Royal Blue Mersey - Preseason 3: Everton vs ArsenalIt's a grand old team to supporthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52544/royal_fav.png2015-07-19T20:12:37+01:00http://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/rss/stream/87618282015-07-19T20:12:37+01:002015-07-19T20:12:37+01:00Tactical Analysis: Martinez Experiment Fails
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<img alt="Arouna Kone fails to convert an early chance against Arsenal." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/6wZITJuzoPRGW3JZOuPgaE6Qhao=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46784322/GettyImages-481249926.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Arouna Kone fails to convert an early chance against Arsenal. | Stanley Chou/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>In Saturday's Barclays Asia Tour final, Everton was outmatched by an Arsenal side that fielded a much stronger side than the Toffees. There are limited lessons to be learned from this loss, but one thing in particular caught my eye.</p> <div>After two promising matches to open the preseason, the Toffees played out a pretty miserable match against Arsenal in the final of the Barclays Asia Trophy.</div>
<div>For multiple reasons, this match lacked the sort of intrigue that made the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/stoke-city">Stoke City</a> match a valuable tool to learn about <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton's</a> tactical future.</div>
<ol>
<li> <span>Arsenal used a starting XI that could reasonably be used on the Premier League's opening day. Everton didn't. </span><a href="http://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2015/7/18/8997971/everton-1-3-arsenal-barclays-asia-trophy-final-instant-reaction">Sean argued yesterday</a> that the Toffees should have gone with a full-strength starting lineup as well, and while I don't know if I necessarily agree with that, there was a clear discrepancy between how each team approached the match.</li>
<li> <span>James McCarthy</span> and <span>Gareth Barry</span> were clearly exhausted. Against a club like Arsenal, which often attacks in a narrow fashion, that was always going to be an issue. There is not a whole lot tactically interesting about what happened in the center of the pitch; it was simply that two tired players were overwhelmed and turnover-prone.</li>
<li> <span>Seamus Coleman</span> was clearly rusty in his return to action. It isn't a surprise that this was the case, but Everton relies on Coleman, particularly when missing some of its other offensive weapons, as was the case Saturday. Coleman will be fine, but his struggles took a little bit of intrigue out of the proceedings.</li>
<li> <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal's</a> second and third goals came as the result of individual mistakes, rather than how the team was set up. On Arsenal's second goal, <span>Santi Cazorla</span> was simply given too much time and space at the top of the box on a corner, and the Gunners' third goal came directly off a tired, sloppy turnover in the midfield.</li>
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<p><span>All that being said, there was definitely an interesting development in this match worth taking a look at. First, let's take a look at how the team lined up at the start of the match.</span></p>
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<p><span>Roberto Martinez</span> elected to make multiple changes from the side that beat Stoke mid-week, with none more noticeable than the presence of Arouna Kone up front and <span>Tom Cleverley</span> wide on the left.</p>
<p>In the past, I've made no secret of how useless I think Kone is, and Saturday's match certainly did nothing to change my opinion of the Ivorian striker. But, in fairness to him, Martinez did not set Kone up for success against Arsenal.</p>
<p>For reasons I will explain below, Everton looked more like this as attacks developed:</p>
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<p>Kone drifted left <b>constantly</b> as the Toffees tried to build attacks through the midfield. This happened so frequently that must have been purposefully planned by Martinez. It would seem that in an attempt to compensate for the fact that Cleverley is obviously not a wide player, Martinez encouraged Kone to drift in front of him down the left while Cleverley drifted to a more natural central position.</p>
<p>In the first half, this opened up space for <span>Steven Naismith</span> in the middle, so it was not a completely nonsensical move, but it ultimately failed.</p>
<p>One of the biggest factors of this failure was made apparent during the build up to Arsenal's first goal. The play begins harmlessly enough, with Mesut Ozil dribbling into three Everton defenders.</p>
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<p>The Toffees in the midst of the play, Barry, <span>Luke Garbutt</span>, and <span>Phil Jagielka</span>, manage to win the ball from Ozil and send the ball to McCarthy, who has space in the center of the pitch.</p>
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<p>McCarthy has limited options, so he looks up the pitch to try to relieve the pressure. His only real option is to go to Kone through the air.</p>
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<p>Kone, as was the case for most of the match, has set up shop nearly on the left sideline. He lacks the strength or skill to successfully hold the ball up, and turns the ball over.</p>
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<p>As soon as Arsenal gets on the ball, Everton's spacing is an issue. Naismith had no choice but to get near Kone when the ball initially came in, as he was Kone's only outlet, but once the ball is turned over, there is a massive gap between the Scot and the holding midfielders. The Gunners play the ball to Santi Cazorla in the center of midfield, and the Spaniard finds himself in a frightening amount of space.</p>
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<p>The rush to support Kone down the left has now given Cazorla days and acres in which to make a play. The wide view makes this even clearer:</p>
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<p>Four Everton players are now within 15 yards of each other while one of Arsenal's most dangerous attacking players has the ball in 15 yards of his own space. Barry and McCarthy, still out of position after trying to give support to Kone, fail to pick up <span>Olivier Giroud</span> in the space between the midfielders and the defenders. <span>John Stones</span>, the right-center back, is forced to make a decision. He can either step up to try to prevent Giroud from having space to turn and make a play in, or he can stay where he is and hope the midfielders pick him up. Stones opted for the former.</p>
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<p>Stones only gets about two steps up the field by the time Cazorla recognizes the space in behind and plays <span>Theo Walcott</span> in. Perhaps Coleman could have done a little better to stay on the inside of the pacey Englishman, but he was always going to be in trouble once a player like Walcott has that much space to run into.</p>
<p>As you well know, Walcott latched onto the perfect through ball from Cazorla and beat a poorly-positioned <span>Joel Robles</span> to give the Gunners the early lead.</p>
<p>This chain of events was triggered by two mistakes--Kone's inability to hold the ball and the bunching up of multiple Toffees down the left. Both were obvious flaws in Martinez's tactical plan going into the match.</p>
<p>In fairness to Martinez, the preseason is the time to test out unusual ideas. Everton remains short on options at wing, and we are sure to see players like Cleverley, Naismith, and <span>Leon Osman</span> being forced to play out wide again this season if another wide player is not added. If Martinez can find ways to counteract the drawbacks of such lineup choices, it would be a great asset to the club.</p>
<p>But, this experiment was an utter failure. I'm not convinced that putting even more bodies into an already crowded area was ever going to be a good idea. Everton relies so heavily on getting its full-backs forward that it seems that having a striker adopt a wide starting position would only get in the way of some of the club's most important attackers.</p>
<p>That is not my biggest issue with what Martinez did Saturday though.</p>
<p>Kone is simply not very good. The club has no other options at striker, so I have no problem with Martinez trying to get him on track, but the idea that the team could test out a new tactical wrinkle with Kone at the forefront of it was simply ridiculous.</p>
<p>What do you think? Am I too mean to Arouna Kone? Are you going to get tired of me talking about how much the team needs to add more depth at wing? (Actually, I can answer that one. You definitely will, because I am not ever going to stop talking about it.) Was this a worthwhile experiment? Have your say on these questions and anything else below!</p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2015/7/19/9000431/everton-1-3-arsenal-tactical-analysis-kone-cleverley-martinezAdam.Braun2015-07-18T15:25:40+01:002015-07-18T15:25:40+01:00Instant Reaction: Everton disappoint in BAT final
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<figcaption>Lionel Ng/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Blues are comfortably beaten by Arsene Wenger's side in a disappointing display. </p> <p>Well that was disappointing wasn't it? After solid displays against both Swindon and Stoke already in pre-season, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> had every chance of beating the Gunners here.</p>
<p>Instead, it was a mismatch from the start with <span>Roberto Martinez</span> electing to change his side, with Arouna Kone starting up front and <span>Tom Cleverley</span> put out on the left, with <span>Steven Naismith</span> in the middle. Why the Spaniard just didn't choose his strongest side, <span>Romelu Lukaku</span> and <span>Kevin Mirallas</span> namely, is a mystery.</p>
<p>It's a fair point that these games are all about fitness, but why not go full strength and give the Gunners a proper test ahead of the new season? Not only would it be a good run out for those players, it would also help us to see where we are.</p>
<p>And on this evidence, we are far behind the teams we so desperately want to get close to. Admittedly, the first goal was more of a mistake from <span>Joel Robles</span> than anything, but there was a definite gulf in class here as <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a> looked more composed and better on the ball throughout.</p>
<p>Indeed, it showed a worrying lack of quality in the Everton squad, with Kone looking far from being a reliable second choice, Naismith no more than an impact player and there being no real back up on the left wing.</p>
<p>There were several good points though, with <span>Ross Barkley</span> coming on and taking his goal superbly, <span>Gerard Deulofeu</span> looking impressive once again and <span>John Stones</span> his imperious self as usual.</p>
<p>While it is only pre-season, it remains baffling that Roberto Martinez didn't go full strength and really have a go at winning this small tournament. After all, Arsene Wenger did and he now has a nice trophy from pre-season.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Not only that, winning breeds confidence and beating the Gunners would certainly have proved a big boost to the Everton squad ahead of the new season. For now, more questions need answering than have been resolved, despite a previously solid start to the pre-season schedule.</p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2015/7/18/8997971/everton-1-3-arsenal-barclays-asia-trophy-final-instant-reactionSean_Lunt2015-07-17T17:00:02+01:002015-07-17T17:00:02+01:00Barclay Asia Trophy Final - Everton vs Arsenal: Match Preview
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<figcaption>Stanley Chou/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Barclays Asia Trophy comes to a close with a tight final expected</p> <p style="margin-top: 1em; font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px; color: #292929;" rtenodeid="8" id="paragraph0" class="MsoNormal pgh-paragraph"><b style="font-size: 11pt;" rtenodeid="9">July 18, 2015 - 13:30 p.m. BST, 8:30 a.m. EDT, 5:30am PDT</b></p>
<p style="margin-top: 1em; font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px; color: #292929;" rtenodeid="13"> </p>
<p style="margin-top: 1em; font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px; color: #292929;" rtenodeid="13">After 90 minutes of stalemate, both Everton and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/stoke-city">Stoke City</a> looked as cool as ice in the hot humid conditions in Singapore when stepping up for the penalty shoot-out, everyone that is...until new on-loan Potter Marco Van Ginkel took his penalty; seeing it saved by <span>Tim Howard</span> away to his right. Van Ginkel's miss and the perfect penalties subsequently meant it was left to skipper <span>Phil Jagielka</span> to send the Blues into Saturday's final and as we can all remember; Jagielka makes no mistake in semi-final penalty shoot-outs and this one going the same way as his winning spot-kick against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/">Manchester United</a> though slightly more lofted.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 1em; font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px; color: #292929;" rtenodeid="13">Straight after <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton's</a> penalties victory, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a> thumped the Singapore Select XI with a Chuba Akpom hat-trick and <span>Jack Wilshere</span> penalty to set up tomorrow's final. Everton and the Gunners have had a tight few games in past meetings, with four of the last six league meetings being draws. Now that Roberto Martinez's side have regained some of their fitness back in the opening two pre-season fixtures, the team, who will be giving the 2015/16 away kit a debut, can now look to get a little match sharpness back and Arsenal provide a tough test to help make that happen.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 1em; font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px; color: #292929;" rtenodeid="13"> </p>
<p style="margin: 9pt 0cm; font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 21pt; color: #292929; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;" rtenodeid="27" id="paragraph9" class="MsoNormal pgh-paragraph"><b style="font-size: 11pt;" rtenodeid="28">How to watch</b></p>
<p style="margin: 9pt 0cm; font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 21pt; color: #292929; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;" rtenodeid="33" id="paragraph12" class="MsoNormal pgh-paragraph"><span>Everton's pre-season schedule, as with past seasons, is being covered by EvertonTV and streaming of this match can be purchased for £1.99 or a ‘pre-season pass’ can be bought for £12.99, for the remaining games of the pre-season campaign. This game will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 9pt 0cm; font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 21pt; color: #292929; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;" rtenodeid="37" class="MsoNormal pgh-paragraph"><b style="font-size: 11pt;" rtenodeid="38">Team News</b></p>
<p style="margin: 9pt 0cm; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', NotoColorEmoji, 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Android Emoji', EmojiSymbols; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;" rtenodeid="43" id="paragraph18" class="MsoNormal pgh-paragraph"><font face="Mercury SSm A, Mercury SSm B, Georgia, serif" color="#292929"><span><span>Bryan Oviedo</span>, <span>Leighton Baines</span>, <span>Darron Gibson</span>, <span>Aiden McGeady</span> and Muhamed Besic didn't travel to Singapore through their respective injuries and again will be </span><span>unavailable. Right-back <span>Seamus Coleman</span>, who was rested in the win over <span>Mark Hughes</span>' side with a small knock, is in line to return in tomorrow's final and many are predicting he will start. <span>James McCarthy</span> took a knock in that victory and will be assessed before the Arsenal game but it is expected that his knock will be treated the same way as Coleman's and he will be rested. </span></font></p>
<p style="margin: 9pt 0cm; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', NotoColorEmoji, 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Android Emoji', EmojiSymbols; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;" rtenodeid="43" id="paragraph18" class="MsoNormal pgh-paragraph"><font face="Mercury SSm A, Mercury SSm B, Georgia, serif" color="#292929"><span>I would expect players like <span>Joel Robles</span>, <span>Luke Garbutt</span>, <span>John Stones</span> and <span>Tom Cleverley</span>, who have yet to start so far this pre-season to do just that third game into the schedule.</span></font></p>
<p style="margin: 9pt 0cm; font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 21pt; color: #292929; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;" rtenodeid="55" id="paragraph24" class="MsoNormal pgh-paragraph"> </p>
<p style="margin: 9pt 0cm; font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 21pt; color: #292929; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;" rtenodeid="55" class="MsoNormal pgh-paragraph"><b style="font-size: 11pt;" rtenodeid="56">The Opposition</b></p>
<p style="margin: 9pt 0cm; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', NotoColorEmoji, 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Android Emoji', EmojiSymbols; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;" rtenodeid="61" id="paragraph27" class="MsoNormal pgh-paragraph"><span><font face="Mercury SSm A, Mercury SSm B, Georgia, serif" color="#292929"><span>Last season was a pretty positive one for Arsene Wenger's side, coming off a FA Cup triumph the season before, they managed to retain the title and their outstanding form in the second half of the season meant there was no fourth place anxiety that they have experienced in recent years and they managed to finish third and worry <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/">Manchester City</a> for their second place finish.</span></font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 9pt 0cm; font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 21pt; color: #292929; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;" rtenodeid="61" id="paragraph27" class="MsoNormal pgh-paragraph"><span><span>There is a tremendous amount of excitement for Gooners ahead of new season after the bargain signing of Petr Cech and a sense that with a few more signings in the spine of the team and they could mount a serious title challenge. </span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 9pt 0cm; font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 21pt; color: #292929; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;" rtenodeid="61" id="paragraph27" class="MsoNormal pgh-paragraph"><span><span>Although against lesser opposition, Arsenal looked in good shape against the Singapore Select XI on Wednesday, in particular Chuba Akpom; a relatively unknown quantity for some. </span><br></span></p>
<p style="margin: 9pt 0cm; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; color: #292929; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;" rtenodeid="61" id="paragraph27" class="MsoNormal pgh-paragraph"><span>Arsenal will be without <span>Danny Welbeck</span> and Tomas Rosicky for tomorrow's encounter, as both did not travel to Singapore. Whereas Cech is expected to make his long awaited Arsenal debut and the likes of <span>Olivier Giroud</span>, Mesut Ozil and <span>Aaron Ramsey</span> may start after Wenger said following their semi-final win, that he would rotate the side.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 9pt 0cm; font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 21pt; color: #292929; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;" rtenodeid="75" class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-size: 11pt;" rtenodeid="76"><span></span></b></p>
<p style="margin: 9pt 0cm; font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 21pt; color: #292929; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;" rtenodeid="78" id="paragraph34" class="MsoNormal pgh-paragraph"> </p>
<p style="margin: 9pt 0cm; font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 21pt; color: #292929; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;" rtenodeid="78" class="MsoNormal pgh-paragraph"><b style="font-size: 11pt;" rtenodeid="79">What to Watch For</b></p>
<p style="margin: 9pt 0cm; font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 21pt; color: #292929; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;" rtenodeid="84" id="paragraph37" class="MsoNormal pgh-paragraph"><span>The Barclays Asia Trophy final is at a slightly later time to Everton's semi-final and perhaps it may be slightly cooler but there will still be the need for drinks breaks. With the potential for it to be cooler though, there is the potential for the game to be played at a faster pace. Furthermore, this will be the Blues' third friendly and therefore the match fitness they are developing could increase the pace of the game as well. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 9pt 0cm; font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 21pt; color: #292929; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;" rtenodeid="84" id="paragraph37" class="MsoNormal pgh-paragraph"><span>Both often play the same or a similar formation and even play a similar style of football so it is not a surprise really that recent encounters have been tight, and that can be expected tomorrow. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 9pt 0cm; font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 21pt; color: #292929; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;" rtenodeid="84" id="paragraph37" class="MsoNormal pgh-paragraph"><span>The two teams also play with attacking full-backs both sides of the pitch whoever they use at right and left back and therefore goals could come from out wide if the wingers don't track the run of their marker when the tables are turned or if full-backs are caught out at the wrong end of the pitch when possession is lost.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 1em; font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px; color: #292929;" rtenodeid="100"> </p>
<p style="margin: 9pt 0cm; font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 21pt; color: #292929; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;" rtenodeid="102" id="paragraph49" class="MsoNormal pgh-paragraph"><b style="font-size: 11pt;" rtenodeid="103">The Final Word</b></p>
<p style="margin: 9pt 0cm; font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 21pt; color: #292929; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;" rtenodeid="104" id="paragraph50" class="MsoNormal pgh-paragraph"><span>Although this is a friendly match and a tournament consisting of only two games for each team, there is still a trophy on offer and no matter the little significance of it, the trophy is there for the taking and winning it could only effect the squad in a positive fashion - as well as beating Arsenal, which is always nice. </span></p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2015/7/17/8987961/everton-vs-arsenal-match-preview-barclays-asia-trophy-friendly-preseasonseanferguson2015-07-17T13:00:02+01:002015-07-17T13:00:02+01:00Everton v. Arsenal: How to Watch BAT Edition #2
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/n98l8xq8fqZ2xUJr8d82bmxay9I=/0x112:2000x1445/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46764696/GettyImages-480763380.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Stanley Chou/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Toffees have advanced to the final of the Barclays Asia Trophy after taking down Stoke City. Next up, Arsenal.</p> <p>Everton has moved on to the final of the Barclays Asia trophy after taking down <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/stoke-city?_ga=1.64042927.1613298020.1403109536" target="_blank">Stoke City</a> in the first match. The Toffees had to go all the way to penalties to beat the Potters with <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/" target="_blank">Everton</a> taking the match 5-4. Arsenal on the other hand easily handled the Singapore Select XI 4-0.</p>
<p>Everton will have their hands full with the FA Cup winners. <a href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/" target="_blank">Arsenal</a> held some of their premier players out of their first match so it's definitely possible that we will see the likes of Petr Cech, <span>Mesut Ozil</span> and <span>Laurent Koscielny</span> on Saturday. Everton played their senior players against Stoke and manager Roberto Martinez could use this as an opportunity to get some of the younger players some game time against a tough opponent. Injuries to <span>James McCarthy</span> and <span>Steven Pienaar</span> may also pave the way for the youngsters.</p>
<p><b>How to Watch or Listen</b></p>
<p id="paragraph3"><b>Match Date and Time:</b> Saturday, July 18<sup>th</sup> at 1:30 BST / 8:30 a.m. EST</p>
<p id="paragraph4"><b>Stadium:</b> National Stadium, Singapore</p>
<p id="paragraph5"><b>TV:</b> Sky Sports 1 - UK / NBC Universo - USA</p>
<p id="paragraph6"><b>Radio:</b> Listen live via Everton's <a data-ref-index="12" target="_blank" href="http://www.evertonfc.com/home"><b>Match Centre</b></a></p>
<p id="paragraph7"><b>Live Stream:</b> <a data-ref-index="13" target="_blank" href="http://preseason.evertonfc.com/"><b>EvertonTV</b></a> (This match for £1.99 or the remaining four pre-season matches for £12.99), This is on delay, starting at 17:30 BST / <a data-ref-index="14" target="_blank" href="http://stream.nbcsports.com/liveextra/"><b>NBC Live Extra</b></a></p>
<p id="paragraph8"><b>Info from: </b><a href="http://www.livesoccertv.com/match/1629174/everton-vs-arsenal/" target="_blank">Livesoccertv</a></p>
<p id="paragraph9"><b>Lineups:</b></p>
<p>Everton starting XI: Robles, Coleman, Stones, Jagielka (c), Garbutt, Barry, McCarthy, Deulofeu, Naismith, Cleverley, Kone.</p>
<p>Everton subs: Howard, Hibbert, Lukaku, Mirallas, Barkley, Osman, Pienaar, Browning, Galloway, McAleny, Kenny, Williams, Robinson.</p>
<p>Arsenal starting XI: Cech, Bellerin, Koscielny, Chambers, Gibbs, Ramsey, Cazorla, Wilshere, Ozil, Walcott, Giroud.</p>
<p>Arsenal subs: Szczesny, Debuchy, Gabriel, Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Monreal, Flamini, Coquelin, Akpom, Iwobi.</p>
<p id="paragraph15" align="center"><b>Like Royal Blue Mersey on </b><a data-ref-index="16" target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/rbmersey"><b>Facebook</b></a><b> </b><b>and follow @RBMersey on </b><a data-ref-index="17" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/rbmersey"><b>Twitter</b></a></p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2015/7/17/8982575/everton-v-arsenal-how-to-watch-barclays-asia-trophy-edition-2Ryan_Blank