Soccer: Everton hold Arsenal to draw

Arsenal's Olivier Giroud puts his hands to his head as he reacts in frustration to missing a chance to score a goal. Photo / AP

Everton substitute Gerard Deulofeu scored six minutes from time to salvage a deserved 1-1 draw at Arsenal on Sunday as the Gunners missed the chance to open a gap at the top of the Premier League standings.

Deulofeu scored from a tight angle with a shot past Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny just four minutes after Mesut Ozil put Arsene Wenger's team in front from close range.

On the back of their win at Manchester United midweek, Everton was the better team in the first half but Arsenal had the best chances after the interval as goalkeeper Tim Howard produced several decisive saves. Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud hit the crossbar in injury time.

Arsenal, which next plays Napoli in the Champions League before tough games against Manchester City and Chelsea, leads Liverpool and Chelsea by five points.

Meanwhile relegation-threatened Fulham ended a seven-game losing streak as Steve Sidwell and Dimitar Berbatov scored first-half goals in a 2-0 win over Aston Villa.

After a minute's applause at Craven Cottage for former South African President Nelson Mandela who died Thursday, Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan pushed Berbatov's header onto the bar but was powerless when Sidwell flicked the ball from a tight angle to open the scoring in the 21st minute.

Berbatov then calmly scored from the penalty spot for his second league goal this season after Alexander Kacaniklic was fouled by Leandro Bacuna in the box.

It was Fulham's first win since new manager Rene Meulensteen was appointed as a replacement for the sacked Martin Jol.

- AP