Everton U23s fall to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium

Live audio commentary on the Match Centre at the Everton FC website...

Any video anywhere???

1-0 final score, just the audio commentary. A disappointing 2nd half where we had most of the possession but failed to create any real shots on target to test their goalkeeper.

We started off with 3 centre-backs but switched to a back four later. It was hard from the commentary to pick out any names who stood out. Simms was quiet, Iversen busy but not enough to change the game, Onyango had a good first half but then faded out after half-time. Baningime was okay.

The defence was sound, Pennington showed his experience a few times and Astley was also prominent. Joe Anderson at left-back seemed to be perpetually hitting free-kicks and corners into their keeper's arms.

It's hard to pick many positives out of that game, certainly no-one worth debating about a squad place.

Noteworthy is that neither Anthony Gordon nor Jarrad Branthwaite featured as they did for the U-23s previous game.

Part of Sunday's 1st team squad v Fulham..?

I like our new keeper - "Tryer". 10/10 for effort?

At least Hunt's name is spelt correctly!

Jay#3, that would be an interesting call for Branthwaite. He was in the first team training pics this week and I believe he had game time in a closed-door England U19s game at the start of the week so he’s now fully match fit.

Hope Branthwaite and Gordon do get some first team action. If Branthwaite and Holgate are back, makes Ben Godfrey look a strange signing even though I like the look of him.

Robert (6), I really never understood the reason why we went all out to sign a CB (first with Gabriel Magalhaes, then Ben Godfrey) when we have Keane, Mina, Holgate, Branthwaite - not counting Gibson who is on loan at Reading. Carlo plays 2 CBs, so 3 out of our 5 CBs (most likely Mina, Godfrey, Branthwaite will sit out most matches). We could spent that money on a forward, maybe spent another 10 million and landed Ismaila Sarr from Watford. Godfrey may well turn out to be a great signing (I hope it does), but for that to happen, probably Everton have to get rid of 1 CB, my money would be on Mina.

It's a weird one, Ajay. I think Ancelotti would like to dispense with Keane and Mina - and use faster, more agile CBs. Holgate and Gabriel would have been a good pairing. Holgate and Godfrey seem a bit too similar though. And right now, you're right we'd be better placed if we'd bought Sarr as opposed to Godfrey.

A thought on Gibson. Last I saw he was getting no games for a good Reading side. Maybe a different loan beckons. I get the feeling he won't be troubling our first team.

Was nice to see Harry Tyrer back in goal. Virginia should be moved on to League 1 or 2. The other older players should be gone. Pennington, Broadhead, Baningime, Ouzounidis etc... development, my arse.

And as I predicted, Dennis Adeniran after 4-5 games is dropped. Gibson at Reading, nowhere to be seen. Maybe they can come back at Christmas and go back into the U33s and win the league... Fantastic!!

I expect you'll get your wish in January, Anthony. Adeniran is now at Wycombe, isn't he? Has he been dropped there? Never looked like a first-team player for us.

Gibson is crying out for a run of games, and may well move on from Reading to get it.