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Can Everton send off Big Dunc with win

By Matt Townsend

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 07: Everton defender Seamus Coleman (l) holds off the chalenge of Arsenal player Alex Iwobi during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Arsenal FC at Goodison Park on April 07, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 07: Everton defender Seamus Coleman (l) holds off the chalenge of Arsenal player Alex Iwobi during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Arsenal FC at Goodison Park on April 07, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) /
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As Everton fans prepare for the (almost) inevitable arrival of Carlo Ancelotti as the new Blues boss, can the players give Duncan Ferguson a well-deserved win to round off his tenure in charge against Arsenal tomorrow?

It’s been a slightly strange and at times almost surreal interim period with Ferguson taking charge of Everton over the past few weeks.

Despite fears he might be a little too inexperienced or even perhaps too emotionally involved to do the job properly, Ferguson has reinvigorated the Toffees season and remains unbeaten in the Premier League as he prepares to take on Arsenal tomorrow lunchtime.

The Scot’s injury-ravaged teams have beaten Chelsea at Goodison Park, gained a good point at Manchester United and were only defeated on penalties by Leicester City in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night. One thing’s for sure, the Goodison Park ball-boys will certainly miss him!

It’s certainly been a pretty tough and exacting baptism of fire in management, but he has come out of it well and with his reputation significantly enhanced. The only blot on Ferguson’s copybook being his slightly harsh treatment of Moise Kean at Old Trafford.

So can he and the players sign off with another win at the grand old lady?

Arsenal might well have their new manager in charge for tomorrow’s clash as Mikel Arteta is very close to joining them from Manchester City. In fact as I write this it’s been announced he has joined them. Will Carlo Ancelotti be sitting in the home directors box too?

It would be fitting if in this game Ferguson did come up against another former Everton player in the Spaniard, who is well-remembered for his time under David Moyes.

Given that the Gunners might have a new man in the dugout, there could be a lift for the Arsenal players as so often happens when a new manager comes in.

Although they have enjoyed much more success in recent years, like Everton, Arsenal are at a bit of a crossroads. They have tried in vain to replace Arsene Wenger and their first choice to do that, Unai Emery, hasn’t worked out. Now they are looking to Arteta to revive their fortunes.

Arteta seems a considerable gamble for the Arsenal board. Although he has spent his formative coaching years at the feet of Pep Guardiola, he has no direct management experience. It’s also likely he will look to reproduce the City style of football, but do Arsenal actually need someone who will focus on establishing a proper shape and instilling resilience instead?

I feel that they need a club legend someone like a Tony Adams to perhaps join him as an assistant, as Ferguson will continue to do, we think, when Ancelotti comes in at Everton. Adams knows what it means to play for the north London club and would place an emphasis on defensive work as well as demand the kind of effort and commitment that Ferguson has with the Blues.

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They have some very good players up front but lack any real defensive strength or consistency. The Londoners are also struggling for confidence. Given that, and Everton’s own defensive woes, you would bet on there being goals tomorrow.

The biggest questions for the home team, surround whether and how many of Everton’s walking wounded will be available to play. I hope in particular Djibril Sidibe and Gylfi Sigurdsson will be able to come back. Sigurdsson;s return would also mean that Mason Holgate can go back into defence, which given the pace Arsenal have up front, could be vital.

This is a very winnable match, despite the Blues injuries and depleted squad. It would be a fitting for big Dunc to be able to celebrate a win with the Goodison Park faithful at full-time while Ancelotti looks on as the club prepare for yet another and hopefully at last, successful new era.