But Michael Owen, speaking as a pundit on BT Sport, said: "They [Arsenal] fought really hard from Arsenal's point of view, but that's a very passing type of fighting hard - maybe running around a bit.

5

5

"But when you talk about physically fighting hard, are they going to challenge?

"They're not designed for that. They're not a team that plays that way, they don't train that way.

"They need to pass a team off the park and when any team gets really physical they probably find it harder."

Ian Wright echoed the feeling, adding: "If you are going to beat Arsenal, or you're going to try and take them out of their stride, you have to make the game that kind of game."