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MATCH REPORT : EVERTON 0-0 ARSENAL
Both of these historic football clubs announced their new managers in the past 24 hours and Carlo Ancelotti and Mikel Arteta were watching from Goodison Park’s Main Stand. However, neither could be blamed if they were checking whether there was a cooling off period within their contracts. As an audition to demonstrate to new managers that these players are ready for the next chapter it was worryingly underwhelming.
A hugely forgettable first half passed without a shot on target. Again Everton suffered another injury when former gunner Alex Iwobi departed injured after just 11 minutes without managing to make any impression on his old club. Cenk Tosun replaced Iwobi and Richarlison moved out to the wing. It did not help Everton gain any kind of attacking impetus although Tosun did have a shot with his first touch, sadly for him it hit the Gwladys Street roof !
The teams went into the break without a single shot on target as Everton, who had lost on penalties to Leicester City in midweek, looked out on their feet.
The second half was slightly more eventful, well at least we had an attempt on target.
Jordan Pickford produced a brilliant reaction save to keep out a goalbound effort from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang immediately after half time, and a couple of minutes later Lucas Torreira opened up the Everton defence on the left only to pick the wrong option in passing to the Arsenal captain when others were better placed to shoot.
Everton came to life around the hour mark as Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison and Tosun all had shots from inside the area before the ball was cleared for a corner. There were big claims for a penalty when a goalbound shot was handled by an Arsenal defender. VAR checked to see whether one of the shots had been struck Torreira’s hand, but despite the ball clearly striking the Arsenal man’s hand not even technology was going to give the home side any leverage in the game. Everton could be forgiven for thinking that there has been some directive to ensure that VAR does not give them any advantages this season given they have been wronged more than any side in the division this season.
The game ended 0-0 and it was about the right result. Both teams were poor but it was a better result for Arsenal than Everton, the Blues will be disappointed to have not claimed all three against an inexperienced gunners side.
Duncan Ferguson took the applause from the grateful home supporters at the final whistle and can take pride in being the ONLY Everton manager that has managed more than one game and remained unbeaten. Now it’s over to Carlo Ancelotti to continue Everton’s upturn in form.
How they lined up :
