Aimless Arsenal Snap Everton Streak

THEY HAVEN’T WON SINCE SEPTEMBER. SINCE SEPTEMBER.

Mikel Arteta – 5

I understand the fact that you have to rest players and ease them back into the matches but a team with nothing to lose is the most dangerous type of team. Taking off Lacazette towards the end made me weep – he is bagging both the Odegaard chance and the Aubameyang chance late on.

Aaron Ramsdale – 5

Didn’t do much. He conceded 4 goals, 2 of which counted. Just because he yelled at someone doesn’t mean he played well.

Kieran Tierney – 7.5

Back from injury, back into form. Another top display with a brilliant assist from a cross. It’s a pity we had to rest him as he was returning from injury.

Ben White and Gabriel – 4

They conceded 4 goals. 2 were offside, yes, but how can you make Richarlison look like a prime Luis Suarez? They got bodied all game and put up a disappointing display.

Takehiro Tomiyasu – 5

Still had an alright game but the defence overall was poor. The winner came down his side which he has to take responsibility for but was quiet for the rest of the match.

Gabriel Martinelli – 6.5

He was lively. Unlucky not to bag an assist on multiple occasions but he proved to be a positive on the left hand side of the pitch.

Thomas Partey – 3

Get him off the pitch. Oh my goodness. The fact that he cannot return a 4 yard pass off a throw in that ultimately lead to Everton’s first goal is sickening. He was just blatantly awful. For the second match straight too. I wouldn’t mind seeing Sambi get minutes against Southampton.

Granit Xhaka – 6

I was honestly surprised to see him starting but in my opinion he did well. He was most definitely the better midfielder in red however. Good to see him getting back to pulling the strings of the team again. As he gets more minutes he is sure to improve.

Bukayo Saka – 6.5

Saka had a decent game. Should’ve gotten an assist for Nketiah’s header… which was missed. He did what he could really.

Martin Odegaard – 6

He was the same as last week. He scores a goal – terrific: nice finish, cool, calm and collected, its what you want to see. However, THIS MAN IS ALLERGIC TO HIS RIGHT FOOT. The chance at the end just needed a touch to open his body and to hit it with his right foot. The amount of times an attacking minded footballer would complete this sequence is countless, but no. He had to get it onto his left foot and by that stage he had been closed down.

Alexandre Lacazette – 7

I liked this game from Lacazette. He played his typical role as the target man. He came forward, received passes, held up play well and distributed efficiently. If he was on the pitch for the full 90 there is little doubt in my mind he would have scored an equaliser.

SUBSTITUTIONS:

Nuno Tavares – 6.5

Did well in holding the left side of defence.

Eddie Nketiah – 5.5

I think that headed chance was easier to score than it was to miss. Other than that, he played quite well.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 4

If Arteta had any doubts of who to start against Southampton, that 96th minute miss should silence them all.

MAN OF THE MATCH:

Kieran Tierney – 7.5

Can’t wait to have him back at full fitness.