Result: Everton 1-0 Arsenal
Competition: Premier League
Date: 4 February 2023
Venue: Goodison Park
Arsenal: Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Partey, Xhaka, Ødegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Nketiah
Subs: Turner, Tierney, Tomiyasu, Holding, Kiwior, Jorginho, Vieira, Trossard, Cozier-Duberry
A sloppy Arsenal were frustrated by Everton in a 1-0 defeat that could reignite the host’s season and gave the Gunners a sobering reminder of how precarious life at the top can be.
PRE-GAME
Mikel Arteta was able to name an unchanged eleven from the win against Manchester United, for the trip to Goodison Park. Partey started, having been a doubt following a strain picked up against Manchester City in the FA Cup defeat last week. New signings Jakub Kiwior, Jorginho and Leandro Trossard were all on the bench.
A win would send Arsenal eight points clear, before Manchester City go to Tottenham on Sunday, but they faced a new Everton manager in the shape of Sean Dyche, at a ground the Gunners have failed to win in their last four visits.
FIRST HALF
Arsenal started by looking comfortable in possession, as we’ve grown accustomed to with this team. But Ødegaard was put under considerable pressure in the first minute and was eventually fouled by Mykolenko – perhaps an indication of Everton’s approach to the game.
Everton’s compact shape was proving difficult to play through for Arsenal, but after some classy control a lay off from Saka, Partey found room for a long range effort but it was easily saved low by Pickford.
Bukayo Saka was in the wars on the 15 minute mark, as he got poked in the eye by Idrissa Gana Gueye – although it didn’t look intentional. Saka returned to the pitch following some treatment.
A few successive Everton corners put Arsenal under some serious pressure, but they stood firm. Calvert-Lewin and Onana also had efforts comfortably saved by Ramsdale.
With half an hour gone, Arsenal finally produced a clear cut chance of when Saka did well before releasing the ball to Nketiah, who fired a wayward effort high and wide.
However, two of the best chances of the half so far fell to Everton. Onana latched onto a loose Arsenal pass and drove down the flank before crossing low, but Calvert-Lewin couldn’t convert from a yard out. Then McNeil’s cross found Doucoure, but he fluffed his lines after finding room for a free header. Very sloppy from Arsenal.
Saka would’ve had the ball in the net near 40 minutes in, were it not for a goal-line intervention from Conner Coady. The Arsenal starboy’s controlled volley had Pickford beaten.
SECOND-HALF
Arsenal managed to gain more of a foothold in the game as the second half wore on and on 58 minutes, Ødegaard had a big chance to take the lead after Nketiah did brilliantly to wriggle into the box and lay it off, but the captain fired high.
Two minutes later and the Gunners will be kicking themselves for chances missed, as James Tarkowski headed in from a corner to give Everton the lead. Tarkowski was a mismatch against Ødegaard and overpowered his man to guide the ball into the net. 1-0.
Arsenal had what looked like a very good penalty shout on the 65th minute after Maupay appeared to take out Gabriel in the box, but VAR somehow concluded there was nothing doing.
Jorginho came in to make his Arsenal debut, alomg with Trossard, as they replaced Partey and Martinelli – the latter appeared to be suffering from new contract fever…
With 15 minutes to go, Arteta brought on Fabio Vieira for his captain Ødegaard, who struggled today – constantly being crowded out by blue shirts.
Arsenal continued to create half chances, but the finishing proved very poor. Both Saka and Trossard fired over the bar when the ball fell to them in good areas as the game entered the final ten minutes.
Six minutes of added time provided an opportunity to equalise for Arsenal, as a corner routine saw Zinchenko cut across the ball from the edge of the area, but his effort sailed wide.
Arsenal failed to create much more before the final whistle sounded and tasted defeat for only the second time this season. When all was said and done, the team looked off the pace – especially in midfield, and unable to compete with the aggression of a rejuvenated Everton side.
Arsenal remain top, but now face the emotional dilemma of needing a Spurs result against Man City tomorrow evening, to provide damage limitation in the league standings.
That’s the first premier league performance of the season that has genuinely been subpar. And without meaning to be too happy-clappy, that’s not bad after 20 games. We were well off it. Everton were right on it. Really very, very good performance from them. Easily their best of the season I would imagine. And comfortably our worst. Lot’s of surprising bad individual performances. I thought Xhaka was poor. Martinelli looked lost and isolated. Saka struggled to beat his man, which is out of character. Eddie allowed the ball to bounce off him a little too often. Odegaard struggled. Partey had… Read more »
If theres such a thing as a positive win this was it. Our players will be more angry (with Maupay and themselves) than dejected. Good emotion to carry into the next game.
We did get very lucky at Leeds. That’s the nketia I thought and still think we will see too often. Offered absolutely nothing other than one good dribble and pass to odegarrd. He’s not a centre forward who can win you a game when others aren’t at the races I’m afraid. Still we move on and maybe a reality check for the whole squad.
I dunno. That’s a bit harsh I think. But he’s certainly not linking with Martinelli very well and that means Gabi is struggling and getting isolated.
But I thought he had more bright sparks in front of goal than Saka or Martinelli. Although he skied that one chance, the way he creates those moments for himself is amazing.
Absolutely harsh on Nketia. He’s been brilliant and I personally wouldn’t start Jesus ahead of him when he returns. What was he supposed to do given that none of our wingers could beat their man and all our midfielders had terrible games? Just go “win you the game”? With what? Even Haaland looks absolutely useless when he’s not being fed by Man City’s creative players. I’d like to know who this mythical striker of your can just go “win you games” when the entire team has played poorly and they received no service
Don’t be ridiculous my friend, Henry, Kane, haaland, aguero, Bergkamp, Wright, and countless others have often pulled something out the bag when the team has been shite. Jesus starts all day long over nketia. Have a look at Jesus assists and chances created and get back to me 😜
You do realize that you’ve listed some of the best players to ever play the game? And have you watched Haaland with City? He does absolutely nothing besides finishing off chances that have been created for him. His own coach made comments just a couple of weeks ago on how they need to involve him more in their play. You’re totally clueless. Jesus assists as much as Nketiah scores.
Touched a nerve they hey. 😂
No you just made a ridiculous comment that I countered
Touched the nerve again hey 😉
I also remember all of them having off days too and not pulling something when it was needed. Henry vs Chelsea CL semi at Highbury comes to mind. Then he scored that ridiculous hatrick v Leeds a few days later. Passed me off that did.
Messi
You’re only as good as your service.
I’m afraid I agree with you. Great attitude and a good player but he’s not a centre forward who will win you games on his own at the top level.
I haven’t seen enough of Balogun but as one Gooner said to me this week – he might just be the player Eddie never quite will be.
How many strikers win games on their own? How ridiculous is it to have such an expectation? Balogun isn’t “winning games on his own”. He’s finishing off chances, which Nketia has shown he’s absolutely capable of doing, maybe even better than Jesus.
Nketia is predictably staying central meaning teams can and will block channels to him.
Come on mate, cut the kid some slack.
He’s been superb lately. Certainly shut Neville and Co up, who were all waiting for him to fail when Gabi J got injured.
He missed a couple today, but so did Saka and Odegaard. Just one of those days. It’s done. Bollocks to it. Move on.
I don’t agree with you…..it’s a learning experience because we faced something different again… similar to Newcastle with the pressing and physical profile… it’s Tony pulis and Sean dyche soccer….we created enough to probably still nick it but there wasn’t composure……this young team must still learn how to win these matches… Zinchenko is a rolls Royce of a player…
I totally agree with you. It was a learning experience.
It’s just… we can’t be learning too often during a title race.
Everton definitely played Pulis ball– even their shirts are sponsored by Stoke.com!
Marked you down for saying “soccer”.
Have to say that I feel like Ramsdale really struggles on corners. Doesn’t seem to command his box at all, often getting caught under the cross or flapping at it. Feel like he needs to step up in this regard.
He’s certainly being targeted.
Whether that’s to do with him or our general defending, I’m not sure.
I’ve always thought Ramsdale is fine from set pieces.
It’s hars to be consistent defending set pieces for goalkeepers.
He wasn’t at fault for Everton’s goal. Odegaard lost his man – but blimey, even he’s entitled to the odd off day?
What hurts is we got bullied by a shit team who have not won since October. I thought we had moved pass those days.
I knew as soon as Odegaard got the ball after about 20 seconds it was going to be like that. They were sniping at his ankles and pulling on his shirt instantaneously.
I thought they were really good though. And it’s a slight mischaracterisation to say they just were more physical and that’s why they won. They were extremely organised in defence. They looked dangerous going forward, especially from set pieces.
And Onana. Jeez. What a player. So passionate. Arsenal DNA right there. We could’ve had him and Mudryk for £60 in the summer. Then we really would be unstoppable.
*£60m
Yeah, Everton were not a shit team today. They spaced and stayed within their structure well, created very good chances when they were able to break. That’s what happens when you give Dyche some players (like Onana and DCL) who can actually hurt on the counter-attack. We didn’t do enough to pull their shape apart, or to force them to turn it over near their goal. Some of the things that were surprising people earlier, like Zinchenko’s playmaking, may have become a little predictable. Glad Arteta is using his bench fully, maybe this was a game to start with some… Read more »
Yup – Dyche now has better players at his disposal than he ever did at Burnley
Yeah. They’ve all been supping on Dyche’s cough medicine…
I’m not the first to say that Everton’s league position is far below their quality. You look at their starting eleven today, and each of them is a decent player, and some are very good. So “relegation strugglers defeat league leaders” might literally be true. But in terms of what they should have done this season, it should be more like: “strong mid-table side, fighting for European places and very difficult to beat at home, frustrate league leaders through strong organisation and physical play.” I don’t like that either, but it doesn’t indicate some sort of collapse.
We are always going to struggle against teams that don’t let us play our style of football. We haven’t yet come up with a plan that is more direct and fights fire with fire when playing against modern versions of Stoke.
You could tell right from kickoff that they were absolutely fired up and weren’t going to be nice. Once the fans got into it, it was game over
“Once the fans got into it it was game over” and you call me clueless 😂
Did you watch the game? Do you know why they call it “home advantage”, do you understand why it’s much more difficult to win an away game when the fans are cheering every tackle and screaming at the referee to give them fouls? Do you understand why it’s important for the away side to score the first goal? Are you seriously trying to downplay the support of fans?
There’s that nerve again 🙂 try to think about your comments before you type. Are they extreme, exaggerated, binary. 😜
Stop chirping you two! 🤦🏻♂️
Saka didn’t beat his two men you mean. White should have been pulled earlier as he just didn’t really link up with Saka today. Agreed though on the rest, most of the team were average today.
Yeah, you are right. He often had two men to contend with.
But at the rare moments he did isolate the LB, he just went to the byline and hopefully popped the ball in with his weaker foot.
A bit of an off day. It’s hard to take a defeat after so many wins, but it was always possible with a new manager and our record at Goodison Park.
Let’s take this well and not let it affect confidence going forwards. We still have 5 points and a great team.
Things didn’t go as plan today, but that’s okay. Let’s just bounce back quickly for next week. Let’s see if our neighbor will do us the favor of taking 3 points from manc tomorrow.
We all know they absolutely won’t. Everything is still in our hands so we do it ourselves.
I don’t think there’s any point in dwelling on our rivals results. This is still fully in our hands, and I hope we really show that in the next match.
Yeah, many players were off today… and it was such bad timing that it had to be a team and crowd looking up for it.
But hoping this result will galvanise the boys and show them that there’s indeed, still a long way to go.
Stay calm and carry on!!!
Weren’t at the races really today. Weird subs IMHO as well, didn’t feel like a man going for points at all costs. Felt like keeping people back for later games. Trossard for Xhaka would have been a bit more demanding.
Genuinely, has there ever been a clearer banana skin game that’s played out in an even more obvious fashion? It felt like such an obvious outcome I’d almost ruled it out pre-match. We even managed to get some standard Maupay bullshit squeezed in for good measure. Unbelievably infuriating.
Absolute masterclass from Everton in timewasting today. Not even sure the ball was in play for 5 minutes of the last 15, and the officials obviously did nothing about it.
The “highlight” of all that nonsense was the moment Pickford eventually kicked the ball up the pitch on a goal kick, only for the referee to then blow up with the ball in play to book him for time wasting… and in doing so enable more time wasting 😡 Nonetheless, that crap comes with the territory of these matches and general refereeing standards unfortunately. It’s on us not to allow the game state to reach that point, and we massively came up short today. Brentford at home is a great chance to put things right with what’s on the immediate… Read more »
I wouldn’t blame a desperate Everton. This was in our hands and we were not positive enough today. Lots of nice possession, but no cutting edge.
This nails it. So obvious and we fell into the trap. I couldn’t quite buy in to the pre match confidence. We never win at everton, early kick off on a shit pitch, we all knew the everton players would try their little hearts out (they’ll be shit again next week) because they always get a new manager bounce and the home fans were riled up. They only needed us to be 1% off it today and id say we were 20/30% off our usual standard. Inevitable outcome.
we can’t win every game, I think we all know that…but the manner a team in Everton’S situation managed to outplay us in the key parts of the game, is hard to accept. We played as it we were in 19th and trying to beat the team at the top. misplaced passes, poor touches, trying to play stupid balls. so frustrating.
Yes, it was pretty poor all round really. I think your negative vote must have been watching a different game. Hopefully, it’s a “one off” blip. We’ll see.
I think I just feel hard done by cos everyone else got to play Everton with a failure of a manager in charge and it was reserved for us that a brilliant (at what he does) manager was in the dugout by the time we played them.
Well that was absolutely atrocious. This loss is going to sting for sure. We seriously need to get our heads back in the game and hit back hard next match.
It’s the type of performance and result which damages confidence. This is not a good moment to hit a bad run of form, let’s hope Arteta can show he’s the man to pick them up and get them refocused.
Tricky toffee outing
Bad time to play them, our passing was off today, we’ll bounce back and get into a rhythm again. Thought Xhaka was particularly off after playing so well recently.
Neal Maupay is a cuntish weasel and should have been sent off.
Bring on the next game.
Xhaka kept coming deeper than other games to receive the ball because Partey was not on it. Received off the ball off the back four many times. He was the better of the midfield today.
It may be time to try viera, trossard or preferably for me when fit smith Rowe in place of Xhaka. Especially in last 20 minutes
There’s still a long, long way to go. Too many of our team(uncharacteristically) not a the races today.
Yes, a few of us have been saying that for a while – even when we’ve been winning so well.
Arsenal will very probably have other games where opponents not expected to do much will be surprisingly difficult (in the way Everton were today) and we’re going to have to ensure that we can overcome them. Everyone will need to be at the races early and ready to go when that happens!
You could see it coming a mile away. I had a feeling since the new manager started that they would just nick it. Reminiscent of Newcastle last year. Now I have the sickening feeling of wanting spurs to win..urgh, I’ve…. Got to go……
The new boys need some serious bedding in.
We could have done with a big powerful striker to bring on against a team that negated our close play by effort.
Let the haters hate.
This is a good loss of if ever there was one to be had. We were sluggish. Due a loss. This is a game in hand. Still 5 points ahead. Tough lesson. Better now. Than letter. Young team.
Regroup. Focus. We start again. Upward and onwards. COYG
Exactly, it’s better than losing to a title rival. If we were gonna lose a game I’d rather it was this one.
Possibly, but points dropped are points dropped. You could still win the PL with a poor record against the other top two or three teams by racking up a high win rate against all the others.
Arteta has to be pounding his head against the wall, because I’m sure he told the club exactly what Sean Dyche would try to do, and Arsenal showed few answers to it. Fair play to Everton, they executed perfectly today.
And have shown a blueprint for how to play against us, expect more of this style from other teams.
Did not remotely play like potential champions today. Off all over the pitch.
But neither did City when they lost at home to Brentford.
Does Goodison have lighter gravity? Because it seemed every shot we had flew into orbit…
The camera on BT sport looked like it was being filmed from orbit too
Yeah, what a shit ‘up in the Gods’ view that was.
Shite Hart Lane was the same in the early 90’s.
Was a bobbly, dry, awful looking pitch. Apparently fat frank was also trimming the grass and managing the team.
This looked like a potential loss from the first kick of the ball. We need to be secure with the ball, our play are based on the ability tyo play out from the back with precise one touch passes, today both passes and receptions was off the mark and gave Everton turn-overs. Hope this was a one time issue and not a out of form issue.
Saw that coming a mile off!
However unlike in the past where a loss would trigger a multi game meltdown this time I have no doubt the players will be fucking furious with themselves, not to mention Arteta and so next game the opponents could very well get walloped!
A pathetic Arsenal performance that got exactly what it deserved.
Everton wanted more than us and were willing to go out there and compete. We just thought we could win by turning up. Nobody in our side covered himself in glory. Midfield and front three awful,
The goal we conceded was very disappointing, with Odegaard weak at the corner. And we never, ever looked like scoring.
A win against City at home now looks essential.
Do people just down vote FGby default? What’s he said wrong here, genuinely curious.
It seems so, I agree with all his sentences. our midfield didn’t get a look into this match and the front three did not attack their men at all. It was easy for Everton to double up on us, and we were sloppy when attempting to find the free player. Martinelli kept going backwards whilst Saka was slow
I called Arsenal pathetic during the week and it was thumb down central.
Fats does likewise and is on 23 thumbs up and counting.
I’m ‘impressed’….🙄
Until we are faster and more direct, we will struggle against teams that put a lot of men behind the ball. Two wins against city and we can afford a few games like this last one. Two losses and the title goes
Yes, it’s interesting what some Gooners have said about the City games previously. Several thought (still think, who knows?) that we could afford to lose both games against City and not be overly bothered because they would drop points elsewhere anyway etc. Yes, they probably will – but we probably will as well. The games against City may not be the absolute “make or break” in themselves, but they will be a big factor I think.
I think we have to win one of those at least.
annoying!
People have been very keen to write him off lately but that 2nd half was crying out for KT to come on for Zinny imo
Zinny is a tiny bit overrated as a full-back. Kieran is mightily under-appreciated by some.
Tierney is a much better traditional left-back. He’s a better defender and offers a more direct threat going forward. This is a game in my opinion that could have been better with Tierney and Tomiyasu starting. Everyone and their grandmother knew exactly what Dyche would try to do. Today wasn’t a game for calm possession. Today was a game where we needed a direct threat from the wings, and Tomi and KT are much better players for that. Our wide men were doubled all game and easily kept under control because none of the fullbacks that Arteta used are any… Read more »
100% agreed Ballz. He has started 4 league games out of 20. I think it’s the one thing Arteta has got wrong this season, sidelining him to such a degree.
Ballz and P.D. – spot on.
This shit happens but to lose against that fucking cavetroll Dyche is just beyond annoying. I thoght I had seen the last of him in the EPL but here he comes with another goblin army and to top it off he can call the goblinking Pulis have a wank and drooling over how they bullied Arsenal.
Never disliked Everton before but as soon as Dyche came in… Can’t stand the twat and Everton is, from now on, a bunch of cunts.
Yep.
I honestly hope they get relegated now.
A poor performance from Arsenal (fielding the strongest available team too). There was always a chance that Everton would get the “new manager” performance bounce and they did, with knobs on, and could have won more comfortably. While it’s not the end of the world, it’s a big disappointment and I’m sure all the teams we’ve yet to play will be studying the video. It’s also a wake up call (I hope) just in case there is any complacency at all creeping in. There’s almost as many games to go as we’ve played so far and it’s not anywhere near… Read more »
I’d just like to say that Neal Maupay is a snide shit. That’s it.
Annoying little cunt who could do with a cracked rib.
Pulled Zinky over and then play acted as though he’d been fouled himself.
Cunt.
I hope him, Dyche, Onana and the fucking rest of them get relegated now.
I had a soft spot for Everton – not any more. Unless it’s a quiet little stretch of quicksand.
Everton seems to officially to be our away bogey team which is so annoying. I really really hope this isn’t the dip in form the entire non-Arsenal planet has been hoping for. That would be much more worrying than just one off-day.
An immediate bounce back is essential.
Not the end of the world, but in terms of pressing, I think we got a taste of our own medicine today. A lot of the lads had an off day, won’t go into details; it happens. The thing to do now is regroup as quickly as possible and if I were Arteta now, I’d be telling the boys to go nowhere near the media, be it their phones, the tv, the radio or any scoops. You can be sure everyone outside the Emirates will be loving this, with Sean Dyche probably in line for a Sainthood – and that… Read more »
Weak performance. No drive. No ambition, no energy. Wenger Era “just show up and we win” mentality.
Should of seen this coming
Believing the hype now for the onslaught time for monster mentality
Our aggression at the beginning of games has been one of our biggest strenghts. Today we came out absolutely flat; almost as if we expected Everton to simply sit back and defend. By the time we started to become more direct, the fans were already loud and cheering every tackle. By the 20th minute, I knew we weren’t winning this one. The players need to realize that we haven’t won anything yet and that our lead at the top could be cut within just a few games. We don’t even have a top four spot secured yet! Oh and I… Read more »
Only thing I disagree is that first 20 we were on top of them, then they got a few corners and we completely lost our way. I was hoping for halftime substitutions much in line with what he’s done
Everton played well and deserved the win. Hats off to everyone except Maupay. Rat faced little shit cunt.
Eloquently put buddy 👍🏻
Best way to win a PL title is sack your manager after every game and seek the new manager bounce.
Everton wanted it more. Thoroughly deserved loss. We were off the pace from start to finish.
Onto the next one. COYG!
Got to realise that you get the same reward for beating Everton as you do United or Spurs. You have be up for every game and we didn’t like the fight today at all. Poor touches, sloppy passing and taking wrong options. When we’re on top Odegaard is sublime but in a battle I wouldn’t want him in the trenches with me! And get Tommy back as our regular RB. Was a rare showing and hopefully bounce back right away
Perfect excuse for the upcoming 18-match unbeaten run. And a couple of draws out of that would do, thank you very much.
Great to be this disappointed at us as premiership league title chasers ! It was a loss but rather than accepting a defeat as in seasons past we’re disappointed not to have won against a team fighting for their lives with a new gaffer ! Bullied out of it today by a fired up Everton who did what they did well & we knew it was coming ! Sometimes “heart” wins games ! Today was that day ! Fair play to them, but we move on we’re in a great position and have points on the board ! Didn’t need… Read more »
Every player without exception was below par giving the overall impression of a collective lethargy. Everton we’re the better team and fully deserved the three points. Let’s hope this is a blip, much like Leeds away in the autumn, and not a trend. Any more of that and we will very quickly surrender our advantage in the title race.
This is a strange feeling, we’ve become so use to winning as a team. Though I guess loosing to Everton might be a blessing in disguise, we have Brentford now to take our frustration out on before city. To loose the game before city would be a tougher task than having a game in-between to remind ourselves we can win football matches. And in style.
I do think this is the type of game that needed Gabriel jesus to dance around the defenders and drive us to 3 points. Sooner he comes back the better.
Never a corner. However it’s almost comical how the broken and strained relationship of the Everton fanbase and club starts to flourish from now on. They are like a family reunited. Happy we could help. Arsenal are like a fairy.
Ohh, there’s a footballing revolution taking place at Goodison! Take 35 corners in a game and they will jizz their pants.
Hopefully that rearranged game will be the last game of the season; they can help us celebrate our Premiership Title – whilst we send them down.
Scouse pricks.
Not good enough today.
Onana Doucoure Gueye is a force at midfield and Evertons position mostly reflects Lampards incompetency rather than their quality.
Genuinely puzzled that we couldn’t cope with the second post corners which repeatedly executed.
Curious on why we haven’t used the half spaces that were created by the doubling of Saka.
We had chances with Nketiah and MØ which on tight games we should score but honestly we didn’t deserve a point today.
I wouldn’t call Onana a force. If so, why are Everton involved in a relegation scrap…?
Not so much a force as an irritating pain in the arse.
Gunning for the spuds tomorrow, oh the shame 🤣
Needs must.
It’s high time we start making use of our corner kicks. And I will strongly suggest martineli should improve in that field of delivery.
Everton were massively up for it, so credit needs to go to them for the way they pressed and hassled us. We were off our game but Everton’s approach contributed to that. Felt a bit like we needed a Plan B, a big man up front? Or maybe not, was just one of those days…
Some old problems resurfaced: The team is not good enough without the ball. They don’t quickly run into positions in which teammates can reach them. I guess Dyche had spotted this weakness, and Arsenal struggled to play out from behind.
Also, Everton seemed to play 4-5-1 or something, crowding out Arsenal’s midfield. Everton were absolutely superiour in this match. They could have scored four.