A classy Everton side halted Arsenal’s Champions League ambitions with a 1-0 victory at Goodison Park earning them their third Premier League win in a row for the first time this season.
A determined Everton team outplayed Arsenal for the duration of the game as Unai Emery’s team tactics were stifled by a high pressing opposition that limited them to seven shots at goal. Everton were unfortunate not to win by more than one as they repeatedly found ways through the Gunners defence in the second half. However, it was the first ten minutes that brought the only goal of the game and Everton’s three points.
A Lucas Digne long throw caused issues in the box as the ball fell to the most unlikely of goal scores. Phil Jagielka, who was put into the starting XI after Michael Keane pulled up in the warm-up, saw the ball fall to his feet for an easy tap in and his first goal since April 2017.
Emery attempted to make changes introducing Aaron Ramsey and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang but a rejuvenated Everton side were not prepared to concede and were clearly the better team on the day as their effectiveness going forward proved to be the difference.
The loss seriously dents Arsenal’s Champions League qualification hopes as they lost their first of the four remaining away games this campaign – the Gunners have not kept a clean sheet away from home all season which does not make for happy readings for the remainder of the season. Meanwhile, the win for Everton puts them one point away from the seventh-place place spot and also makes themselves one of the form teams going into the seasons final stretch beating two of the big six in their last three fixtures.
Arsenal’s away form carries on haunting them
With Leicester, Wolves and Burnley to play away from the Emirates, they are three games that Arsenal would think that they could win. Yet having said this, their inability to keep clean sheets away from home this season could prove costly in the Gunners bid to finish in the top four.
None of the three games will be easy as Leicester look strong under Brendan Rodgers guidance; Wolves have made Molineux a fortress and Burnley may find themselves in a relegation battle which as we know produces unexpected results.
Whilst it is not the hardest run of fixtures away from home, the pressures of the chase and their lack of defensive assurance means that it is difficult to predict that Arsenal will be successful in their games away from home.
Everton’s roaring revival continues
Marco Silva made it three wins in a row for the first time since joining Everton on Sunday and their impressive run has seen them beat Chelsea and Arsenal as they chase seventh place – most impressively though, it is their style of play that has added to their rich vein of form.
They have outplayed all of their opponents in their run and have been deserved winners. Considering their timid form in the earlier stages of the season that led to Silva looking like his tenure may end, these performances have shown why he was hired and what he could accomplish next season.
They will have their eyes firmly on the Europa League spot this season and if their form continues, they could be playing European football next season.
Gunners front line lacking firepower on Merseyside
One of Emery’s sides major problems against Everton was their lack of creativeness going forward. This is something that is unlike an Arsenal side but they never got going.
The Blues shut them down and Alexandre Lacazette, Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan failed to muster up any threat whilst Arsenal’s holding midfielders lost the battle against Andre Gomes and Idrissa Gueye.
Only two of Arsenal’s shots hit the target and Jordan Pickford had a comfortable day in goal. The Gunners substitutes failed to change the game and as much as Everton were the better side, Arsenal did not offer much going forward and failed to mount any pressure after going a goal down. It may have been an off day for the Gunners but they will have to show up in their remaining six fixtures if they are to gain a top-four finish.
Should Everton sign Andre Gomes permanently?
Yes is the short answer to this question but will they be able to get the Portuguese midfielder signed permanently?
Gomes will undoubtedly be attracting attention from other clubs and Tottenham Hotspur have made their interest clear – with potential Champions League football on the cards, Gomes may be lured away from Goodison. The midfield generals performance against Arsenal oozed class and showed how good he really is, he was involved in nearly everything that went forward for Everton and was paramount in their victory.
Will his enjoyable season at Everton convince him to stay? Will Spurs offering of Champions League football sway him? Will Barcelona want to keep Gomes? Or will another footballing giant swoop in for him? If Everton can sign him on a permanent basis then they may have solved their midfield problems for another few seasons.
Man of the Match – Dominic Calvert-Lewin
The England youngster did everything but score against the Gunners. His persistent pressuring on the back three meant that there was barely a moments peace for a defence that struggles away from home as it is. He won plenty of aerial duals and held up the ball brilliantly and he showed a level of maturity and experience that would be expected of a much older striker whilst also providing Everton with a constant option going forward proving why he is now Silva’s number one choice to lead the line.
