Guest columnist Matt Townsend reviews a demoralising result at Goodison Park, as Everton get ripped apart 5-2 by Arsenal and fall into a relegation place.
So the latest premier league outing for Everton ends in farce, as they concede a slew of late goals in a wretched five-goal defeat at home to Arsenal! Where do they go from here??
There just seems to be no limit to how fare Everton can sink at the moment. It would take a brave person to argue they won’t be facing certain relegation this season, unless things change very soon.
Once more, Ronald Koeman went with a back three and again it didn’t work. He left Idrissa Gueye essentially on his own in midfield, with no one to help him.
Sure enough, Gueye was overrun straight away. He scrambled around, trying to contain an Arsenal side who probably couldn’t believe how much space there was in midfield to exploit.
The lack of support for the midfielder meant Arsenal could turn virtually any possession into an attack, without any interference. Once the Gunners went at Everton’s defence, they threaded balls through and created chances almost at will.
Again Ashley Williams and Phil Jagielka looked past their best — slow to react and unsuited to the formation — and the individual errors were soon back in evidence too. Almost inevitably, in trying to stem the relentless Arsenal tide, both Gueye and Williams picked up yellow cards early on.
Wayne Rooney’s latest goal gave Everton a glimmer of hope, as he fired a well-taken strike that was reminiscent of his spectacular debut goal against Arsene Wenger’s team in 2002. However, although it was an excellent goal, the lead never looked remotely secure.
Arsenal continued to play through and around the Blues with ease, soon getting an equaliser as Jordan Pickford (who was basically Everton’s best player again) made an error in spilling the ball and Nacho Monreal was fastest to react. Everton never could get a grip on the game and the players at times looked like cattle wandering aimlessly around a field, with no clue as to what to do!
In the second half Koeman changed the formation, going to a back four and bringing Tom Davies on. This change though, meant the Blues’ £45 million playmaker ended up in a wide right position!
More from Prince Rupert's Tower
- Everton 0 Arsenal 1: Blues fall to third home defeat
- Further chaos in Everton takeover as other lenders not keen on 777 Partners
- Everton need repeat of Arsenal win to kick-start their season on Sunday
- More madness at Everton as Moshiri now agrees to sell club to 777 Partners
- Everton takeover talk cools after UK govt doubts and further questions
None of this mattered though and the game continued in the same vein, with the relentless blitz of attacks eventually leading to Arsenal scoring again. This time it was Mesut Ozil, heading home Alexis Sanchez’s pinpoint cross for the Gunners’ first lead of the game.
Shortly after, Gueye added another yellow to his earlier card and he was off. Then the game descended into a black comedy, with a succession of late goals and only the bare consolation of another Oumar Niasse strike. (Why didn’t he start?)
I’ve said in the past I thought Koeman should be given time to try and turn this around, but I don’t see how Everton can continue on this relentless slide. There is simply no evidence the manager is making any impression.
I imagine this is a conversation the board will be having this week. Again though, who is there to replace the Dutchman?
If I had a preference it would be Sean Dyche, a very able, articulate and down-to-earth manager, although truthfully, would you swap Burnley for Everton at the moment? Ah well, at least Liverpool got battered as well!
Next: Everton vs. Arsenal - facts and figures
No one expected this, but how concerned are you, now the Blues are in the bottom three? Further, does Koeman deserve any more time, or is it now time to sack him? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.