An unchanged side named by David Moyes, after a painfully barren transfer window saw players mostly leaving rather than joining the potless Blues.
Everton showed some attacking intent form the off, Arteta putting in a couple of nice forward balls and Coleman enjoying a good little dribble that he overran. Wilshire was an early culprit, earning a surprising yellow card inside 5 mins for a kick on Arteta. Rodwell was next to run at Arsenal but lost the challenge with Sagna. More midfield pressure and Arteta again turned and ran forward brightly with the ball, only to get his Achilles stamped on by Fabregas, a really dirty piece of work that certainly deserved a yellow card that was not forthcoming.
Everton totally dominated the first 10 mins as Song went down under a nothing high kick Bily then won their first corner as they really pushed the Gunners back hard, but an inadvertent handball by Fellaini ended another Everton thrust prematurely. It was 13 mins gone before Arsenal mounted anything approaching an attack, in which a desperate lunge by Distin earned him a yellow card. Neville blocked the free-kick away for a corner that was glanced wide by Koscielny.
However, Arsenal were waking up and a sweeping move down their left let Van Persie set up Fabregas, who drove thankfully wide. THe Arsenal forward then tried to bamboozle everyone with a dizzying run down the Everton left but came a cropper against Baines. But the pendulum was now swinging well in Arsenal's favour and intervention at the back was needed by Distin.
20 mins gone and Everton were reduced to pass-backs, hoof balls, and lost possession, which ultimately allowed Walcott in on Howard, who saved with his legs. Everton got the ball from the corner but presented it right back to Arsenal. But a move down the right saw a Neville cross land so invitingly for Bilyaletdinov who spurned the first-time shot required and the chance was gone. But in a strange sequence, Everton went ahead after Coleman tried to play in Saha but his forward pass had clipped off a defender Koscielny to Saha, two yards offside, but he turned smartly and slotted home beautifully! Offside when the ball was kicked, yes, but played on by a defender... isn't that how the rule used to work decades ago?!?!
Saha and Bily then got a corner that should have been better used as the Arsenal crowd became increasingly frustrated, mainly with Ref Lee Mason. But Everton kept calm and tried to pass the ball around constructively amidst the raucus atmosphere. However, Bily gave away a corner that Djourou glanced superbly to the far post and fractionally beyond Van Persie.
Saha was again foraging out by the left wing and won a free-kick that Baines strangely sent square. Sarcastic jeers as Fellainiw as called offside. Fabregas got past Rodwell initially, but stalled and then pulled his shot wide. Van Persie then beat the Everton offside trap on a good ball from Walcott but his lob beat the Everton crossbar.
Bily kept getting caught in possession, rather than using his chances to run with the ball. Everrton should have soced a second when Bily's shot was stopped by the keeper and song, Saha couldn't get his shot away, and Arteta's shot was blocked. Baines disposessd Walcott superbly but Everton's build-up was slow, although Fellaini did win a corner when aan early cross would have been better.
Everton squandered another glorious chnagce when Lee Mason again ignored Arsenal screams when Walcott ran into Arteta, and the coross seem to land right in frombt of Bily who just wafted at it. Walcott drove through aand fired at Howard but was called back for offside as half-time approached. Fellaini got fouled by Rosicky, who was awarded Arsenal's second yellow card. Everton went in at half-time deservedly ahead after playing some good football and showing some desire to take the game to Arsenal and profit, much to the displeasure of the rabid Gunners.
Straight after the kick-off and Rodwell went in over the ball, and onto Mason's yellow card. Van Persie drew a silly shirt-tug by Heitinga on the edge of the area, but Van Persie produced a really lousy free-kick that bounced off teh Everton wall, and the ball was soon at Coleman's feet as he ran into the left side if the Arsenal area and won a corner. But Arsenal broke and won a cormer off a good block by Distin that Diaby powered over. Neville then squandered possession in an advanced possition with a hopelessly overhit ball.
Arsenal attacked again but Howard was equal to a Van Persie snapshot as the Blues seemed to be dropping back a little too much. Arteta then got a deep cross in to the far post but it was a difficult chnace for Arteta to convert. A good spell of Everton possession ended when Arteta gave the ball away and then tapped the ankles of Fabregas: yellow card. Van Persie then tangled with Arteta and he got a yelllow card on the hour mark. From a Neville throw-in Fellaini then Saha beat .the defenders and almost got the ball to Bily on the far post. Arshavin then came on for Rosicky, then Osman on for Bilyaletdinov.
Everton looked to be holding their lines without really pressing for a second gola that would help to cement a great victory, each Arsenal attack seeming to carry an increasingly dangerous threat. Osman did his usual thing, getting into a good advanced position only to lose possession. At teh other end, Diaby lashed a chance well wide as Bendtner came on for Wilshire.
A strange sequence, Saha breakding with Coleman, the Frenchman chose to shoot along the ground, from just inside the half(!), and seconds later, Arsenal were level as Walcott dinked the ball over the Everton defence and Rodwell played the ball up nicely for Arshavin to convert, all-too predictably. Howard booked stupidly for holding on to the ball.
Osman was booked for clipping Walcott in full flight, and Howard produced an excellent save to keep it out, but it was all for nothing, as Koscielny headed home easily for a simple textbook goal off the corner. Another winnable game squandered by poor defensive discipline. Everton, having failed to push home the advantage when they carried so much of the impetus, were now backs to the wall and rocking. Anichebe on for Coleman was the manager's reposte.
Everton looked to attack but structire and cohesion was lacking and Jagielka ultimately played the ball nowhere, as the game looked up for the despairing Blues, while Arsenal, scenting blood, pushed them back agian. Anichebe won a corner that Artea floated over to Rodwell, who was called for climbing.
A srappy Everton attack composed of softly hit air-balls ended with a lame header from Osman, with barely 5 mins to rescue a draw from a game that should have been won in the first half. Clichy waltzed past a couple of Everton defenders near the end but no-one could finish his cut-back and Everton looked to make something of the 5 added minutes. However, it was not to be.
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If Anichebe's role is to told hold up the ball in the corner from a hopeful punt, at least teach him how to fucking trap the thing. Arsenal have a habit of nicking goals from corners. That free header was a disgrace. Rodwell (again) wasn't even ball-watching. He was watching nothing. I've backed Moyes for years but tonight's three substitutions did it for me, as I posted on the match blog. There's some serious shit that needs sorting out at the club. I can't believe that there's anything like the vaunted dressing room spirit of the past few seasons. If I was of the quality of Fellaini and Heitinga (who I suspect will be dropped for Saturday to allow for Jags' return), I'd be thinking very seriously about my future. I don't want to make light of this but I think a Howard Kendall-style Chinese meal wouldn't go amiss with a few home truths among the beef and beanshoots.
I want to say a big well done to Michael Kenrick for a well written and 'balanced' match report. I know you got slated for the last one you did but you deserve a pat on the back for this one.
What we know is this season is all but over. I'd take 8th now. I'd be ecstatic. Rodders was so average, the defence wasn't strong enough. And ironically Saha was good and put a good shift in. Well played Moyes on that one. Would have liked to see Beckford though. Thouroughly depressed.
When was the last time Anichebe scored, or did anything that didn't involve falling over and moaning with a face like a smacked backside, how he got on ahead of Beckford only the delusional Moyes knows. Rodwell, Fellaini, Arteta whilst sensational for about 20 minutes just decided they were done for the night at half time. In reality if it was not for some bad finishing we would have squandered the lead before half time.
Neither Rodwell nor Fellaini have a clue about the positional side of thee defensive midfield role, Felliani looks alright when he's in the contact area but too often he's too far away from it or sitting back too deep. Arteta offered nothing defensively whilst rodwell just did well nothing really. It seems that Moyes has curbed any natural attacking instict him and coleman once possessed, now they do the 'right' thing and cut inside take half an hour over whatever they are going to do which is inevitably a mis hit backwards pass. Bily should be playing centre mid as should osman as neither can play left wing, Baines can't defend, and Heitinga and Distin shouldn't really get paid for that. As usual Howard saved well nothing.
Oh good job to Moyes as well for putting those men on the posts at corners, least he always has the defensive basics to fall back on. This is probably over critical but I could accept if we were rubbish but watching us dominate for 30 minutes just tpo throw it away through chornic laziness and ineptitude is even worse. Ship out some of these mercenaries and get Lee Carsley back, least he knew how to put a flamin foot in when it was required.
It defies logic why Moyes replaced Bily with the slowest weakest player in professional football. From that point on, Arsenal had the freedom of the wing. Osman left Baines out to dry just as he has done so many times to Hibbert.
The naivete displayed by Moyes in those kind of situations is not what one should expect from a multiple recipient of manager awards.
At least Beckford would have offered some pace up front against two donkeys at the back, something also pointed out by Arsenal fans.
We are a goal down and we bring on Jagielka, a defender and Anichebe ? how often do we have to see him to know he is never ever going to make anything... he just looks lost ? he cannot win a ball.
OK, now we have big me up front and in the last five minutes we put 2 balls into the tallest, ie Osman. I am not interested in what Fabregas said in the tunnel ? I am interested in what Moyes said in the dressing room.
Down to you again, Mr Moyes, on tactics and subs. Down to you, Mr Kenwright, on letting this great club slip to nothingness where West Brom, Stoke, Birmingham, Sunderland, are seen as bigger than us. Everything about us, except the fans, is dull and boring and insipid.
Wilshere's game was pretty much shot to shit when he got his very early yellow and it shouldn't have needed a coach to tell the players at half-time not to do the same ? not that it probably occured to the likes of the hopeless Round. The inevitable appearance by Osman (why, Lord, why?) should have been at the expense of JR because of the card. I know I'm having a go at JR tonight but at the moment he's got the look of the Emperor's New Clothes.
As for Beckford, I think he'll come good but it'll either be at another club or under a non-Moyes regime.
Finally, would David Conn in The Guardian like to start scratching around Everton instead of the usual Sky 4/5/6. I believe there's a boil if not a full-blown abscess waiting to be lanced. Or, getting back to the start of my post should that be 'abCesc'?
We scored a blatant off side goal and once the first hour was over it was backs to the wall... we do not have the luxury of being able to rotate our players while other teams do. When we are expected to win games we fail and we do our best work away from home because the tactics we use are suited to playing away. When we are at home we do not have the guile to open up defences.
When leading he should have brought on Anichebe not Osman to give more strength to the middle of the park. More Moyes bungling.
Do we really need more proof he has lost the plot.
This means he finds it very difficult to get players out the side unless they get injured or suspended. Unfortunately, Osman never seems to be injured or suspended.
The last thing I want to do is come on here and slag Moyes, I have never done it before and I hope I never do it again but I am absolutely fuming after what I have just witnessed. The thing that pisses me off is that Moyes refuses to make changes even when it is obvious to everyone that there needs to be a change, and when he does make a change it is normally around the 90 minute mark when the substitute has little time to make an impact or if we are losing and we need to attack he will throw on a forward or winning he will throw on a defender.
Tonight we were comfortably beating Arsenal, I would say cruising. What does Moyes do? He breaks all his own rules to bring Osman on for Bily when it was not needed because he would not break the golden rule of showing disloyalty to his favourites. As soon as Osman stepped onto the field, I knew it was game over. Within minutes we were 2-1 down. It was so sickening because it was so obvious; I knew exactly what was going to happen before it happened, why didn't Moyes? Moyes is my idol but his blind spot for Osman is just sickening.
We are now in a relegation battle, we can no longer afford to play Osman on the wing, he should only be played if Fellaini or Arteta are carried off on a stretcher.
I had to laugh when Jagielka, presumably fit, sitting on the bench for three quarters of the game, comes on after we concede two goals. Talk about shutting the stable door! Did that decision to keep him out for most of the game have something to do with money?
When Anichebe, whose serious contributions are very few and farther between, was brought on ? the ultimate triumph of hope over experience ? did that have something to do with money? Couldn?t Vaughan just as cheaply be in his place instead of out on loan again?
When Moyes perseveres with Osman whenever possible, has that to do with money? Does Arteta?s loss of form, or the self-destructive insistence on one striker have something to do with money? I don?t think so. These are mostly DM?s failings. Not Kenwright?s.
Perhaps it's time for a new motto. Instead of Nil Satis Nisi Optimum, it should be Fere Vici. Nearly Won. But on the subject of money, a lot of romantic nonsense is written about someone like Bill Kenwright holding Everton only by the good grace of fans as some sort of custodian of our heritage. It?s that sort of People?s Club rubbish that helps to put investors off.
The principal shareholders own the club and will run it the way they want. Those of you who pray for some Chinese Billionaire to step in should understand that if an owner wants to move the club to Runcorn or Skelmersdale he can and he will, farther afield if he greases the right palms.
Some people have forgotten how close to the precipice that fruitbasket millionaire Johnson brought this club and how crucial Kenwright?s intervention has been. His primary failing lies not in his inability to sell but in his failure to create an attractive international brand when things were going well.
It's not good, it's certainly not better than Johnson. We are far more unattractive as an investment / purchase, than we were then, that's for sure.
We have travelled done debt road and realistically the only way out of this mess is to be sold. But I bet BK gets 50 times what he paid for it...
Arteta needs to sit on the bench, since he joined he added an extra 5% worth of time of possession, this season I don't remember him making a proper tackle.
And Finally Tim Howard ? There's only so much football a player can mentally handle these days... Many times this season goals have been conceded because of his lack of concentration, he's an excellent shot blocker but has never commanded his area. (The second Arsenal goal is a prime example.) Moyes has to let go of his loyalties, if it doesn't work then at least we can say he gave Mucha a chance and we'll all be calling for Howard to be put back in.
All this garbage about competition for places. This doesn't exist under Moyes. He needs to change before it's too late. (Before anyone thinks it, I'm not Jan's agent...)
14 games left, hang on to your seats!
Howard should have came for it anyway, it was 6 yards away with nobody in his way. Even the first goal he is diving away to his left and not covering his goal. He makes poor decisions.
The subs? Some stupid comments on them here. Jags goes right back not to break up the partnership in the centre as Neville was tiring and his passing had become awful. The other two were straight swaps for, again, tiredness.
I thought Arteta was looking marginally better last night and Saha played well and took his goal superbly ? offside or not! Fellaini & Heitinga great but we were at fault for both their goals.
Let's not forget, people, they are 'the best' attacking team in the country and for 45 mins we did more than hold our own. We took it to them and Fellaini owned them. For all their attacking ability, they are dodgy at the back. Cahill would have had a field day against them I reckon.
The feed I was watching, the general consensus of the 1st half from the commentators was that we were good value for our very fortunate lead at half-time. They made a change at half-time and it changed the game. They were all over us in the 2nd half and for me it was only a matter of time. When they came they were sloppy to say the least. Free hits... solid at the back we ain't, which is not good against Arsenal.
Our subs were quite baffling weren't they, that's been more than covered so I just won't. They were value for the win in the end. Anybody who thought we'd go on and win it after our goal is deluded at best, addicted to mind altering substances at worst.
Arsenal... I love the way they play football, they always seem have time on the ball and the passing game is a joy to watch. BUT... on Arteta was Joey Bartonesque and if Barton had done that to Fabregas, the press and Wenger would be screaming that he should be sent back to jail. The imaginary card-waving, the screaming at ref's, the diving, the general demeanor of the lad is just horrible. Walcott, pole-axed on the edge of the pitch screaming for a stoppage in play one moment. Flying full speed down the wing on an attack seconds later... Top sponge-man or Lazarus... or maybe just another Arsenal trained cheating little twat.
KENWRIGHT OUT!
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* Everton deducted 8 pts; †Forest deducted 4 pts for PSR breachView full table
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