Well, that went exactly as most people expected — not that it makes it acceptable.
Everton went down with a whimper in a 2-0 defeat at the Emirates. Arsenal really had little to worry about, bar one chance at the end of each half for the Toffees, which Thierno Barry and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, respectively, squandered, but it was nowhere near enough.
It doesn’t feel like we know anything now that we did not know before the game, but here are a few things we learned, or perhaps we simply had reinforced.
EVERTON ARE SEVERELY LACKING
Anyone who didn’t think this already was kidding themselves. But in every department — leadership, the manager, the coaching staff, the players — Everton are lacking quality, decisiveness and a winning mentality.
David Moyes’ stubbornness and/or inability to make positive changes when required, is an issue.
He can say all he likes that he is going out to try to win, but ultimately whatever he is working on in order to try and get those victories isn’t working.
A loss away at Arsenal will not define Everton’s season, but it is now just two league wins in 15 games stretching back to the end of March.
HACKNEY HAS TO GET A GO
Moyes yet again went with a midfield trio that is not working. There was a stage in the first half where James Garner pressed high, but Dewsbury-Hall and Harrison Armstrong did not plug the gap, allowing Declan Rice the freedom of the park.
None of the trio are playing well enough to be starting every game, and it is time for Hayden Hackney, who offers more ball-carrying ability and generally looks to play forward.
JOHNSON JUST CANNOT START GAMES
What’s the point in starting Brennan Johnson?
He doesn’t get into games, he cannot drive with the ball from deep — unless he has space to run into — and he isn’t getting into positions to have an impact in the box. Moyes is also depriving himself of a back-up option for Thierno Barry.
There is a useful role for Johnson in this squad, but not as a regular starter. He is more likely to be able to impact matches from the bench.
BRANTHWAITE, MYKOLENKO CONCERNS
It turns out that the “one or two” fitness concerns that Moyes referenced in his pre-match press conference referred to Everton’s two best outfielders, in Grealish and Jarrad Branthwaite.
Grealish will soon recover, but Branthwaite was out due to concussion protocols. If he has to observe the full, recommended 19 days, then the centre-back will be out until the Coventry City game on November 6. If he is able to just be out for 10 days, then it seems like it’s likely he will still sit out the upcoming Newcastle United clash in the League Cup.
A late injury to Vitalii Mykolenko compounded Everton’s frustrations, as their ridiculously poor transfer window — which was a mess even before TFG seemingly pulled funding — once again comes back to bite them.
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