5 Telling Stats from Everton’s Entertaining 3-2 Defeat to Arsenal

You know what? Everton played well here.

So why didn’t they pick up points? Let’s take a look at the numbers to find out...

False Wingers

Blues stick with 4-4-2, but with a difference…

When the Everton line-up was announced, it seemed as thought Carlo Ancelotti may have reverted back to Marco Silva’s 4-2-3-1 setup. However, he again lined up with a 4-4-2, with Gylfi Sigurdsson playing in the left midfield role… well, sort of.

Out of possession, the Blues set up in the basic 4-4-2 formation above. But when the Blues had the ball, especially at the back, the full backs, “wingers” and central midfielders all rotated.

On the left, Leighton Baines pushed into a left-wing position, with Gylfi moving inside and Fabian Delph covering Baines at left back. On the right, Sidibe would push up, with Iwobi moving inside and Schneiderlin dropping to right back.

The 4-2-2-2 was a smart set up as it made the most of each players assets: Delph and Schneiderlin defensively, Sigurdsson and Iwobi as playmakers, while getting Baines and Sidibe into crossing positions.

WhoScored

DCL and Richarlison on Target Again

Young pair have scored 22 of Everton’s 36 goals this season

The form of DCL and Richarlison up top has rightly been earning praise over the past month or so, and the duo were both on the scoreline here, taking their combined tally to 22 for the season.

The Blues need to be wary of become over reliant on goals from the top though, with over 60% of Everton’s goals coming from the pair.

The next highest goal scorer is Bernard with a mere three, followed by Yerry Mina with two (both against Watford). No other player has yet to score more than once.

Unfinished

DCL has 8^th most “big missed chances” (12) in the league

And while Calvert-Lewin has undoubtedly progressed fantastically this season, we – and more importantly he – mustn’t forget that he’s far from the finished article.

Against Arsenal, he missed several big chances with ultimately cost the Blues the points. The young English striker is fantastic in the air (he won nine aerial duels at the Emirates), but with the ball at his feet in front of goal, he needs a lot more work.

More Goals Conceded

Just two clean sheets under Ancelotti

While the Blues have enjoyed a clear improvement in form under Ancelotti, it is clear there is still a lot of defensive work to do under the Italian.

Sidibe was caught horribly out of position for Arsenal’s second, while the marking after the break for the Gunners winners was simply poor.

Everton have recorded just two clean sheets since Ancelotti came in, 1-0 wins over Burnley and Brighton at home.

This isn’t a problem caused by the Italian boss, as Marco Silva managed just three clean sheets in 15 games – meaning they both have identical clean sheet records of just 20%.

Away Issues

38 games without a win at a “big 6” side

Everton’s record away at the “big six” is woeful.

The Blues last win on the road came when Bryan Oviedo scored the only goal to be United at Old Trafford.

Despite this, Blues should be very encouraged by this performance, despite the result. Everton created lots of chances at the Emirates, and better finishing could easily have resulted in points being earned here.