Arsenal 2-0 Everton
Two goals in three minutes gave Arsenal a fourth consecutive Premier League win today in a game Everton will feel rather hard done to.
The Toffees had much the better of the first half, but the Gunners woke up in the second; and after Alexandre Lacazette had given the hosts a lead with a superb strike, it was the Everton defence’s turn to go to sleep while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang added a second, but that was a cruel blow as the striker looked distinctly offside.
Neither of these teams are likely to reach the top four according to Premier League 2018 odds, but Arsenal boss Unai Emery will be quietly confident if his new side’s form continues to improve. But this was a little hard to take for Marco Silva’s Everton who can only dust themselves off and go again.
Highlights of the game
Everton started the brighter and showed more intent in the opening ten minutes than in the whole 90 in their defeat to West Ham last week. And Richarlison had a great chance to open the scoring in the second minute with a one-on-one with the Petr Cech but the big keeper saved with his boot.
As Arsenal began to find their rhythm, Unai Emery three attempts kept the Toffees level with a brilliant save to deny Nacho Monreal after good work by Aubameyang. Then Richarlison tested Cech again after brilliantly controlling a long ball from Theo Walcott and the keeper handed his effort away.
Everton full back Lucas Digne fired in a testing free kick which Cech was again equal to, tipping the ball over the bar.
The Toffees were well worth their half time parity and could easily have been ahead, and they came out for the second half in the same mood, passing with confidence and attacking freely. And Walcott came so close to scoring on his return to the Emirates, but couldn’t get enough power on his effort to beat Cech.
And then three explosive minutes changed the game entirely. The first goal was a cracker. Aaron Ramsay slid a great ball through to Lacazette and he set himself on his right foot before curling a beauty into the top right corner. That was harsh on Everton, but it was doubly cruel on the hour.
This time Everton’s defence looked rattled as Mesut Ozil passed to Ramsay and he picked up another assist setting up Aubameyang for him to give Pickford no chance. The Everton players howled for an offside flag but it never came.
Arsenal had the game won, though Everton striker Cenk Tosun brought another good save from Cech with a powerful effort.
It took Unai Emery three attempts before he had his first Premier League win but now he has four and it’s all looking quite rosy at the Emirates.
Key Statistics
After a slow start Arsenal have begun to gather momentum and this result keeps that going nicely. The SBOBET odds had Arsenal odds on to win with a -1.25 goal handicap, which they did, but I’d say they were a little lucky.
It’s hard to take for the visitors, and particularly their new skipper, Tom Davies who, at 20 is the youngest to captain Everton in a competitive game. But the Toffees have never won at the Emirates and Arsenal has won 19 and drawn four of the last 23 meetings. What’s more, Arsenal has scored more Premier League goals against Everton than any other side, now 107.
Marco Silva will be scratching his head, but he does have plenty to think about. He is winless in his last eight games on the road, drawing two and losing six; and that needs to improve.
Meanwhile, Arsenal has now gone 22 league games without a draw.
Premier League 2018 results elsewhere mean the Gunners are up to sixth and just a single point behind Watford in fourth, while Everton is down in 12th.
What’s next?
Next up for the Gunners is the visit of Championship outfit Brentford in the EFL Cup, and that won’t be a pushover, the Bees play football which is easy on the eye and with an attacking threat. Then it’s the Hornets turn to visit the Emirates as Arsenal hopes to put an end to Watford’s impressive start to the season.
The Toffees get ready for another big game in the Premier League with the visit of Fulham to Goodison Park, and that’s a match they’ll expect to win if they play as well as they did today.
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