Gerard Deulofeu came off the bench to score a sensational equaliser to earn Everton a deserved draw at Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Deulofeu netted just four minutes after Mesut Ozil had appeared to have earned the hosts a narrow victory with a close-range 80th-minute effort.
Everton, though, merited the draw, which capped a fine few days for Roberto Martinez’s side following their historic victory at Manchester United in midweek.
The result further underlines their credentials for Champions League qualification with the Goodison outfit still having lost only once in the Premier League since Martinez took charge in the summer.
And it was his fellow Catalan, the on-loan Deulofeu, who once more demonstrated why he will play an important role in Everton’s hopes of a top-four finish.
Unsurprisingly, Martinez kept faith with the starting line-up that won at Old Trafford five days earlier.
Everton, buoyed by their midweek victory, began with real purpose, Ross Barkley keen to advance at every opportunity and capitalise on an Arsenal midfield lacking the shielding presence of the benched Mathieu Flamini.
In the fifth minute, Romelu Lukaku was close to reaching an inviting Kevin Mirallas cross from the right and moments later hesitated before pulling the trigger on a Barkley pass into the area and the chance was lost.
Sylvain Distin hurriedly pulled a shot wide from a corner as Everton continued to press, with Gareth Barry’s strong challenge that left Ozil in a heap near the touchline evidence of Everton’s competitive streak.
Kevin Mirallas thrashed off target from the angle as Everton continued to spray the ball around with confidence and belief, Arsenal rarely given a time to settle until their first glimmer of an opening on 27 minutes, Santi Cazorla, switched to the right, sending a cross into the six-yard box the incoming Kieran Gibbs couldn’t quite reach.
Steven Pienaar released Lukaku down the inside left but nobody was on hand to turn in the Belgian’s driven cross, with the failure to creature any clear-cut opportunities when on top the one concern for Martinez.
It came into sharp focus as Arsenal finished the half strongly with Howard twice required to make important saves shortly before the interval.
With referee Howard Webb waving play on after Barry again cleaned out Ozil – this time eventually earning a booking – Aaron Ramsey played in Olivier Giroud but Howard was equal to the shot. Then the same three Arsenal players combined with Giroud returning to the favour to Ramsey but Howard again repelled the danger.
The hosts knocked loudly again six minutes after the restart, Wilshere playing the ball back across goal but Cazorla’s improvised header was easy for Howard.
Wojciech Szczesny was finally forced into a save on 55 minutes when an Everton counter ended with Barkley backheeling the ball into the path of Pienaar whose shot from 20 yards was parried clear by the Arsenal goalkeeper.
Howard, though, was being kept the busier and was required to beat out an acrobatic volley from the increasingly-influential Ramsey.
Barkley capitalised on some slack Arsenal play to fire a shot Szczesny was compelled to keep out before Wenger rolled the dice with a triple substitution that almost paid immediate dividends when Flamini shot narrowly wide.
Everton were close on 78 minutes when a deft touch from substitute Leon Osman released Mirallas whose shot was deflected into the side-netting.
The resultant corner ended with Distin heading over from eight yards after a Mirallas cross was inadvertently flicked into the path of the Frenchman by compatriot Laurent Koscielny.
But Everton’s resistance was broken in slightly fortuitous fashion 10 minutes from time. A deep cross from Tomas Rosicky was headed back across goal by fellow substitute Theo Walcott and, after Giroud completely missed his kick, the ball fell invitingly for Ozil to convert from a matter of yards.
Yet parity was restored in magnificent fashion four minutes later. Pressed forward by Barkley, Everton fed possession out left and, after Lukaku missed his connection to Bryan Oviedo’s cross, the ball landed at the feet of Deulofeu who shifted on to his right foot and slammed an angled shot beyond Szczesny.
Lukaku twice could have won the game for the visitors but ultimately Everton were indebted to the woodwork for a point when Giroud’s blistering, swerving shot from 25 yards beat Howard and struck the crossbar.
ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Szczesny; Jenkinson, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs; Ramsey (Flamini 68), Arteta; Wilshere (Walcott 68), Ozil, Cazorla (Rosicky 68); Giroud. Subs: Fabianski, Vermaelen, Monreal, Bendtner.
EVERTON (4-2-3-1): Howard; Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Oviedo; Barry, McCarthy; Mirallas (Deulofeu 79), Barkley (Naismith 90), Pienaar (Osman 71); Lukaku. Subs: Robles, Heitinga, Jelavic, Stones.
REFEREE: Howard Webb. BOOKINGS: Barry, McCarthy and Deulofeu (all fouls) and Howard (timewasting).
ATT: 60,001.
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