Monday's stalemate against David Moyes' old club was a match that perfectly illustrated both how far Everton have progressed in some respects, while also showcasing the continuing problems the team still has.
For the first half an hour after Michael Keane had given them the lead, the Blues dominated the game and could have been two or three goals in front.
The creative energy of Jack Grealish and the threat posed by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Iliman Ndiaye were on full display.
But again they frittered away those chances as Beto once again could not convert while Dewsbury-Hall went very close to scoring a second, before West Ham grew into the match, eventually getting well on top and after equalising looking the more likely winners.
If the Toffees had a genuine goal-scorer up front, they would surely have been several goals up by half-time, and it would almost certainly have been game over.
Defensively, Everton are strong as always, with Keane a revelation so far this season at centre-back. They will be more so when Jarrad Branthwaite returns at last, although will he get back in the team, given Keane's form?
Also, ongoing issues remain to be resolved at full-back, especially who will take over at right-back in the long-term.
There is also clearly a much improved level of attacking creativity, with Grealish in particular a massive plus, adding a different dimension to the side's play and looking back to something like his very best.
The biggest issue remains up front. While Beto is misfiring badly, Moyes does not seem to be ready to give his summer signing, Thierno Barry, a sustained run in the team.
That is a little surprising as he did pursue him for weeks and spent nearly £30 million on the young Frenchman when he finally moved from Villarreal.
If Moyes is not yet confident in his new striker and with Beto lacking confidence and missing too many chances, then he must find another way to improve his side's goal return. It is the most pressing problem he faces.
Next up, Everton host a rejuvenated Crystal Palace, the team that ended Liverpool's unbeaten start to the season last weekend. Despite their poor record at Goodison Park, they will probably be quietly confident of getting a result at the Hill Dickinson Stadium this Sunday.
After that comes a tough trip to the Etihad Stadium to play in-form Manchester City, where the Toffees have very rarely managed to secure even a point, let alone a win, in recent years.