Unnecessary sequels can often be a tough watch and that certainly applied to Everton’s second ‘Great Escape’ but the current Blues side now have an opportunity to avoid a trilogy that nobody associated with the club ever wanted. On this day in 1998, Everton drew 1-1 with Coventry City to remain in the Premier League by a wafer thin margin, finishing above relegation rivals Bolton Wanderers on goal difference.
It was the second time in just four years that the Blues’ top flight status had gone to the final day of the season but unlike those two occasions in the 1990s, Frank Lampard’s men know they must complete the campaign without the comfort blanket of their last fixture being at Goodison Park. Even with last season’s unprecedented conditions of a behind closed door fixture in which Everton triumphed 1-0 thanks to home keeper Bernd Leno spilling Richarlison’s cross into his own net to give the visitors their first ever win at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal away remains their least-successful individual fixture in 30 years of Premier League history.
Since 1992, the Blues have suffered 22 defeats away to the Gunners – more than any other opponent – and their points per game average taken from such matches is just 0.38, the lowest equivalent score against everyone they’ve ever faced. Even with his side’s recent upturn in form, Lampard will understandably not want to be heading to north London with Everton’s safety still not secured.
