Rampant Blues destroy Arteta's Arsenal
A tremendous domineering performance by the Blues that totally destroyed Arsenal, their biggest win over the Gunners in 25 years, and fine revenge for that galling FA Cup Quarterfinal defeat.
Then Romelu Lukaku jinked past two or three defenders along the 18-yard line and lashed an unstoppable shot for a brilliant second goal.
After a nervy start to the second half, Mirallas almost single-handedly scored a vital third and Everton were swaggering.
Matchday updates
Roberto Martinez looked to be keeping some of his powder dry for the second half of this massive game against the Gunners, with the attacking prowess of Deulofeu, McGeady and Barkley all on the bench while Osman started with Naismith and Mirallas in a 4-2-3-1 line-up behind Romelu Lukaku.
Everton kicked off and played the ball around confidently, witth captain Leon Osman making a nice statement of intent with an adventurous lob off a throw-in that had Szczesny beaten but flashed inches past the far post. At the other end, Giroud tried a low shot that flew wide across Howard's goal.
A promising attack saw Baines play a great ball to Naismith who chose to cross behind Lukaku. The ball came out down the Arsenal right and a very rash tackle by Osman on Sagna that earned him a cut on the head, a yellow card, and then a substitution, as Barkley replaced him inside 10 mins.
Naismith went in late on Arteta but avoided a yellow card as the boos rang out for the former Everton player. Stones almost played in Giroud with a weak cross-pass that Howard had to kick away but it started a move that ended with a superb Baines pass playing in Lukaku, whose shot was direct at Szezny, and Naismith was there to slot home the rebound ad really define the Blues' intent for this vital game.
The goal was vitally important for giving Everton confidence,.. perhaps a little too much for the first corner, won by Baines, that Mirallas woefully over-hit. Everton should have done better on the next attack, two balls driven hard into the danger area, Naismith clipping it at Szczesny. A better move from Arsenal saw a great pass behind the Everton defence and a clear goal chance.
Barkley was getting more and more involved, and caused havoc when he got to the byeline to force the second Everton corner, from which Mirallas conjoured a low drive saved by Szczesny at the near post. At the other end, Arsenal looked dangerous each time they attacked, their first corner seeing a Stones miskick in a very dangerous are that was recovered well by his teammates.
From a throw-in, Everton worked the ball across field in determined fashion to Romelu Lukaku, who had one thing on his mind as he jinked past two or three defenders along the 18-yard line and lashed an unstoppable shot with the minimum of backlift, a very special moment for the big man and the massed Evertonians rocking the roof off Goodison Park.
Each Arsenal attack brought more fear and trepidation, only for the Everton defence to somehow deal with it, one shot form Podolski, driven into the ground and up with massive topspin carrying it toward the top corner of Howard's goal but the American tipped it behind with an excellent save. Flamani then got a booking for his foul on Naismith. Arsenal kept the tempo of the game really high, putting the Everton defence under some real pressure as they searched for a goal that would give them some hope for the second half but Everton simply denied them at every attempt.
The second half saw both sides trying to use their skills in possession to different ends, Arsenal trying to pass their way into the Everton area;Everton trying to retain possession but with limited attacking intent as they hoped to draw Arsenal out. At times it looked to be a very dangerous ploy, when Mirallas dribbled in toward Howard and almost gave away a goal... then Stones, hassled and caught, finally losing the ball. Everton needed to play their normal game, and finally got back into their attacking grove after a worrying period of indecision.
But Mirallas had more drive about him as he picked Vermaelen's pocket and drove into acres of space, playing the ball to Naismith who fired at Szczesny and the loose ball turned into a foot race between Arteta and Mirallas, one of whom clipped the ball into the Arsenal net, much to the relief of the Goodison crowd.
Everton then indulged the crowd in extended spells of Olé football, holding the ball well as they tried to draw Arsenal out and create more space for Lukaku, Naismith and Mirallas to exploit. Wenger made three substitutions in a forlorn attempt to get back in the game. The one time Arsenal did penetrate the Everton defence, Sanogo was flagged offside.
In the last 10 mins, McGeady replaced Naismith, given a fine hand by the Goodison faithful, as Arsenal looked increasingly pathetic, playing some shocking balls on the rare occasions Everton ceded them possession. At times during the second half, the Martinez philosophy of "expressing ourselves" had been epitomized by wonderful spells of champagne football, spoilt only by Oxlade Chamberlain smacking the ball agaunst the Everton crossbar.
Romelu Lukau went off to a tremendous round of applause, replaced by Gerard Deulofeu for the last few minutes, as Arsenal attacked more out of desperation, stones doing some tremendous defensive work.. . Arteta finally getting into it wiyth Barkley, accused of using an elbow, and the Everton crowd ecstatsic as the former Blue was told what for by Baines and was booked by Martin Atkinson.
A tremendous domineering performance by the Blues that totally destroyed Arsenal, their biggest win over the Gunners in 25 years, and fine revenge for that galling FA Cup Quarterfinal defeat.
Scorers: Naismith (14′), Lukaku (34′), Arteta (og:62').
Everton: Howard, Coleman, Stones, Distin, Baines, McCarthy, Barry, Naismith (81' McGeady), Osman Y:7' (9' Barkley), Mirallas, Lukaku (87' Deulofeu).
Subs not Used: Robles, Hibbert Garbutt, Alcaraz.
Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Monreal, Flamini Y:44' (66' Ramsey), Arteta Y:89', Rosicky, Cazorla, Podolski (66' Oxlade-Chamberlain), Giroud (71' Sanogo).
Subs not Used: Viviano,Jenkinson, Kallstrom, Bellerin.
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Attendance: 39,504
Reader Comments (64)
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2 Posted 06/04/2014 at 15:24:30
3 Posted 06/04/2014 at 15:34:29
4 Posted 06/04/2014 at 15:30:50
6 Posted 06/04/2014 at 15:41:14
7 Posted 06/04/2014 at 15:41:39
Although how can those possession stats be right? Did they say 56% to them? No way!!!
8 Posted 06/04/2014 at 15:42:24
I believe!
9 Posted 06/04/2014 at 15:45:29
10 Posted 06/04/2014 at 15:49:47
11 Posted 06/04/2014 at 15:50:18
ET showed Wenger how to manage
ET Rules
.....ET?
El Tactico
12 Posted 06/04/2014 at 15:47:50
We can do it. COYB!!!
13 Posted 06/04/2014 at 15:52:50
Disagree - there aren't enough positive words in the English language to aptly describe what we just witnessed.
14 Posted 06/04/2014 at 15:50:52
Then they said he'd give us 'Wigan defending.'
Then they said our players couldn't pass the ball.
Then they said we'd be no good without Fellaini.
Then they said tippy tappy would get us nowhere.
Then they said it wouldn't last.
Then they said it was the 'expensive' loan players.
Then they said it was Moyes' team.
Then they said he was too nice.
Then they said possession is no good without winning games.
Then they said we were winning games but playing rubbish.
Then we won six in a row.
In the last eight months we have seen a good, workmanlike 'do the numbers' team turn into one with method, control, attacking options and blimey, even a bit of pace!
Whatever happens for the rest of the season (and there'll be plenty of ups and downs), I think there will be many contributors to this site eating humble pie and questioning their judgement.
15 Posted 06/04/2014 at 15:56:53
16 Posted 06/04/2014 at 15:54:56
18 Posted 06/04/2014 at 15:55:00
19 Posted 06/04/2014 at 16:02:28
20 Posted 06/04/2014 at 15:59:17
Keep up the good work, Blues — don't blow it now! Chapions League? We are having a laugh!
21 Posted 06/04/2014 at 16:03:17
22 Posted 06/04/2014 at 16:06:01
23 Posted 06/04/2014 at 16:08:45
Nothing clever about that – it seemed obvious to me at the time. Ker-ching!!
24 Posted 06/04/2014 at 16:13:43
25 Posted 06/04/2014 at 16:11:58
26 Posted 06/04/2014 at 16:17:29
To think I was going to put my seat on Stubhub today due to family wedding and Mrs' birthday yesterday! So glad I didn't, the drive from back in deepest Devon flew past and it feels like 1987!
Bobby, you're a genius. Can't wait for Easter Sunday. Enjoy your afternoon Blues.
28 Posted 06/04/2014 at 16:21:07
"[B]ut it was Séamus Coleman and Olivier Giroud who encapsulated the difference between these teams. In the 63rd minute, the Republic of Ireland defender, a £60,000 signing from Sligo Rovers, sprinted up the field performing keep-ups for at least 30 yards of the journey. Goodison reverberated to the sound of 'Olé'. Moments later, a 50-50 ball dropped inside the Everton penalty area. Giroud pulled out of the challenge and left Gareth Barry to it."
29 Posted 06/04/2014 at 16:20:05
30 Posted 06/04/2014 at 16:24:36
Otherwise, great performance. Still make Arsenal slight favourites due to run-ins, but good to finally see us step up in an important game...
31 Posted 06/04/2014 at 16:29:18
COYB!
32 Posted 06/04/2014 at 16:29:59
Surprised at Wenger's selection / tactics, delighted with our's. Only Citeh look to now be a real test in our run in if we can maintain our current form. Race for fourth really on.
Arteta seemed to connect with swinging forearm rather than an aimed elbow - frustration bubbling over rather than real nastiness in my opinion, and I think the incident will be considered as done and dusted by the authorities.
33 Posted 06/04/2014 at 16:35:42
Don't take any media crap about a poor Arsenal performance. They had the possession and the shots to win a game, but not against us today.
Lukaku's celebration was interesting in a 'thank you Boss' kind of way (like Deulofeu this week) and this could be a pointer to our prospects for next season.
And was Seamus's wonderful 'keepy-uppy' run straight out of Gaelic football? More please!!
34 Posted 06/04/2014 at 16:30:35
When that Lukaku shot broke for the first goal I cant think of a single player I would have wished it went to more than Naismith, great finish again by him and his work rate was once again unbelievable.
Stones was top class again and Baines had his best game for a long while.
Moment of the match for me was Colemans keepy-upies run followed by another incredible bit of skill shortly afterwards to leave the gunners defence for dead.
I cannot rembember a more satisfiying Everton performance since the 80's
Proud to be a blue
35 Posted 06/04/2014 at 16:41:52
There have been a number of very good articles about the difference Martinez has made to Everton this week end, especially in The Guardian and Observer.
Credit to Kenwright for picking 2 managers who were the right people at the right time
Unless we implde and we won't Everton will be in Europe and I expect Lukaka and Barry to be signing full contracts over the summer.
Roberto is off to Brazil for the world cup so no doubt he'll pick up a few more players there.
My man of the match is Naismith
36 Posted 06/04/2014 at 16:33:47
I think we are far more dangerous when playing two up front as we did with Lukaku and Naismith. Mirallas and Lukaku are top, top players and with Barkley, Naismith, Baines and Coleman we are very, very dangerous team going forward. When you add Deulofeu and (maybe) McGeady you can see that Everton can be optimistic for the next month.
Our entire defense is full of excellent players and I must admit that McCarthy is far better player then I was thinking.
Roberto Martinez you are the boss ;)
37 Posted 06/04/2014 at 16:50:22
38 Posted 06/04/2014 at 16:54:48
39 Posted 06/04/2014 at 16:57:22
So happy. Great to see and FEEL the atmosphere, to see the team not be out of sorts by the big game, to see big ROM celebrate with Roberto like that!
40 Posted 06/04/2014 at 17:00:38
41 Posted 06/04/2014 at 17:01:17
42 Posted 06/04/2014 at 16:54:03
Nessismith looks a player as a centre forward. He’s got decent pace and his positional play is great (something lost when out wide). He no longer looks to be a duff and could well have a decent career with us.
Lukaku out wide is a decent option. It gives him more space and the chance to run at the defense. In the long run he will definitely be at traditional no 9, but his pace and strength out wide will cause defenses much trouble, and with Nessi’s positional sense in the middle, we’ll be more dangerous.
Barkley was brilliant, very composed. Once his awareness of space and players around him (when to pick the pass or shoot) develops he’ll be a beast.
McCarthy was MotM, brilliant. Dominated the midfield and once Flamini got booked, every ball in the middle seemed to arrive at his feet. His dominance was evident in the frustration shown by Arteta at the end.
Coleman... I Love You.
It ain’t over til it’s over. We’re gonna win the league!!!!!!
43 Posted 06/04/2014 at 17:03:10
Strange hearing an American saying the game was a "fucking cracker."
Love it.
45 Posted 06/04/2014 at 17:10:56
Let's win the next two and put the pressure on Arsenal to follow suit.
46 Posted 06/04/2014 at 17:02:05
We came of age today. To take a team like Arsenal and give them a footballing lesson, was just exhilarating. The team was truly a team and the the team and the crowd were one, It was "We're Everton mate and don't fuck with us!"
So glad it was a whole team effort and the way we took the piss out of them was truly great to experience.
We've got a difficult run in and we might not get in the Champions League but whatever happens, people are sitting up and taking notice of us now.
I am so pleased for Naismith who received a lot uninformed and vitriolic comments from some on here. I think one said the worst footballer they had seen in an Everton shirt. I hope they will now shut the fuck up and just get behind our players.
47 Posted 06/04/2014 at 17:13:54
48 Posted 06/04/2014 at 17:14:00
49 Posted 06/04/2014 at 17:08:15
Boss curry and chips, confidently batter a top side, then come out of the ground and pick up £140 winnings from Hills - five nicker, 3-0, 28/1.
There's an episode of Bilko that sees Ernie have a day when everything goes his way.
If both boats sink in the boat race and West ham win, I'll stay in tonight, convinced Madeline Smith will arrive in a time machine from 1973 (no bra!) asking if I fancy 'a bit of the other'
Up the Toffees!
50 Posted 06/04/2014 at 17:18:56
https://vine.co/v/MiPqXuIlZUi
https://vine.co/v/MiPMEKXYb91
51 Posted 06/04/2014 at 17:19:34
I was that sinner !
52 Posted 06/04/2014 at 17:21:33
53 Posted 06/04/2014 at 17:25:24
54 Posted 06/04/2014 at 17:27:28
Just got back from Sports Cafe in Joburg. Surrounded by load of gooner expats and local red shites watching smugly. Met two blues randomly (they didnt know about ToffeeWeb!) and we were singing all the way through. Thank you to Roberto and the team what a wonderful day to be a blue.
55 Posted 06/04/2014 at 17:17:55
- Lukaku sprinting to hug RM after his goal. The boy loves his manager and that is a plus for us going into next season.
- Coleman's run with the keepie-uppies. Bloke in the pub with me reminded me that while he was doing it, he was out-sprinting the defender.
- When everyone still thought Kev had scored the third goal (o.g. but he was still as much a part of it as anyone could have been) the way the players mobbed him - this team is there for each other and are clearly so happy for each other.
Giving some credit to Kev for that goal, it means that, in a manner of speaking, all three strikers that started the match for us (pretty much) scored a goal. Love it.
56 Posted 06/04/2014 at 17:27:44
1) The players want to play for him
2) He improves the players and gets the most out of them during the game by using them tactically to our advantage.
With some managers, they play players out of position and those players then perform at a fraction of their potential. Often they do it with negativity in mind. Central midfielders on the wing, defenders in midfield. With Martinez he often does it because of some attacking threat they will expose.
We may or may not get CL football - it's in our hands certainly, but a tough task - however, long term I'm convinced we've got more chance of breaking the domination of the rich 6 with this man in charge.
Great win, great form, and the sight of Coleman doing the tricks was just superb. The Irish Cafu indeed.
57 Posted 06/04/2014 at 17:36:52
59 Posted 06/04/2014 at 17:38:18
Certainly think he is capable of playing in a central 2 at home to City when Barry is unavailable.
60 Posted 06/04/2014 at 17:32:26
61 Posted 06/04/2014 at 17:45:01
Got to be 30 years ago, at least!
62 Posted 06/04/2014 at 17:47:12
63 Posted 06/04/2014 at 17:57:58
64 Posted 06/04/2014 at 17:50:36
65 Posted 06/04/2014 at 18:04:43
66 Posted 06/04/2014 at 19:45:41
This is a proper 'caterpillar to a butterfly' moment for this Everton side.
Awesome, Roberto. Thank You...
67 Posted 07/04/2014 at 00:41:56
Unfortunately, I don't live in PDX anymore, I moved abroad. If you go to 4-4-2 on Hawethorne (I assume it's still there) to watch matches you'll run into some toffees. Beaulahland on 28th is a great place to watch the Workd Cup. Portland is a great town for football. My email is stephenkarnes@gmail.com if I can help you out with anything PDX related. It's an amazing town.
68 Posted 08/04/2014 at 14:47:57
Forgetting that, I was really surprised, after the match how much the visiting supporters gave Arteta stick and later on by their condemnation of the team in general and Arteta in particular.
Since the game I checked out a couple of their websites and was surprised by how much the gooners dislike Arteta !
Seems he's not only out of favour with the support but the management as well. Of all the older players - and there's a few - he's the only one not been offered an extension.
69 Posted 11/04/2014 at 07:24:13
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1 Posted 06/04/2014 at 13:38:19