Arsenal continue to falter

Full-time result

Everton

Holding R.(Own goal -22′), Mina Y. (45′)

2

1

Arsenal

Pepe. N (35′)

MATCH STATS

Ball Possession: 42% – 58%

Goal Attempts: 9 – 13

Shots on Goal: 2 – 2

Shots off Goal: 4 – 7

Blocked Shots: 3 – 4

Free Kicks: 8 – 10

Corner Kicks: 4 – 3

Offsides: 1 – 0

Goalkeeper Saves: 1 – 0

Fouls: 9 – 9

Red Cards: 0 – 0

Yellow Cards: 1 – 3

Total Passes: 401 – 551

Tackles: 12 – 9

Attacks: 74 – 113

Dangerous Attacks: 42 – 68

Another shameful display by the Gunners resulted in a dreadful loss away at Merseyside to Everton. A very strong first-half performance from the Toffees was enough to secure all 3 points, with James Rodriguez missing out on this one.

The Gunners, still recovering from their mid-week draw with Southampton, were without Skipper Pierre Emerick Aubameyang’s services as the striker was rested after complaining of a calf strain.

Everton got the first goal of the game from a Rob Holding own goal, after former Arsenal man, Iwobi made a good cross for Calvert Lewin, whose header was directed into the net by the Arsenal defender. Arsenal got a chance to level things up from the penalty spot after Everton defender, Davies caught the knee of Maitland Niles in the penalty box. Nicholas Pepe stepped up in the absence of Aubameyang and duly converted the penalty kick, sending Jordan Pickford the wrong way. Everton took the lead again in the closing stages of the first half through Yeri Mina, who rose highest to meet a corner kick delivery from Gilfy Sigurdsson to give Everton the lead heading into the break.

Arsenal were the brightest of the 2 sides in the 2nd half, despite throwing on Joe Willock, Gabriel Martinelli (who just returned from a lengthy spell on the sidelines), and Lacazette, but they couldn’t carve through the Evertonian defense as the Toffees held on for another victory against the Gunners to condemn them to 16th position on the EPL table.

It keeps looking more likely that Arteta is losing the confidence of the dressing room and the fans after another abysmal display from the Gunners.
Next up for the Gunners is a Carabao league cup quarter-final match at home against Manchester City on Tuesday night.

Everton vs Arsenal review 2

on the performance...

We controlled them really well, the counter-attacks, apart from a few moments where we lost the ball inside, which is impossible to control. Then we started to look more and more dangerous in the final third, attacking this low block in front is complicated and we generated a lot of situations but they didn’t end up in big chances. Sometimes the cross, sometimes the last action or the shot and the conversion rate has been really low and is something that we must improve dramatically. And then, when we need a little bit of luck, we hit the post or we have some big chances and we don’t put them away. At the end, the reflection is a little bit similar to the last few weeks. You are better than the opponent, you dominate the game and usually when you are under this pressure and this position in the table, you get battered by teams. It’s not the case. I see the spirit in the team and how they try and how they are willing to do things the right way and I’m gutted for them as well because they needed a result and I think we played a game that we had to get something out of.

~ Mikel Arteta

WHAT’S NEXT

Two and a half months after we beat Liverpool on penalties at Anfield, we are back in Carabao Cup action this Tuesday when we take on Manchester City in the quarter-final at the Emirates. The tie will be decided on the night. Our next Premier League game is at home to Chelsea on Boxing Day.

COYG!!!

Match Review by Patrick Alexander