Arsenal haunted by travel sickness as away form threatens Champions League bid

Arsenal's vulnerability away from home pre-dates Unai Emery’s arrival but the Spaniard’s ability to mask that deficiency will now determine whether this season ends in success.

The Gunners won just four matches on the road last season as their travels became a protest roadshow, advertising internal divisions and the bitterest hostility towards Arsene Wenger.

He has departed but the scars remain. While this fragile group of players have been emboldened by the restoration of unity at Emirates Stadium, they are the only Premier League side yet to keep an away clean sheet.

There were accusations that Lucas Digne’s foot had crossed the line when delivering a long throw, but that does not excuse the weak defending that followed as Dominic Calvert-Lewin showed greater hunger to head goalwards before Phil Jagielka turned home the rebound in the 10th minute.

In that set-piece, Everton were hungrier, more determined and purposeful. It was the same over 90 minutes.

Everton wasted a host of chances and although Emery opted for what is rapidly becoming his trademark move – a half-time substitution and formation change – in an effort to rouse his troops, he ended up being increasingly agitated by the lack of application.

Matteo Guendouzi and Mohamed Elneny failed to replicate the passing range of Granit Xhaka or the tenacious tackling of the suspended Lucas Torreira. Mesut Ozil, making only his seventh away start of the season, was peripheral until his withdrawal after 74th minutes.

Alexandre Lacazette receded into his shell somewhat after several tough early challenges, including one from Kurt Zouma which some Arsenal players felt worthy of a penalty.

But this was a collective failure, one in which they lacked the mental fortitude to negotiate a tough opponent and capitalise on a game in hand to cement their place in the top four.

Arsenal are at home in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final against Napoli and a healthy lead on Thursday is probably vital to progress in Italy next week.

Arsenal are widely assumed to have the easiest League run-in of those teams vying for the top four. But with four games away from home, nothing at all can be taken for granted.