Everton vs. Arsenal: Review and Player Ratings (Part 1)
The North London giants, Arsenal secured their eighth win of the 2010/2011 campaign as well as successive away victories in the space of five days with an impressive 2-1 win over Everton in a crucial away fixture.
Goals from Cesc Fabregas and Bacary Sagna were enough to give Arsenal the win and keep Everton in the bottom half of the Premier League in what was an entertaining game at the Goodison Park.
The Toffees started quickly and Steven Pienaar decided to make an early impression as in the first minute he lunged in at Bacary Sagna and drew the foul, bringing the match official to caution him on his further conduct.
Everton’s first foray came via a corner from the right after Johan Djourou was forced to clear out his box. Steven Pienaar took the set-piece, but it produced nothing as Louis Saha also headed wide of Fabianski’s net.
The home side were given an excellent early chance to take the lead after Sebastien Squillaci brought down Tim Cahill on the edge of the opposition box. The South African skipper of Everton, Pienaar, hammered the ball towards the goal but it failed to beat
the wall.
Everton looked comfortable and dangerous in the opening exchanges and it seemed that David Moyes had told his men to start the game with fervour and enthusiasm.
Arsenal’s first chance came through Andrei Arshavin who, after creating the most of an error by Arteta, ran with purpose towards Everton’s goal but his shot was blocked by a defender.
Moyes’ men had a gilt edged opportunity to score after a terrific and powerful run down the right flank from Steven Pienaar left Gael Clichy floundering but his pinpoint cross was headed high and wide over the Arsenal net by Tim Cahill, much to the chagrin
of Goodison Park.
The chances continued for both side as Samir Nasri saw his left foot volley from outside the box float wide of Everton’s goal.
Only moments later the Russian’s run through the Blues’ midfield produced another opportunity but once again his powerful shot failed to bring a save from Howard.
The match official, Howard Webb, warned Everton’s defensive midfielder, Heitenga, after a number of needles and niggling fouls by the Dutchman. Previously, when these two met, Howard Webb showed red card to Heitenga in the FIFA World Cup final 2010 and Webb
once again had no chance but to show the Heitenga yellow for repeat offences.
Louis Saha was given a half-chance just before an half hour mark when tedious defending by the visitors gifted the ball to Saha but his placed left foot shot lacked any real power or precision to trouble Arsenal goalkeeper.
The Toffees midfield were nearly made to pay dearly for giving up possession after 30 minutes when the Gunners launched a counterattack which involved Arshavin, Clichy and Wilshere, but the cut-back pass from Fabregas must have been directed at the invisible
man as no Gunners support was there to surely take the lead from a fantastic position.
As the half continued Arsenal found their rhythm and looked more dangerous. The home side was allowing distant efforts to rain down on their keeper. One such long range shot from Arshavin, which Tim Howard parried, was pounced on by Nasri and the Frenchman
sent the ball gently back into the danger area for Bacary Sagna to stab the ball over Everton’s goalkeeper from an acute angle. Another example of the scoring ability throughout the Arsenal team, and it was a fair reflection on the increasing
threat the Gunners were posing.
To be continued…
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