Everton

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Former Blues defender Peter Clarke says Goodison Park will "always be the home of Everton" but hopes the move to Bramley-Moore Dock will have a positive impact.

"An incredible place, steeped in history," Clarke said on BBC Radio Merseyside. "Every time I ever played there I loved it - the feeling that you got from the fans.

"I love the fact the supporters were so close to the pitch. With some of the modern stadiums now, fans are a considerable distance from the playing area. I love the fact that they were so close and the atmosphere that created.

"There are not many games left there now and time will probably pass very quickly between now and the end of the season. It will be sad to see it not be the home of the club anymore.

"I think it will always be the home of Everton but the opportunity to move to a new stadium and everything that will bring will hopefully have a really positive impact on things."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

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Everton forward Youssef Chermiti highlighted Beto and Seamus Coleman as two important figures since his move to the club.

Chermiti and Beto both arrived at Goodison Park in the summer of 2023 and have developed a strong bond since.

"We are super, super close," Chermiti told the club's matchday programme., external "He has family from Guinea-Bissau and my mother is from Guinea-Bissau, too. We found out that my family over there lives in the same neighbourhood as his family! He is very much like a brother to me.

"We've each had tough moments since we arrived, either with injuries or being out of the team, but he's kept me going and I hope I have helped him, too.

"Right now, I think we are both better for those tough times. It feels like everyone in the squad is happy at the moment.

"If Beto is like a brother, Seamus is like my uncle," Chermiti added. "I speak with him every single day and he's always trying to help me, advise me, push me to be my best.

"I enjoy the relationship we have because maybe we get upset with each other at times but it's because he wants the best out of me. He really believes in me and my future. I have to thank him for everything.

"It goes to show what he's like even this season, when I've been injured, he speaks to me every day about how I'm feeling and about my family and that sort of thing. It's not just football, but life as well. He's a top captain."

Mike Richards
Fan writer

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I will save my official ode to Goodison Park until after our final match there against Southampton, however, it would be remiss of me not to make reference to her as the clock ticks down to zero.

With only three games left to be played at Goodison, Saturday felt like the day when reality hit for many Evertonians.

The increasing number of cameras was evident, with so many eager to capture every given moment.

The glorious weather illuminated all four sides of the ground, with the spring sun seeming to usher in memories of so many childhoods.

For some Evertonians, it would have been the final time they ventured to our home.

The final time they carried out decade-old traditions that are soon to be consigned to their personal memory banks.

St Luke's Church once again became the go-to pre-match venue, with fans from both clubs apparently eager to secure their own slice of Evertonian memorabilia.

Arsenal showed a touch of class with a pre-match presentation to mark their final visit to Goodison Park, something that many previous visiting clubs have seemingly forgotten about.

There was certainly an end-of-season feel to the game itself, with Arsenal's thoughts clearly on their midweek Champions League quarter-final and Everton coasting towards the end of the season.

However, it has been refreshing to be able to enjoy Goodison Park before we do bid our final farewell in May.

No pressure or angst. A chance to simply sit back and take it all in.

The finality of what is about to come is something we will struggle to prepare for.

Find more from Mike Richards at Unholy Trinity, external

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Everton have announced player development lead coach Dan Micciche will be leaving the club next month to pursue a new opportunity in the Middle East.

Former Arsenal, Tottenham and MK Dons coach Micciche is the latest off-field member of staff set to leave the club.

Director of football Kevin Thelwell will exit upon the expiry of his contract in the summer, while head of academy recruitment James Vaughan will depart later this month.

In March, Everton announced changes in their executive structure with chief commercial and communications officer Richard Kenyon also leaving.

One senior appointment sees the appointment of Angus Kinnear as their new chief executive, with the Leeds United CEO beginning the role on 1 June.

With eight first-team players out of contract and a further four seeing their loan deals coming to an end, it promises to be a busy summer of recruitment both on and off the pitch.

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Everton manager David Moyes is scheduled to visit the club's new stadium this week - the clearest sign yet that he feels they are safe from relegation.

With Southampton already down and Leicester and Ipswich looking like joining them in the Championship next season, the Toffees are on 35 points, 15 clear of the bottom three with seven games remaining.

Moyes has insisted in recent weeks that 40 points is the target to aim for, saying in March: "I've not been to the new stadium yet because I'm not going to go until I feel as if we are safe."

But after securing a point against Arsenal on Saturday, Moyes will head to Bramley-Moore Dock sometime in the next few days to take a look at the new state-of-the-art venue.

He said after the game: "Mathematically, we are not safe yet but I am hoping to take a visit to the stadium this week, which would indicate that I think we are pretty close.

"I want us to keep getting ready for Premier League football. I know I have got a bit to do and hope I'm not speaking too soon."

Mike Peter
BBC Sport Journalist

The touchlines are tight here, but that wasn't going to stop Mikel Arteta - he still squeezed out of his technical area almost 50% more than opposite number David Moyes.

Anywhere close to the action was Arteta's domain, with his coaches, particularly set-piece lead Nicolas Jover, having to venture out to join him twice as much as Everton's backroom staff had to find Moyes. Jover, just as much an animated presence as his manager, immediately took up position in the very corner of the technical area for any set-piece.

Moyes ventured around his area more freely, often stepping back in his box to discuss matters with his staff, and even taking a seat on the bench - something Arteta never did.

Nor was the dugout the only place the veteran Scot sat down - he was perched on a drinks cooler in the corner of his area when Everton scored their equalising penalty.

See what all the other managers did

Everton and Brighton have joined the race to sign Ipswich and England Under-21 striker Liam Delap, 22, whose £40m release clause will become active if Ipswich are relegated from the Premier League. (TeamTalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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Everton striker Armando Broja says "the best is still to come" as he continues his return from an ankle ligament injury.

The Albania striker, who joined Everton on loan from Chelsea last summer, has made three appearances off the bench since being sidelined for three months, but is yet to score.

"I feel much better now," Broja told EvertonTV, external. "I'm happy I can come back on the pitch and play pain-free. That's all I wanted - to be pain-free, to enjoy my football, play in front of the fans and try to do the best for the team.

"I'm 100% sure there's way more to come from me. There's still the best to come from me. There's so much more I can do."

With seven games remaining, including a trip to third-placed Nottingham Forest this weekend, the 23-year-old hopes to make a mark before the end of the season to potentially stake a claim for a permanent move in the summer.

"Every time you step over that white line, it's about giving your all," he said. "No matter where you are, what level you're at, it's always about doing the best for yourself and for the club.

"It's going to be a special run-in. It's a historic moment for the club, being the last season at Goodison."

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Everton and Arsenal.

Here are some of your comments:

Everton fans

Terry: It was a poor game but we will take the point and move on. It's going to be a big summer because we need quality all over the pitch, but there's enough good players in the squad to give us a solid base. One more game ticked off. The countdown to the Southampton game is on, which is going to be so emotional.

Mike: An excellent performance from a team with increasing belief made this great result possible. David Moyes has once again built a side that looks greater than the sum of its parts.

Stephen: They battled bravely but the class gap could be seen. Hopefully we spend money in the closed season.

Chris: We have forgotten how to win again! Six games and counting. The early Moyes effect has worn off and we are back to be being an average team, with below average players! A massive rebuild is required in the summer and I'm doubting now if Moyes is the right man to take us forward.

Arsenal fans

Jim: Poor game again. Mikel Arteta's philosophy of not wanting to lose a game just stifles us in trying to win. We will get battered by Real Madrid. I do think his time is nearly up.

Osato: I think Arsenal played well and probably should've won with more goals, but that Everton penalty was a very wrong decision in my opinion. I think the standard of refereeing in the Premier League has been lowered and VAR isn't helping like it is supposed to.

Rachel: It's clear that Arsenal are going to desperately miss Gabriel for the remainder of the season. He is the cheerleader of the team, the backbone, the motivator, the monster defender and the one we can least afford to lose out of everyone. I think we'll struggle to win another game without him. He is the beating heart of Arsenal and a massive loss.

Simon: Arsenal have clearly thrown in the towel on winning the Premier League. They are just not clinical enough and are lacking the hunger to be champions.

Everton have spoken to the representatives of Freiburg's 22-year-old Germany midfielder Merlin Rohl over a potential move. (Kicker - in German), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Gary Lineker presents highlights and analysis from Saturday's five Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Crystal Palace 2-1 Brighton

• Aston Villa 2-1 Nottingham Forest

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Everton winger Jack Harrison has been speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside following the draw at Goodison Park: "I think it's obviously good to get a point against Arsenal, one of the top teams in the league. A lot of us feel frustrated and maybe we feel we could've come away with a win, especially at home and the way the game was going at the end of the second half.

"It was a bit of a frustrating start but being able to come away with a point against Arsenal is always good for us. We just have to crack on now, we have a lot of room for improvement.

"Against a team like Arsenal, it is always going to be tougher for us attacking players. There was a lot of defending involved and so sticking together as a team is really important.

"In the second half, I felt we were able to do that and just hold them to one goal. But, at the same time, we need to try and get up the other side of the pitch and do our best to attack.

"So we created a couple of chances but we would have liked to have improved in that aspect a little bit today."

On the penalty: "I felt like it was a penalty straightaway. I tried to read the flight of the ball, going on the other side of the defender, and he brought me down from that angle.

"I got up straightaway to try and carry on playing, because you never know with VAR, but the referee had already blown the whistle and called a penalty so that was it."

On his aims for the rest of the season: "I want to try and add more goals and assists. I want to contribute as much as I can to this club. It's been amazing being here, I know it's just on loan but hopefully we can see what happens going forward.

"I just want to continue my growth as a player and contribute as much as I can to this amazing club."

Listen to the full post-match interview on BBC Sounds

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Everton manager David Moyes has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day about the game: "Our first-half performance was really poor - sloppy and slacking from the first moment. We gave Arsenal encouragement and that's the one thing they certainly don't need. They are a good enough team [without it].

"Credit to the players. They turned it around at half-time, got about it and a great reaction from the crowd that helped us get a penalty and, in the end, we got a point against a good team."

On playing Liverpool on Wednesday: "If you're going to become a top team, you have to get used to playing midweek. We are probably not used to it here. I think it was a factor, with the early kick-off those extra hours can make a difference. We didn't start well."

On what is still to play for this season: "I've said to the players that the challenge we've got is to prove how we get on against the better teams. We are trying to play better, we didn't do that today, so we need to find a way we can do that. Moving forward, we are trying to find how to get better against better sides."

On Iliman Ndiaye: "We missed Iliman, he is one of our major talents. We have missed Dwight McNeil as well and we are without Dom [Calvert-Lewin], so we've had to find a way to get results.

"We've done a pretty good job. We are just about there, not mathematically, but just about clear of being a Premier League team.

"I will probably visit the stadium this week now that I'm feeling that way."

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Everton are the first team to record four consecutive home draws in the Premier League since Chelsea in February 2016.

Iliman Ndiaye's penalty equaliser was his seventh Premier League goal this season, the outright most of any Everton player.

Were you at Goodison Park or following from elsewhere?

Everton fans, what did you make of their display?

Have your say on Arsenal's performance

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Five matches make up Saturday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Everton v Arsenal (12:30)

• Crystal Palace v Brighton

• Ipswich v Wolves

• West Ham v Bournemouth

• Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest (17:30)

All kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

This is going to be difficult for Arsenal. Everton defended so well against Liverpool on Wednesday, and they carried a real threat too, with Beto running in behind.

Bukayo Saka was back for the Gunners against Fulham and he will obviously boost their attack but they have picked up a few defensive injuries, including Gabriel being out for the rest of the season.

Mikel Arteta's side have got Tuesday's Champions League tie with Real Madrid to think about and, on top of that, this is an early kick-off to deal with too. None of that helps.

I want Arsenal to keep on winning to put some pressure on Liverpool but Everton drew 0-0 at Emirates Stadium in December, when Sean Dyche was in charge, and everything points towards a similar outcome this time.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Everton manager David Moyes has spoken out about the death threats made towards James Tarkowski and his family, stating abuse is "not acceptable for anybody in any walk of life".

The centre-back was involved in a controversial tackle in Wednesday's Merseyside derby against Liverpool, which Moyes concedescould have resulted in his player being shown a red card.

Speaking in his pre-match conference, he added: "We have to hold our hands up and say that after looking at it again, I believe that it could have been a sending off.

"But I don't think it should mean that you get abused online because of that. It is part of football.

"At the time, I thought he made what I thought was a really good tackle. Looking at it again, I think it was a bit reckless."