Jake O’Brien believes Everton can go “toe-to-toe with anyone”

Jake O’Brien believes that the Toffees can go “toe-to-toe with anyone” as they prepare to host Chelsea this weekend following a harsh defeat to Arsenal in London last week.

Everton’s backline looked impenetrable all game and they enjoyed the clearest chances in the contest before a moment of individual error led to a shift in fortunes right at the end. Jordan Pickford came out of his area to punch away a cross but failed to make proper contact and Viktor Gyokeres was in the right place to reap the rewards.

Max Dowman, who came on to inject pace and energy, then doubled the league leader’s lead with the last kick of the game after the Blues had players committed up the pitch chasing an equaliser.

The 2-0 loss at the Emirates Stadium feels extremely harsh as Everton deserved to take at least a point away from the game. However, it reinstated the belief in the camp that they can compete with the very best.

"Obviously, we're disappointed with the way it ended but I think there's a sense now where we can go anywhere and go toe-to-toe with anyone – and I think that shows how far we've come as a team and as a club,” O’Brien said.

"We had an our chances throughout the game and on another day the outcome could have been very different.

"Not just tonight but I think we've shown it throughout the season that we've got the ability and belief that we can get results anywhere. Sometimes it comes down to small margins, as it did against Arsenal, but there are plenty of points still to play for and we're confident going forward." 

Everton also suffered a double whammy shortly before the contest with James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite ruled out of the starting XI. Little is known about the nature of their setback and the duration for which both players remain sidelined, but their absence allowed O’Brien to move to his natural at centre-back where he partnered Michael Keane.

"We've played together before and it's worked out well," O'Brien said about his partnership with Keane. 

"I think whoever is playing, whoever is in the side, we all know each other and we've played and trained together for a long time now, so it's never an issue for us."

 

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