Deja vu for Arsenal as Wayne Rooney scores another stunning goal for Everton almost 15 years to the day

Then and now | Rooney scoring against Arsenal 15 years on
Getty Images
Tom Doyle22 October 2017

Wayne Rooney was desperate to make history on the day he netted his famous strike against Arsenal in 2002 - and the Everton captain scored a remarkably similar goal almost 17 years on to the day.

Having come off the bench, the Toffees forward became the Premier League's then youngest and first 16-year-old goalscorer by sending a superb late shot past David Seaman to seal a 2-1 home victory.

That was five days before Rooney's 17th birthday, and on Sunday - two days prior to his 32nd, having returned to Goodison Park after spending a trophy-laden career at Manchester United - he scored another stunner.

Despite an impressive start by Arsenal, Idrissa Gueye stole possession from Granit Xhaka to allow Rooney to break forwards with the ball.

In Pictures | Everton vs Arsenal | 22/10/2017

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With options either side of him, the 31-year-old picked his spot before bending an unstoppable effort into the top right-hand corner of Petr Cech's net.

A lot has happened since a 16-year-old Rooney beat David Season just over 15 years ago, but it was a familiar feeling around Goodison as the Everton fans erupted.

Rooney has form for scoring against the Gunners, with the former England captain netting 12 Premier League goals versus the north London side - more than any other player in the competition's history.

Here's the 2017 effort...

But how does the 2002 strike compare?

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