EVERTON'S hopes of adding silverware to their pre-season campaign were ruined by Arsenal tonight.
Goals in either half gave the Gunners a 3-1 win at the National Stadium in Singapore to inflict a first defeat of the summer on Roberto Martinez's men.
Theo Walcott put Arsenal ahead mid-way through the first-half before Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil added goals after the break to thrill the huge number of Arsenal fans in the ground.
Ross Barkley fired home a consolation goal with 15 minutes remaining.
Everton had enjoyed plenty of possession in the first-half but could not find any cutting edge and Walcott made them pay when he raced onto a ball over the top and capitalised on hesitant goalkeeping from Joel Robles.
The Blues thought they had forced an equaliser just before half-time but Gareth Barry's goal was ruled out after the referee's assistant spotted an infringement following Steven Naismith's header that was brilliantly tipped onto the bar by Petr Cech.
Luke Garbutt forced Arsenal's new stopper into an even better save just after the re-start but quick-fire goals from Cazorla and Ozil soon ended hopes of a fightback.
Romelu Lukaku and Barkley were brought on just after the hour mark, with Roberto Martinez making six changes during the second 45.
And Barkley would smash home a consolation strike 15 minutes from time after excellent pressing from the Blues saw them win the ball back in Arsenal territory.
John Stones, the subject of a £20m bid from Chelsea yesterday, played 84 minutes of tonight's game before being replaced by Tyias Browning.
Everton (4-2-3-1): Robles, Coleman, Stones (Browning 84), Jagielka (c) (Hibbert 84), Garbutt, Barry, McCarthy (Osman 61), Deulofeu (Mirallas 46), Naismith (Barkley 46), Cleverley, Kone (Lukaku 61). Subs: Pienaar, Howard, Galloway, McAleny, Kenny, Williams, Robinson.
