Everton Review
10-point gap beckons, touch wood. Okay we made it 10, then City drew at Westham to make it 9 points. Thanks Maverapanos, Arsene Wenger you sly de***l. You Saw into the future. ...loll.
Ok, unto the match. Arsenal started the game asking the questions, forcing the issue. Calafiori had some pops and in between his attempts Madueke stung the palms of Pickford in Everton’s goal. It was clear the lads knew they had a job to do and got on with it.
Gradually, the Toffees weathered the early flurry of Arsenal threats and grew into the game. Calafiori would then be the man to keep us in it with an unbelievable block from a Dwight McNeil shot. How he contorted himself instinctively was beyond me. Then McNeil again came back for another bite with a curling shot that beat Raya before crashing into the top of the upright. Moyes and Ndiaye had their hands over their heads in amazement.
Arsenal had the larger spells of possession but being Everton, they punched back at us dangerously, dragging us to the ropes with some smart play. It was always going to be a long night. And so it turned out to be. Everton gave little change. They were grafting for each other, putting in an insane work rate. Each time we tried to pick the lock or break away, they were quick to shut it down with a block or clearance. Eze played Havertz through on goal and he went to ground hoping for a pen, but the ref wasn’t having it. It was Dewsbury-Hall who again tested Raya with a smart effort around the half-hour mark. Saka was trying his best, but Mykolenko made sure he got little joy down the right. To be fair, Saka worked the Everton backline more in this game, but Everton were just stoic throughout.
That sequence just before half-time summed it up. Saka shot blocked, then Madueke, then Eze. Everything blocked. Saliba tried to play line-breaking passes but it just never came off. The half ended all square. Second half, Arsenal came out with a bit more urgency. For all the work, Eze looked like the man on a mission, taking shots at goal, most blocked or narrowly off target. He was on it, trying to make something happen. That curler from the Rice pirouette pass was the highlight. Pickford for once was in no man’s land, scrambling across goal. But still, the game was flickering into a stalemate. The coaches on both sides were tense. Even Moyes got booked for giving the fourth official an earful. Arteta almost ripped off his pants with another questionable call by the Ref against Eze. Its a miracle he ddnt get a yellow, while Moyes got booked. That was interesting. Anyway, with lest than half an hour to go,
Time to roll the dice.
Arteta brought on Dowman for Zubi, Gyökeres for Havertz, and Martinelli for Madueke. Much as I didn’t like the Havertz sub at first, I understood it. Big week ahead and he’s just back from injury.
The key sub was Dowman.
The boy came on and turned on the orchestra. Started waving that wand, weaving past players on the wing. It was his cross that led to the chaos in the Everton box that created Gyökeres’ chance.
In less than 16 minutes, he had more dribbles, created chances, drew fouls. The boy literally dragged the team to lay a hand on the league title.
And then that moment.
I’m sure many of us Gooners have watched those last few minutes over and over again just to relive it. From the first clearance header by Gyökeres, to Martinelli’s cushioned header, to Dowman racing into the history books as the youngest EPL goal scorer.
Delirium!!
But… calm.
In 2002, a youg 17 year old in Wayne Rooney announces his arrival to the #EPL with a scorcher against David sSeaman in Arsenal's goal, 24 years later, Arsenal have repaid the favour.
David Moyes was effusive in his praise for how we dug in to get the win
''The block for Dweight Mcneil from Calafiori was unbelievable. it tells a little bit about where Arsenal are, you know they are fighting for it. Defending their goal with their lives, Probably in the end maybe I think Raya probably made more saves then Pickford. But, the block from calafiori was amazing''
That attitude is the difference. I am daring to make that claim, with a caveat, Liverpool bottled their league title charge after 30 games with that famous Gerrard slip in 2013/14 Vs Chelsea. It was the 36th League game and the Reds lost the game 0-2 at Anfield, allowing Manuel Pellegrini's Man City to win it. So yeah, if that can happen 36 games in, we have to say calm down everyone. FOCUS!
#EPL Title Context
Now that we’re back down to earth, let’s look at the bigger picture.
The nine-point gap is there. City have a game in hand against Palace which could bring it down. Then there’s still the head-to-heads. Nothing is done yet.
Across Europe, English clubs haven’t exactly done justice to the “best league in the world” narrative. Most struggled. Some lost heavily. It hasn’t been convincing.
But Arsenal right now are finding ways.
Grinding. Bending games.
That’s been the difference.
City’s has a crunch game versus Madrid. Its hard to see them coming back from that 5-2 smashing they got at the Bernabeu but its Peps Mancity at -3 goal difference, so there is a very slim chance. They are going to have to call on the legions of their heroes past though, to have any shot at overturning the deficit. The subplot is how it affects Peps preparation for the cup final at the weekend and his chase for the #EPL title. If they go out of the champions league, they may use that as fire in the belly to go all out for the league cup or they may be so crest fallen and they lose the will to fight. Madrid expect to travel with some of their stars returning from Injury, like Mbappe. I doubt he starts though, if anything, Arbeloa is likey to go with the same team that did city in on their home turf. Whatever is to happen, its up to the citizens to decide their own fate, i think I see a team that's lost its will to fight, I may be wrong. The look on Haaland, the constant moaning by Silva and Rodri about referees and Donaruma suddenly making some basic errors. Am I complaining?..Naah!
Champions League Preview: Arsenal vs Leverkusen
Now attention turns to Leverkusen. They come into this off a 1–1 draw with Bayern, even with two red cards in that game. That tells you everything about how difficult they are to break down. If Bayern couldn’t open them up properly, Arsenal know exactly what’s coming. This is a balanced tie. The path to the quarter-finals is right there, but Leverkusen stand in the way. Arsenal are favourites, but that means nothing if we don’t show up.
If we approach it like we did in Germany, we might not get another second chance. If we play with at the minimum, the kind of urgency we showed against Everton, we should have enough. This is the business end now. Legs tired, minds heavy, margins tight. Find a way. Bend the game to our will. That’s what has separated Arsenal this season from the rest.
Big week ahead. Leverkusen at home, then City at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final. That one could be massive psychologically. First trophy on the line. Mikel has a strong Wembley record, three out of three. Let’s see if it becomes four out of four, touch wood. Selection-wise, players are looking knackered. Zubi could barely move at the end. Rice needs a breather. Saka can’t keep going non-stop. Time to trust the squad. Nørgaard, MLS, fresh legs. We need to be smart. We’ve started the week well, now go finish it. See my predicted eleven to start versus Leverkusen below.
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| #ARSLEV |
