Arsenal displayed their determination, belief, and class in a convincing win at Goodison Park, showcasing their ambition to challenge for another Premier League title. Facing a resilient Everton side, Mikel Arteta’s team secured their first victory at the venue in almost six years with a brilliant move and a stylish finish by substitute Leandro Trossard.
For Everton, it was yet another disappointing day as they suffered their third 1-0 defeat in three home matches this season under the management of Sean Dyche. The struggling Merseyside club had lost four of their opening five games, a performance not seen since the 2005-06 season. Dyche can count himself fortunate that the club’s owner, Farhad Moshiri, is unlikely to make a sudden managerial change.
Although Everton’s overall performance didn’t justify such a predicament, their string of poor results would have surely tested Moshiri’s patience in previous years when he had greater resources and ambitions for the club.
Dyche’s strategy seemed geared toward a goalless draw from the outset, putting Arsenal’s patience to the test. However, the Gunners passed this test with ease, just as they did with the well-orchestrated move that led to victory. Interestingly, Arsenal had lost four and drawn one of their previous five visits to Goodison Park, but this season’s team under Arteta appears to have more substance.
The winning move came from a short corner, in stark contrast to Everton’s direct approach in the corresponding fixture last season. This change in tactics spoke volumes about the evolution of both teams.
Arsenal dominated possession, but it was their confidence and composure that ultimately helped them break down the stubborn Everton defense. Despite some boos from the crowd after only four minutes of added time, the truth was that the hosts posed no real threat to equalize, regardless of the added time.
Dyche summed up the situation by stating, “There is massive work to be done, as I said at the end of last season. I thought we would have had more points on the board than we have because the performances deserve more, but the table doesn’t lie. You can’t give the ball away as often as we did today. We were not effective enough.”
One notable absence from the Arsenal lineup was Aaron Ramsdale, who was replaced in goal by David Raya for the first time since his loan move from Brentford. Raya had a relatively uneventful debut as Everton adopted a passive approach, allowing Arsenal to dominate possession.
Dyche’s plan to absorb pressure, close gaps, and stifle Arsenal’s attack resulted in a dull first half. Everton’s recent signing, Beto, found himself isolated on his home debut, partly due to the gameplan and partly due to his teammates’ tendency to lose possession quickly.
Before the halftime break, the only noteworthy incident was a VAR decision to disallow a goal from Gabriel Martinelli. It was the only time Arsenal managed to breach Everton’s well-organized defense, but VAR’s interpretation was open to debate.
A challenge by Beto on Gabriel Magalhães sent the ball toward the Everton goal, where Eddie Nketiah collected from an offside position. Fábio Vieira then released Martinelli behind right-back Ashley Young, and the Brazilian found the far corner with a precise finish. However, VAR ruled out the goal for offside against Nketiah, providing Everton with a lifeline.
Arsenal struggled to break down Everton’s defense before halftime, and Martinelli’s injury added to their woes as he was replaced by Trossard. The second half brought a renewed sense of urgency and improved movement from Arsenal, destabilizing Everton’s defense.
Jordan Pickford denied Martin Ødegaard after a precise pass from Ben White, while a crucial clearance by Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite prevented Trossard’s dangerous cross from reaching Bukayo Saka. James Tarkowski also made a crucial tackle to stop Nketiah’s drive into the box. However, the mounting pressure eventually paid off when Arsenal executed a brilliant corner kick move, and Trossard applied the finishing touch it deserved.
Vieira and Ødegaard combined to release Saka down the right flank, and his cross found Trossard, who slotted home a first-time shot beyond Pickford, sealing Arsenal’s hard-fought victory. It was a well-deserved reward for their perseverance and determination throughout the match.
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