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The Arab Conquest of Sicily and the Byzantine Response

The Arab conquest of Sicily began in 827 and lasted until 902, when the last major Byzantine stronghold on the island, Taormina, fell. Why did the Arab conquest of Sicily last 75 years? Were there problems in the Arab conquest of Sicily? Or, was the Byzantine response excellent? There were several reasons. First, the Byzantine emperors sometimes dispatched the imperial fleet to Sicily to help the Byzantines. But the imperial fleet could not help the Byzantines of Sicily effectively because of the revolt of Thomas the slave which had weakened the army, and most of all, the navy. Secondly, there were rebellions among the Muslims and the civil wars of 886-900. Thirdly, The Muslims postponed the attack on the east of Sicily for attacks on Southern Italy. Ibrāhīm II campaigned in Italy. Fourthly, attacks of the Muslims in Val Demone, northeastern Sicily, were not facilitated, for there were many mountains in it. Fifthly, the Byzantines focused on defense. So, the Arab conquest of Sicily was to be quite unlike the rapid collapse of Visigothic Spain.