Royal Blue Mersey - Everton at Arsenal: Premier League Matchday 6It's a grand old team to supporthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52544/royal_fav.png2018-09-25T12:00:02+01:00http://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/rss/stream/176534172018-09-25T12:00:02+01:002018-09-25T12:00:02+01:00Everton at Arsenal: Tactical Analysis
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<figcaption>Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Marco Silva got it right — his attacking players? Not so much</p> <p id="KX7UGV">In my years writing post-match tactical analyses here at RBM, I may never have had an easier job analyzing match than I will with <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a>’s trip to <a href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a> this weekend.</p>
<p id="ufYOFk">Marco Silva, maybe even from the moment the <a href="https://bracethehammer.sbnation.com/">West Ham United</a> match ended last week, clearly had a plan in place for how to beat the Gunners. Ultimately, it was a pretty simple plan. I imagine his thought process probably went something like the following:</p>
<ol>
<li id="Ubk21R">Unai Emery has Arsenal playing out of the back to an almost Guardiola-like degree.</li>
<li id="w3a9Vg">Arsenal...does not have the personnel, particularly at center-back or in goal, to play that style in a mistake-free fashion. Arsenal’s center-backs are also slower than dirt.</li>
<li id="sZxpUZ">Therefore, if we high press them, we should be able to force mistakes while they try to pass out of the back. Speed up top could potentially allow us to get in behind the Arsenal defense.</li>
<li id="SEHgYt">Against West Ham, we did not use personnel capable of high pressing or getting onto balls in behind.</li>
<li id="q8Wi1W">We have players who can do that.</li>
<li id="M1xBor">Let’s use those players and play that style.</li>
</ol>
<p id="5B05cy">And thus, it was so. To the bench went the more technically gifted Cenk Tosun and <span>Morgan Schneiderlin</span>, replaced by the quicker, higher-action youngsters Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Tom Davies.</p>
<p id="VBo4Vi">In possession, the plan was to bypass the midfield when possible, playing directly to the forwards — Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison, and <span>Theo Walcott</span> — or to Gylfi Sigurdsson just in behind DCL. If Everton was going to turn the ball over, it was going to come high up the pitch.</p>
<p id="dekXiC">Out of possession, the plan was to take advantage of the usually deep-lying starting positions Everton forced upon Arsenal. Press high, especially on Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis Papastathopoulos, and look to force turnovers whenever possible.</p>
<p id="AHkFl9">For 60 minutes, the plan worked <strong>perfectly</strong>. Within three minutes of the opening whistle, Calvert-Lewin got in behind the Arsenal backline and missed a golden opportunity to get the Toffees on the board early. The high press forced a few turnovers out of Mustafi and Sokratis, one of which gave Walcott a chance to open the match’s scoring as well.</p>
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<cite><a class="ql-link" href="https://understat.com/match/9256" target="_blank">Understat.com</a></cite>
<figcaption>Arsenal vs Everton Expected Goals (xG)</figcaption>
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<p id="LfVl5x">In defence, Everton wasn’t too frequently tested, in large part because the Gunners couldn’t easily pass through the midfield, often forced to rely upon long balls and the pace of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette to get into the attacking third. </p>
<p id="tZ6xuW">When the Everton defensive dam finally broke, it wasn’t even a breakdown or poor play that got the Gunners on the board. Lacazette curled an absolute screamer to the far post while covered reasonably well by Jonjoe Kenny. The shot he scored on generated just 0.06 xG.</p>
<p id="GnS27s">You could feel the team mentally and emotionally crumble after that goal — and that was before Aubameyang put home an obvious offside goal to make the match 2-0. I’m not that interested in what happened after that goal, primarily because it forced Marco Silva to go to Plan B — and Everton has struggled so mightily away to top-six sides in the past decade that you knew Plan B was never going to get the job done.</p>
<p id="TD8m9x">The takeaway from the match — and ultimately the reason I’ve not included and graphics/charts/etc. — is that Silva implemented a simple, but effective plan by judging the strengths and weaknesses of his opponents and choosing a course of action and starting XI that matched. </p>
<p id="4cvdh5">And at the end of the day, his attacking players failed him. Twice, forwards got 1-v-1 with Petr Cech and shot or carried the ball directly into the big keeper. His team attempted 27 crosses and completed only 6 — with only 1 of those completions coming in the box. Promising attacks sputtered left and right from poor passes, ill-timed runs, or dribbling errors.</p>
<p id="0UVHwo">Marco Silva put forward the perfect gameplan — and his players simply didn’t execute. </p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/9/25/17898190/everton-tactical-analysis-arsenal-2-0-high-press-marco-silva-attacking-players-futilityAdam.Braun2018-09-25T06:00:01+01:002018-09-25T06:00:01+01:00Everton skipper frustrated but optimistic
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<figcaption>Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Tom Davies admits the weekend’s result against Arsenal was a difficult one</p> <p id="ofazwM">It was definitely a <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/9/23/17892522/arsenal-2-0-everton-instant-reaction-match-recap-thoughts-comments-lacazette-aubameyang-goals">frustrating day</a> at the Emirates for <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> on Sunday as the team was once again unable to capitalise on clear-cut chances in front of goal and went down <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/9/24/17895872/arsenal-everton-premier-league-latest-marco-silva-dominic-calvert-lewin-tom-davies">2-0</a> to Unai Emery’s <a href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a>. </p>
<p id="dTXqFG">As I was watching the game over the course of 5 hours here in the lab, and as my manager shuffled behind me wondering why I wasn’t resetting servers and making intermittent groaning sounds I couldn’t help but think as the game ended, we deserved more.</p>
<p id="39lhaN">I wasn’t angry but I was a little disappointed and left wondering what could have been if we had simply been able to execute in a more accurate and timely fashion. As it is, I’m not the only one who thought the team should have walked away from North London with more than just nothing. </p>
<p id="T62kls">Speaking through <a href="http://www.evertonfc.com/news/2018/09/23/player-reaction">Everton’s official website</a>, Tom Davies who was once again given the chance to captain his boyhood club on the weekend thought his side deserved something, anything, for the way they played. Davies hit a milestone on Sunday as he became the Blues youngest ever captain during the Premier League era. </p>
<blockquote>
<p id="d3ltO8">“I thought we were very good in the first half and we are disappointed with the result.</p>
<p id="WvsqRa">“We created a few chances and had a good shape but if you don’t take your chances Arsenal will punish you. They scored a great goal and we just could not get back into the game. </p>
<p id="BK5If1">“If we had scored it would have given us something to hold onto. But they hit us with two sucker punches and it is a difficult one to take.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p id="kiyVOc">Like Tom, this writer too thought that the superb finish by Arsenal’s Alexandre Lacazette and the follow up goal controversially put away by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were simply soul-crushing after such a strong first 60 minutes by the Blues. </p>
<p id="lzUjYf">Now it’s easy to assign blame, and I do it all the time. So today my malice is directed to an ageing Petr Cech who defying Father Time, played like a man possessed or a man who’s name hasn’t conjured up positive thoughts around London for quite some time (you pick) and decided to do something about it. </p>
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<cite>Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="phb6BG">Cech managed to stop the likes of Richarlison, Lucas Digne, Cenk Tosun, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and <a href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwi7uMqH09TdAhWBOnAKHb3eCUAQFjAAegQIBBAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sbnation.com%2Fsoccer%2Fepl%2Fplayers%2F110220%2Ftheo-walcott&usg=AOvVaw1X_9G-PFyE6d0bu0JA8o9g">Theo Walcott</a> in a Man of the Match performance thereby ensuring that the game plan instigated by Marco Silva basically amounted to nothing, though the fact we were able to push forward and trouble the Gunners defence through two thirds of the match was commendable and something Davies was quick to point out.</p>
<blockquote><p id="Cn3miQ">“We worked hard on our plan all week and put in a good shift but it was not enough, so we will go into next week doing the same but aiming to get a good result.”</p></blockquote>
<p id="rZuoZg">Now Davies has his critics, and I’ll put up my hand to show I’m one of them however his work rate at Emirates was high and he was able to change momentum with a hard tackle or run when he needed to. But (you know what they say, never trust anything said before “but”) like many of his teammates, improvement is key if <a href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=8&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjP7Kz80tTdAhXFdd4KHZgVBDsQFjAHegQIAxAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sbnation.com%2Fsoccer%2Fepl%2Fteams%2Feverton&usg=AOvVaw0ZpaSObeiimXv337u20svO">Everton</a> is to start winning games which is something the <a href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=13&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwis-s3u0tTdAhUTMN4KHUgYCT4QFjAMegQIBxAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Froyalbluemersey.sbnation.com%2F2018%2F9%2F6%2F17825192%2Ftom-davies-is-a-fashion-icon-everton-great-alan-whittle-nephew-youngest-ever-captain&usg=AOvVaw0l8Upw5ZPIs4LefY208WPK">fashion icon</a> is aware of.</p>
<blockquote><p id="DwNdme">“We have to get back to winning. That starts next week, we want to put together a good run in the league. It is all positive, we put in a good shift today and if we continue that we will definitely get the results.”</p></blockquote>
<p id="OUp2N0">Let’s hope the improvements shown by Davies and the team as a whole since it’s defeat at home to <a href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj47tL589TdAhWSAIgKHfbGA2wQFjADegQIARAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sbnation.com%2Fsoccer%2Fepl%2Fteams%2Fwest-ham-united&usg=AOvVaw0MTJ0bfoKwVwDCsqFfFAyN">West Ham United</a> and now away to Arsenal continue to become apparent but also victories become a reality as they do.</p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/9/25/17898368/tom-davies-everton-captain-youngest-premier-leagueadamdyson2018-09-24T12:00:01+01:002018-09-24T12:00:01+01:00Arsenal 2-0 Everton: Three Thoughts from another Emirates loss
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<img alt="Arsenal v Everton - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/8MfgXNt9srbTv4xmyeahMCHcCWE=/0x0:4210x2807/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61514653/1038414378.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Three thoughts from Everton’s missed opportunity to finally win at Emirates</p> <h1 id="YGZtdb">All effort, no quality</h1>
<p id="o7BZP0">The biggest story from <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a>’s recent struggles has been their complete inability to finish chances. It cost them against <a href="https://bracethehammer.sbnation.com/">West Ham United</a> and cost them even more against <a href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a>. </p>
<p id="R26zTM">In this match, Everton were borderline dominant in the first half against an Arsenal team struggling under new manager Unai Emery. Arsenal’s slow play from the back was red meat for Everton’s aggressive pressing strategy early on. Interceptions and quick counter attacking moves put Dominic Calvert-Lewin and <span>Theo Walcott</span> in positions to score, but both failed to convert on their chances. </p>
<p id="Z25heS">Calvert-Lewin in particular was especially poor as his lack of quality in the final third was painfully evident. But that same sentiment goes for any of the three Everton strikers this season. Calvert-Lewin, Cenk Tosun and Oumar Niasse all have insanely high work rates, but none of them have the quality in the final third that this team desperately needs. So far this season, Everton’s striker-by-committee approach has been a resounding failure. </p>
<h1 id="X1qssF">Predictable second-half collapse</h1>
<p id="sUvBYe">Arsenal’s second-half surge almost seemed inevitable after Everton failed to capitalize on their scoring chances early on. Had Everton put away one or two goals, the momentum that was on their side throughout the first half could have permanently shifted in their favor. But Arsenal have quality players and more often than not, that will be the difference maker. </p>
<p id="RuBnaO">Despite the issues that Arsenal have had this season there is an undeniable gap in player quality between them and Everton. Take for example the two goal scorers yesterday, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette. These are world-class strikers who are some of the top players in the world at their position. Even if the team around them is struggling, they are going to put away the chances that come their way. </p>
<p id="N3Zi9h">Because of that stark gap in quality, Arsenal’s comeback felt almost expected. Marco Silva gambled by pressing Arsenal and it almost paid off. In the end it was unrealistic to think that this high risk strategy could hold up for 90 minutes, especially when Everton couldn’t grab the lead when they had the chance.</p>
<h1 id="GrVXcM">Idrissa Gueye was brilliant</h1>
<p id="6Gje6T">It’s a shame to see such a wonderful performance go to waste in a disappointing loss, but Idrissa Gueye looked absolutely brilliant in this match. The high press that Everton employed in this match seems to be the type of strategy that Gueye lives for. </p>
<p id="nMZnvZ">Gueye was a big reason for Everton’s early success in this match, he may not be the man making the final pass into goal, but he’s usually the player that has won the ball for his team in the first place. His work intercepting the ball and pressing Arsenal in their own half led to a number of breaks for Everton. He is always swarming across the midfield, attacking the ball and was one of the few bright spots in what ended up being a disappointing match. </p>
<p id="75SDRj"></p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/9/24/17892994/arsenal-2-0-everton-recap-reaction-effort-quality-richarlison-second-half-collapse-gueyemralbaugh2018-09-24T06:00:02+01:002018-09-24T06:00:02+01:00Silva calls for VAR, frustrated by refereeing decision
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<img alt="Arsenal v Everton - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/SC0kRsbeNnkAEjL_ioPl6mOlEIA=/330x0:4811x2987/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61514281/1043161082.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Manager disappointed by execution on the pitch</p> <p id="6dGrQl"><a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> played better than they usually do at the Emirates yesterday, but still came away empty-handed. <a href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a> took advantage of an excellent goal by Alexandre Lacazaette and an awfully-offside second from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to win 2-0. </p>
<p id="CCBFAy">After the game, manager Marco Silva was in no mood for platitudes, especially after what seemed a blatant non-call from assistant referee Harry Lenard who was perfectly positioned to see two Gunners in offside positions. </p>
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<cite><a class="ql-link" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6199385/Marco-Silva-baffled-strange-goal-Pierre-Emerick-Aubameyang-scores-offside-position.html" target="_blank">Daily Mail</a></cite>
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<blockquote>
<p id="EzAZj9">“It’s really frustrating. We have in that moment just one player in our box. It’s too clear to the assistant.</p>
<p id="ldLaXT">“It was a counter-attack, we won the ball and after we lost it too quickly and one pass, and it’s two against one or three against one.</p>
<p id="KvltAv">“We have just Jonjoe Kenny inside the box. It’s clear where he is in that moment and it’s clear on the second touch [by <span>Aaron Ramsey</span>] where the player who finishes is, as well. He’s clearly offside.</p>
<p id="I6rb1D">“For me, it’s a little bit strange but it’s OK. I make mistakes, my players as well. The assistant referees can make them, as well. They’re trying to find the best way to do that in the future, as soon as possible. Maybe next season we’ll have VAR here.</p>
<p id="glKV0h">“We were in control of the game in that moment, they scored a great goal but we’ll fight until the end. We’ll try to fight to score the one-one for sure. That moment was really hard for us.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p id="f9Fshb">Not the first time that lady luck (and the referee) has deserted the Blues this season, but for fans looking for some silver linings in yesterday’s loss, Everton certainly deserved to come away with at least a point for their efforts. </p>
<blockquote>
<p id="0gI8Pu">“The result is really disappointing and didn’t reflect, in my opinion, what I saw on the pitch. I think we deserved a bit more this afternoon for our players and for our fans as well - they came here to support our players. </p>
<p id="D51QUC">“But in these moments and at this level we have to be more effective. In our last game, without a good performance, we created clear, clear chances and more than our opponent to achieve a different result. </p>
<p id="uS7lYW">“This afternoon, our performance was good and we created chances from the first minute, with Dominic, until the last minute. </p>
<p id="wVCeYy">“We dominated many moments of the game as well.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p id="7P3ugu"></p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/9/24/17894630/marco-silva-var-arsenal-everton-2-0-offside-goal-aubameyang-reaction-recapCalvin2018-09-23T18:00:44+01:002018-09-23T18:00:44+01:00Who was your Man of the Match? | Everton at Arsenal: Player Grades Poll
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<figcaption>Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Grade the Everton players and manager on their performance today </p> <p id="RkJ5qL">Who was your <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> Man of the Match in today’s game against <a href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a>? Vote on the grades here on how the players and manager did.</p>
<p id="Qm0i1Q"><em>If this poll is not showing up on your screen, please </em><a href="https://goo.gl/forms/S0StNB1GaNky2yh53"><em><strong>click here</strong></em></a><em> to go and grade the players - we apologize for the inconvenience.</em></p>
<div id="ieVIvd"><iframe src="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfMriVYB0bUxdsWuV5myZbSSani3pKv7lnidcwVkJg_uDrMyQ/viewform?embedded=true" width="100%" height="800" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0">Loading...</iframe></div>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/9/23/17891292/arsenal-2-0-everton-match-recap-man-of-the-match-player-grades-manager-poll-ratingsCalvin2018-09-23T17:56:20+01:002018-09-23T17:56:20+01:00Arsenal 2-0 Everton: Instant Reaction | Poor Result, Better Performance
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<figcaption>Aubameyang made it two for Arsenal shortly after Lacazette broke the deadlock | Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Same old story for Everton as quickfire double from Gunners seal the points</p> <p id="3q1shX">It's the hope that kills you.</p>
<p id="lyyTSe">Though Everton delivered a much-improved display at <a href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a> on Sunday, their efforts were ultimately in vain as the hosts ran out 2-0 winners.</p>
<p id="5QM329">The Blues welcomed Richarlison back after his three-match suspension, while goalless Cenk Tosun lost his place in the starting line-up for the first time this season, making way for Dominic Calvert-Lewin.</p>
<p id="eQN4U8">Calvert-Lewin's only Everton away strike came against the Gunners last campaign, and could have repeated that feat within two minutes when he was played in on goal. With Richarlison also square, Calvert-Lewin's indecisiveness cost him, and goalkeeper Petr Cech smothered it before he could make up his mind.</p>
<p id="gOvVul">Despite a strong, positive start, pressing Arsenal high up the sun-kissed pitch at the Emirates Stadium, the Toffees' profligacy was nearly punished after 12 minutes, but <span>Jordan Pickford</span> made an excellent close-range save to deny <span>Nacho Monreal</span>.</p>
<p id="yIKbJQ">The Blues continued to probe, though; Richarlison forced Cech into a save after a driving run just after the 20-minute mark, and fired numerous other first-half chances narrowly wide.</p>
<p id="ajsSbi">Arsenal began to turn the screw as the first period progressed, with Pierre-Emerick Aubemeyang's cross hitting the bar and a last-ditch tackle denying <span>Aaron Ramsey</span>, but it would have been hard to begrudge the visitors being ahead at the interval.</p>
<p id="Dg5eOO">And then came the inevitable. When Alexandre Lacazette stroked in a beautiful finish on 57 minutes, it evoked an all too familiar sentiment about Everton. For all their good work, for all their tireless endeavours, the Blues looked set to have nothing to show for it.</p>
<p id="PMwGLl">Inevitably, that feeling was further compounded instantaneously. Aubameyang was clearly offside when he slotted home from close range two minutes later, but <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton's</a> defending left a lot to be desired. It was as galling as it was predictable.</p>
<p id="nfmKbu">That quick sucker-punch sapped the energy out of Everton, and the remaining half-hour simply meandered away. Tosun came on for the disappointing Calvert-Lewin, while Bernard replaced <span>Theo Walcott</span>, but it was proved to be to no avail. By this point, Everton were well and truly beaten.</p>
<p id="dziIwP">There were undoubtedly positives for manager Marco Silva to take; Richarlison was his usual effervescent self on the left wing and Idrissa Gueye, for the first hour at least, was everywhere, tackling all in sight. If the Blues emulate this performance at home to Fulham next Saturday, they should triumph.</p>
<p id="ddfIdl">But with trips to <a href="https://fosseposse.sbnation.com/">Leicester City</a>, <a href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/">Manchester United</a>, <a href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/">Chelsea</a>, <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> and <a href="https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/">Manchester City</a> consecutively to come, it could easily be after Christmas until we see Everton pick up three points on the road.</p>
<p id="YFcc5R">Make no mistake, Silva will take heart from his side's showing, but it's points that matter, and Everton again came away from the Emirates empty-handed on Sunday.</p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/9/23/17892522/arsenal-2-0-everton-instant-reaction-match-recap-thoughts-comments-lacazette-aubameyang-goalsmatthew.chandler2018-09-23T15:11:27+01:002018-09-23T15:11:27+01:00Everton at Arsenal: kickoff time, starting lineups, TV schedule, live stream and how to watch online
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<img alt="Arsenal v Everton - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/LnA8ewioa000tZF_V0olB3Le9cs=/0x0:3173x2115/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61505275/913891388.jpg.0.jpg" />
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<p>Can the Blues end their miserable streak at the Emirates today?</p> <p id="DMbDCy">After a miserable performance at home last weekend put a big dent in the <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> fans’ confidence, the manager Marco Silva is expecting a reaction today from his charges. Nevermind that the Blues have never beaten <a href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a> at the Emirates, spanning across three decades, or that Silva beat the Gunners three years ago with Olympiakos in the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league">Champions League</a>, today is a new day. </p>
<p id="Mt18Ta">The Blues will welcome back Richarlison into the squad, with the Brazilian winger’s suspension showing how reliant the attack has been on his innovation. Bernard also did well after his introduction just before the break and should play a part today. It’ll be interesting to see if Silva keeps the backline constant or new signing Yerry Mina will get his Toffees debut. </p>
<h1 id="tj4rzW">Match Details</h1>
<p id="Tn0k5V"><strong>Date and start time:</strong> Sunday, September 23rd at 8:00 a.m. PT / 11:00 a.m ET / 4:00 p.m. BST</p>
<p id="jLb1aE"><strong>Stadium:</strong> Emirates Stadium, London, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/england">England</a></p>
<p id="rPdssQ"><strong>Capacity: </strong>59,867</p>
<p id="jWmOa0"><strong>Weather: </strong>49°F/9°C, rain, 100% chance of precipitation, 19 kmph winds</p>
<h1 id="NylbZy">How to Watch/Listen</h1>
<p id="ZqDVb5"><strong>TV:</strong> NBCSN, Telemundo - <em>United States</em><em>; </em>Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League <em>- </em> <em>United Kingdom; </em>Optus Sport, DAZN, beIN Sports, SuperSport 3 Africa</p>
<p id="mGBAfE"><strong>Radio: </strong>evertontv, SiriusXM FC, TalkSport Radio World</p>
<p id="zQPBRS"><strong>Live stream: </strong>NBCSports.com, Sky GO Extra</p>
<p id="FsYgq9"><strong>Gamethread:</strong> Comments section below starting one hour before game time</p>
<p id="eB2O1I"><a href="http://www.livesoccertv.com/match/2502891/newcastle-united-vs-everton/">Information from LiveSoccerTV.com</a></p>
<h1 id="k6zWnV">Lineups</h1>
<h3 id="Zz6RPN">Everton</h3>
<p id="HBo89P"><strong>Starting XI: </strong>Pickford; Kenny, Zouma, Keane, Digne; Gueye, Davies; Walcott, Sigurdsson, Richarlison; Calvert-Lewin</p>
<p id="68MO8R"><strong>Subs:</strong> Stekelenburg, Holgate, Baines, Tosun, Schneiderlin, Bernard, Lookman</p>
<h3 id="hYm7g5">Arsenal</h3>
<p id="curC6F"><strong>Starting XI: </strong>Cech; Bellerin, Sokratis, Mustafi, Monreal; Torreira, Xhaka, Ramsey; Ozil, Aubameyang, Lacazette</p>
<p id="Tvt9dO"><strong>Subs:</strong> Leno, Lichsteiner, Holding, Elneny, Iwobi, Guendouzi, Welbeck</p>
<p id="zAzTdy"></p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/9/23/17891198/arsenal-everton-sep-2018-kickoff-time-starting-lineups-tv-schedule-live-stream-how-to-watch-onlineCalvin2018-09-23T10:00:01+01:002018-09-23T10:00:01+01:00Silva on Walcott, Emery and zonal marking
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<img alt="Everton FC v West Ham United - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0xguqPqK6L6ZhSLSqXt1xVj5LC8=/0x165:2436x1789/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61505139/1034688360.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Silva’s Everton travel to Arsenal tomorrow | Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Everton manager gave exclusive interview to Sky Sports prior to tomorrow’s trip to Arsenal</p> <p id="LsDE0w">Marco Silva expressed his appreciation towards <span>Theo Walcott</span> after the winger told of how his <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> move has re-energised him.</p>
<p id="AmNp5M">Walcott, returning to <a href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a> for the second time tomorrow since leaving for Merseyside in January, <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/11503455/theo-walcott-exclusive-i-fell-out-of-love-with-football-but-ive-got-the-buzz-back">told Sky Sports</a> he feels his career is back on track at Goodison Park now after falling out of love with football at the Emirates Stadium, praising boss Silva as a key factor in his rejuvenation.</p>
<p id="cvaBhT">Also giving his own interview to Sky, Silva said:</p>
<blockquote><p id="OD5sXD">“I think it is really nice to hear these words from Theo. I think the club, not just the coach or his team mates support him to enjoy football again, to feel how he is important for the club.”</p></blockquote>
<aside id="KJBdUS"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Everton at Arsenal: Tactical Preview & Film Analysis","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/9/22/17863594/everton-arsenal-tactical-preview-film-match-analysis-unai-emery-midfield-passing-out-the-back"},{"title":"Everton at Arsenal: Match Preview","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/9/22/17888784/arsenal-v-everton-premier-league-match-preview-2018-emirates-stadium-richarlison-bernard-yerry-mina"}]}'></div></aside><p id="xEtJl2">Silva was also asked about the polarising issue of zonal marking, the subject of much debate among Evertonians after watching their side concede six goals from set-pieces in the first six games of the season.</p>
<p id="heTZE5">With Silva opting to employ this strategy, rather than the simplified and traditional tactic of man-marking from set-plays, the Blues appear a long way from perfecting this craft. But the Toffees manager defended his decision, adding:</p>
<blockquote>
<p id="VMInVq">“It’s normal they [the fans] ask because they don’t like the team conceding goals and the saw the team conceding in the first games from set pieces. For me it’s normal they will try to ask the coach why. </p>
<p id="s3HuUb">“It’s not because you are marking zonal or man-to-man. It’s a matter of doing the right things to keep focused because even last season here they have two different situations, zonal with one coach [<span>Ronald Koeman</span>] and man-to-man with the other [<span>Sam Allardyce</span>] and they conceded goals in the same way.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p id="pkGiat">Deadline-day signing Yerry Mina is still awaiting his first appearance in royal blue since his £27 million deal from Barcelona due to a foot injury sustained while representing Colombia in the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/fifa-world-cup">World Cup</a>.</p>
<p id="O8aPi9">But Silva is confident the central defender, now in first-team training, will alleviate Everton’s defensive woes once fully fit, saying:</p>
<blockquote><p id="16UCWF">“If you are talking about set pieces, with his size [6ft 4in] it is something he has to do.”</p></blockquote>
<aside id="CvMQR3"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Everton at Arsenal: Writer Prediction League","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/9/22/17887750/everton-arsenal-score-predictions-preview-bets-richarlison-return-suspension-marco-silva"},{"title":"Marco Silva looking for Everton reaction against Arsenal","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/9/21/17886266/everton-arsenal-match-preview-news-injuries-latest-marco-silva-comments-reaction-west-ham-loss"}]}'></div></aside><p id="IaDMsJ">Ahead of tomorrow’s clash in North London, Silva also praised new Arsenal manager Unai Emery who, after losing his opening two matches, has now won four consecutive games in all competitions:</p>
<blockquote>
<p id="cJVKov">“He is building a new process there as well and I am doing the same here.</p>
<p id="j1i67I">“The team now is in a better condition. It is normal, this situation, and it will be a tough game as well.”</p>
</blockquote>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/9/23/17890352/arsenal-everton-preview-marco-silva-theo-walcott-unai-emery-zonal-marking-sky-interviewmatthew.chandler