It was an inclement day in North London yesterday afternoon but despite the constant downpour in that part of the capital and beyond, the sun was actually shining on Ashburton Grove and onto the English Premier League champions. Earlier in the day it seemed that some long awaited justice was finally catching up on those awfully corrupt urchins from Eastlands as a Nico Jackson double ended the 114’ers unbeaten Premier League run. All Arsenal had to do was to beat Everton.
Arteta made five changes from the team he selected in Bavaria, White and Myles at full-back, Gyokeres starting up front, Eze retaining his place and Merino making a very welcome start. On the bench, Hincapie was back and among the finishers. Before kick off the club held a very dignified memorial for the late great Ken Friar and as usual Arsenal hit the right note in these moments. Charlie George, George Graham and Frank McLintock were among many ex-Arsenal people in the stands.
The match kicked off at quite an energetic lick with Everton closing down with some commendable energy, in particular Dewsbury Hall and the impressive Garner. With half the team different it took a few minutes before the Gunners clicked into tune and when they did it was set piece again ole ole. The Gunners concluded a spell of three successive corners which had had the Toffees holding on desperately, the ball pinballing around the goal area before Ezri Konsa poked it home for his first Arsenal goal.
Everton didn’t roll over and for the next 10 minutes gave a good account of themselves with George going close for the blues with a shot which deflected off of Ben White. Gabriel, making his 200th Arsenal appearance was on hand to clear from the Arsenal goal line from the resulting corner – that was close!
On 22 the Gunners again began to be working up pressure from two corners after great work from Viktor and Noni but the Toffees cleared the danger. On 28 minutes Rice put a delicious pass through to Madueke who should have scored but he steered his shot wide of the far post. A minute later more Arsenal pressure saw a scintillating move set up Merino but his effort failed to hit the spot. Moments afterwards Madueke controlled and spun on a high ball but unluckily saw his shot go wide.
The Gunners should have been coasting but despite some excellent approach play that final pass or shot was lacking and on the break Everton carried a threat. From one of those Everton turnovers the Gunners’ defence smothered the danger then sent a long ball to the hugely impressive Gyokeres who controlled it and found Odegaard whose shot was deflected. The stats didn’t do Arsenal justice as I lost count at how many times a desperate Everton boot marginally defected a number of superb efforts on goal.
Then on 44 minutes Ben White, who had been peerless up till then inexplicably headed the ball back to Raya but found instead the Everton centre forward. He seemed as surprised as everyone else and lost control of the ball and Raya cleared up. In the last moments a Rice free kick should have been put away by Merino but maybe he’s saving his shooting boots for Fleetwood? H/T 1-0
The second half saw Arsenal take the game to their opponents but despite some excellent trickery from Eze, endless running, battling and chasing from Gyokeres and Madueke having easily his most impressive game of the season, the Gunners just couldn’t finish off any of the many attacks that they created. All the same it was heartening to see those three having such effective games especially after all the questionable criticism they have suffered this season. All of them played crucial parts in Arsenal winning the league last season and we’re going to need all of them and the rest if the club is to sustain its position this season.
Gabriel went down heavily on his knee after clearing an Everton attack and it didn’t look great. Mosquera was warming up and getting instructions from the staff and I wondered was this going to be another Saka type injury. Amazingly Big Gabby returned to the fray and after running it off looked unaffected, all the same no Big Gabby anywhere near Tuesday’s cup tie I hope.
On 66 and after a bit of a lull, the Gunners began building up the momentum again and Merino had another promising attempt blocked. Then on 68 Arteta shook things up, Calafiori, Bruno and Havertz came on for Myles, Merino and Gyokeres and a minute later it was game over. Bruno immediately increased the tempo finding Ben White and he just put over a tantalising cross which evaded Havertz but was headed home by Big Gabby, job done. Bruno then spent the last 20 minutes sliding some delicious passes through the lines with little return unfortunately.
On 80 Arteta sent on Dowman for Eze and Zubimendi for Rice, sensible substitutions, Zubi ended up getting a bloody nose which hopefully won’t keep him out of Tuesday. There was still time for Dewsbury Hall to almost score after good work by the non-stop Garner. It was an odd game in terrible conditions, Arsenal at times looked like they were going to go on a rampage but in between Everton had some really dangerous periods and could have tripped us up not least while it was only 1-0. Everybody in the squad contributed and it sets us up for next week and two very different but equally difficult opponents.
We March On…
By Kev
Morning Cicero.
Wind, rain, three points. Happy days I say.
The White header might have held up in the wind..
Good morning to you both.
Too much is being made of Ben’s error in heading the ball back to Raya, he more than made up for it with the pin point pass for Gabriel’s goal.
Dozens of worse errors must have been made in the prevalent weather condition, up and down the country, but only Ben’s gets the full on criticism, he just doesn’t deserve it.
Fine post, by the way Kev, thanks.
Good post Kev, thank you and morning to you and all.
I enjoyed that Arsenal performance. What a difference an early goal makes to a game. Everton were forced out, they played and it was entertaining. A few wayward passes, a moment of scariness from Ben White but a great result. White’s cross for Gabriel was a peach, thank goodness Havertz didn’t get to it first.