Everton vs Arsenal: Instant Reaction | Workrate

We always suspected that a proper football game could break out when Everton played Arsenal, and today did not disappoint. The Toffees’ home record hasn’t been great this season, while the Gunners are yet to have an away clean sheet this year too.

As much as Marco Silva likes to name an unchanged lineup, he was forced into making a late change with Michael Keane missing out due to illness and Phil Jagielka slotting in. The club captain led from the front too, creating then finishing Everton’s opener from a Lucas Digne throw-in.

The Blues attacked heavily from the left wing, with Digne and Bernard’s budding relationship appearing to work wonders in recent weeks. In the middle, the Blues defended much more stoutly to begin the game, winning more of the battles and showing more attacking initiative.

Arsenal appeared to have no answer to the raking balls the Blues played deep behind their backline, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison getting to the ball again and again. Despite having the better of the chances, the Toffees went into the half leading just 1-0 with Goodison Park very satisfied by the effort.

Unai Emery made two quick changes to start the second half, going full attack bringing on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Aaron Ramsey in a 4-2-3-1. The visitors started the second half better, retaining possession better in the middle but as the game went on, it was Everton who created more chances on the counter attack, with Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson particularly guilty of being wasteful around the box.

Everton once again were very impressive, a proper team effort with string workrate fighting for every ball and showing plenty of creativity all over the pitch and fully deserved their win in the end, despite missing hatful of chances to put this beyond the visitors.