I have one gripe which I'm going to get out of the way first off, because really it’s just nitpicking. But I didn’t like the way we started the second half slowly, it could have let them back in the game and been very different. Starting halves well is a priority in every game for me.
Other than that one negative point I really thought we were exceptional and I am unbelievably proud of each and every one of our players for the effort they put in, for the skill they showed countless times and for the pure will to win. We were so hungry and determined to do everything within our power to get the three points. If we hadn’t have achieved that then it certainly wasn’t going to be for a want of trying. But the players couldn’t have done it without the tactical masterstroke by Martinez, they just showed their ability in putting all his tactical nous into practice. It was clear that despite his possession focussed footballing philosophy we were willing to give up a bit of the ball in order to draw Arsenal on to us and blitz them on the break. And we did it masterfully. It was exciting to watch and had me smiling from ear to ear to be honest. Standing off them and allowing them room had me worried at times and I was getting desperate for us to put tackles in earlier at times, but putting the tackles in at the right time (when they were close to our box) worked a treat.
The score line didn’t flatter us in the slightest, it could, and maybe, should have been more. But I thoroughly enjoyed this game, especially the second half. It was a joy to watch us toy with top quality opposition. People have been saying that Arsenal had a bad game, and maybe they did, but I think that bad game of theirs was forced upon them because of just how well we played.
A special mention for the fans. I thought they were brilliant and I loved losing my voice singing and being angry. The worst thing Arteta could have done in the last meeting was kiss the Arsenal badge, feign injury and try and get our players booked. Evertonians don’t forget things like that and it made us angry, and an angry Goodison Park crowd is something amazing and something no opposition player wants to be a part of. So, thanks Mikel, you big tart.
Howard – Didn’t have a whole lot to do during the game (testament to the defence in front of him) but when he was needed he was there. That save from Podolski was brilliant because he took it so early, not letting Tim set himself.
Coleman – I thought he struggled to get to grips with not having any protection in front of him in the first half. It meant he was often double teamed when defending, and he was hesitant to go forward. But, he stood up to the test well and once he settled in to things in the second half (and got a bit of help from McCarthy) he was excellent. He got forward more and was a key cog in our ability to break on Arsenal at will. And two of the best moments of the game came from him – the bit of skill to bamboozle Cazorla was something else, and then towards the end of the game when he brought the ball away from our box by doing keep uppies for about 30 yards. He is some player.
Stones – He had a couple of shaky moments in the first half and I didn’t think he was quite at his best during that period of the game. He does have excellent powers of recovery though; he sorted out his own mistakes before they could do us any damage. But, as with Coleman, he had an excellent second half and was commanding, cool, calm and collected.
Distin – Where last game he made me the father to a litter of kittens, this game he put in a rock solid performance. Honestly, I thought he was flawless back there. He won so many headers and controlled Giroud effortlessly. He was a proper leader at the back.
Baines – It’s been a while since he’s played such a pivotal role in our attacking play but he was involved in everything that we did yesterday, and he oozed quality with it. His passing was crisp and extremely accurate. His balls into the box were as dangerous as they come. And his link-up play was on another level.
McCarthy – A performance that we’ve come to expect him now. Tireless, tenacious, and full of heart. The amount of ground he covered in this game (and every game) must have been huge! Our attacking players must absolutely love having him in our side because he gives them license to just do what they do best and yesterday was no different. Baines had got caught up the field just before half time and who is it that sprints 20 yards to put in a sliding tackle to stop Arsenal gaining an advantage? James McCarthy. And it wasn’t even his side of the pitch! He sees danger and he snuffs it out. Simple as that.
Barry – While McCarthy was running around all over the pitch putting out any fires that occurred, he just sat in front of the defence and it was his job to wait for Arsenal to get close enough and just take the ball from them, break up the play, intercept the ball, and get us on the attack in the blink of the eye. He did it fantastically well, and I lost count of the amount of times he stopped an Arsenal attack and had us on the counter attack. I felt he was the most important player for our game plan and he executed his role to perfection, so he gets my MOTM vote.
Osman – Wasn’t on the pitch long enough to really influence things, but that shot in the early stages of the game was brilliant, and he deserves a pat on the back for the tackle that stopped Arsenal breaking on us but led to him being on the end of a nasty injury.
Barkley – Came on for Osman and slotted in seamlessly. In fact, he probably added more to our game than Osman would have. He was looking like the Barkley from earlier in the season. I thought he gave us a glimpse of what could be if he is utilised as a box to box midfielder – McCarthy and Barry gave him the freedom to come from deep and he exploited that freedom time and time again. Arsenal didn’t really have an answer to him; he glided from our box up the pitch and they didn’t seem to know how he’d even got there. He showed tremendous power and strength, not only going forward but in the bits of defensive work he had to do as well. His passing and speed of play were great as well. His decision making was much better. He looks like he’s finding his form again at just the right time.
Lukaku – I was as surprised as anyone to see Rom playing on the right of a forward three, so I can’t even imagine how surprised Arsenal were! At no point did Wenger or his players react to it though and he simply ran riot. Monreal had no answer to his pace and power. The extra space to run into really benefitted him and I thought he put in a top drawer performance. That extra space benefitting him was really showcased for his goal; runs at pace down the right, builds up a head of steam, turns on to his left foot, drives across the box and smashes the ball home. He put in numerous runs like that throughout the game and his level of effort was through the roof. It was also noticeable during this game, and the past few games, that he’s using his strength much better to hold up the ball. It did worry me that he wasn’t helping Coleman out defensively but he was clearly told not to drop back, because at one point he was stood on the half way right in front of Martinez while Coleman was getting mauled.
Naismith – He’s listed as the central player of a front three but he was more of a floater. He was everywhere along that front line, dragging the Arsenal defenders across the pitch making space for Mirallas and Lukaku. He put in an exceptionally intelligent performance I thought - he wasn’t going to beat Mertesacker for strength etc so he dropped deeper and took advantage of him not being particularly mobile. His movement, once again, was second to none. Just look at his goal; he wasn’t on the end of Baines’ pass but he stayed in and around the danger area just in case, and as is so often the case with him, he was in the right place at the right time to slot the ball home.
Mirallas – I may just be forgetting about him due to so many players playing so well, but I didn’t think he got involved enough in the first half. It wasn’t that he was anonymous or anything like that, he was just more on the periphery of things. However, in the second half he really stepped it up and was so influential in us breaking on Arsenal. If it wasn’t Coleman breaking forward with the ball then it was usually him. A lack of effort is sometimes levelled at him but you couldn’t say that about him yesterday, he put in 100% effort. You only have to look at our third goal for an example of that – without him busting a gut to get to the ball Arteta isn’t under pressure and doesn’t put it into the net.
It's ok pal. I don't care for apologies right now. Were all the best of blues right now. I havnt had this feeling since Oviedo snorted at old trafford. My birds getting a Barkley ballbag in her kippa tonight. I can't stop looking a the league table. COYB
Several laughed at me for suggesting we could still make a CL performance. Now, if we win our game in hand and win the home game against Arsenal, we'll be level on points. Game on!
Once again a stunning, majestic and wonderful display of ineffective football. Lovely lovely stuff, but when oh when will we start to put the ball away as our play deserves?
But I still have hope for a good end to the season.
sell mirallas? the lad is a match winner..always been a complaint that we don't have them in our side..he can win points on his own and for that reason alone the inconsistency is worth putting up with..only 26 too so hitting his prime around now
I'm hoping that we don't sell any of the big players, but the only one we could sell for enough money to buy a couple of players with, and replace, would be Mirallas. (Don't cry Cotto, this isn't an Everton board meeting its just a discussion)
We wouldn't get enough money for the likes of Vellios, Kone, Duffy, Naismith, Osman or Hibbert to buy anyone of quality and we'd be left massively short, even though I think we should get rid of all of them once we've got replacements in.
What's the point in supporting a team if you don't want to see them progress, Europa League is progression for us seems we haven't played in it since 09/10.
I'm gutted we haven't been in Europe for as long as we have, I love European nights at Goodison whether it be against some team from Slovakia/Greece/Norway no ones ever heard of, or when we came back from 2 nil down against Fiorentina and lost on pens.
I'll be made up if we qualify for it. The manager can then try and deal with the squad size problems in the summer.
Small club mentality Sideliner. If you dont think you can compete with the "big Dogs" you never will.
I can give you tons of clubs that play in Europe on a regular basis that benefit from it in their local leagues.
In the Nordics we have Rosenborg in Norway and Copenhagen in Denmark. They rarely progress to the knock out stages yet their balance books are the healthiest in the Nordics. And now they are neigh on impossible to beat in the league. (modern times) They were not always the richest clubs.
IFK Gothenburg had a great run in Europe during the 80's Even won it one year. They have since then capitalized on that for many years. Becoming one of the most popular clubs in Sweden.
Its not only prize money and tv money and gate money. Its a fan base grower. If we play more in Europe we find more fans in other countries. Those fans increase the likely hood of being televised more often. They also buy merchandise.
Are you honestly saying that a run in Europe wouldn't benefit the club?
If you don't play better teams often, how are you to improve?
There is a Chinese saying - Big Birds don't eat small crumbs. (if we want to be the big bird we need to start going for bigger crumbs)
There is a Swedish saying - What you lose on the swings, you gain on the roundabouts
Another Swedish one - Fortune comes to the bold
If we never stand up to a person that we cant defeat sitting down we will soon have a sore arse from all the sitting. And that is exactly the mentality DM had when it came to facing the bigger clubs. He never stood up and took the fight. RM did it straight away. If RM stayed sitting against Man U, Arsenal and Chelsea this season we would have 7 points less.
Pearso reacted to NYBlue in A Champions League spot is still a real possibility
