Arsenal 2 Everton 0: Another defeat at Emirates for Toffees

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Hector Bellerin of Arsenal battles for the ball with Richarlison of Everton during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Everton FC at Emirates Stadium on September 23, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Hector Bellerin of Arsenal battles for the ball with Richarlison of Everton during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Everton FC at Emirates Stadium on September 23, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Everton travelled down to London for today’s Premier League match against Arsenal and fell to another defeat following last weekend’s loss at home to West Ham.

After a promising start this season is starting to come undone again for Everton. After a second successive reverse how can the Blues get it right and start winning games with any regularity?

There were positives again for Everton in this match as they attacked with purpose and energy and dominated the first half.

But again for the second week in a row, the Toffees failed to capitalise on their openings and were punished by sharper and more ruthless opponents.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison in particular had some fine chances. And although the Brazilian’s presence again in the team made a considerable impact on the Blues attacking threat, he couldn’t mark his return to the team with another goal.

That was largely down to a terrific performance from Gunners goalkeeper Petr Cech. However Everton simply can’t keep squandering chances in Premier League games.

The Blues failure to convert chances into goals looked like it might cost them, just as it did last week.

And of course that’s what happened once more as Arsenal came out after half-time with more determination and in three minutes had put the game effectively out of the Toffee’s reach.

Goals from Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubamayang won the game for the home team.

Everton’s defending again comes under the microscope but the fact is there were hit stone cold by a great strike for the first goal. Then, as the side were pressing and pushing hard for goals, they got picked off on the break for the second successive week in a row.

This goal looked suspiciously offside as once again referees and officials didn’t give Everton any breaks.

In truth the Blues didn’t defend badly overall and especially given that Michael Keane came into the side unexpectedly after that head injury at Bournemouth.

This is becoming a regular and predictable outcome from the Toffees games. But if the team are going to play this kind of pressing game they have to sort out the organisation in midfield and at the back.  The Blues just cannot afford to be so open.

Let’s try to keep things in perspective. These days all Everton teams seem to lose at Arsenal without exception so in a sense this is nothing but the usual outcome!

Marco Silva is still just six games into his reign and he has certainly improved the Toffees attacking quality and threat.

I think it’s pretty clear most fans are pleased to see a more positive and attacking intent from the team but you can’t neglect defending altogether, as the Blues sometimes seem to be doing.

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It feels like a constant groundhog day with the Toffees as we are always having to find a new way of repeating the same things. It’s one foot forward, two back with Everton.

So the Blues have now lost two games in a row, both to London sides. And their miserable record at Arsenal continues for another season.

Next up in the Premier League for the Toffees is yet another team from the capital as Everton entertain Fulham next weekend at Goodison Park. At the moment are any Everton fans confident of the outcome?