Torreira banned, Xhaka not quite ready plus Rambo eased back slowly (perhaps because he’s in the red zone) means that Elneny and Guendouzi got the gig in centre midfield. Mkhitaryan there to help and with the wingbacks we should have enough in midfield? Kos is still out so the back three is as against Newcastle but will surely face greater pressure than on Monday night.
First Half
The start to the game tended to suggest which way the game might head. After a couple of minutes Laca was completely cleared out by Zouma with a late, sliding, reckless challenge in the penalty area which the ref completely ignored. A penalty and caution were obvious, but no, it was Guendouzi who received the first yellow with a silly follow through a couple of minutes later.
Action Images via Reuters
The goal when it came was typical Arsenal, back to those away days at Stoke when Delap used to terrorise us with his trebuchet. The throw was legal as Digne’s heel was on the touchline contrary to a huge outcry on twitter. The 50/50 header wasn’t read by the Arsenal defence and the follow up header hit Kolasinac on the foot, deflected 90 degrees straight to Jagielka who hadn’t been down to play until a half hour before kick off. He hadn’t scored since the 20th century. Classic Arsenal concession.
Not too much happened goalmouth-wise for the rest of the first half. There were, however, a series of nasty challenges. We’ve been kicked off the park at Goodison before but it never gets any easier to watch.
Only one effort from Arsenal in that 45, zero on target, not good enough. Mesut was swamped every time he touched the ball. Pre-match doubts about the Guendouzi/Elneny partnership were completely justified in that first half. The only way to match them in the second half would be to match their intensity or completely change formation.
Second Half
The necessary change in personnel with Ramsey and Auba replacing Elneny and Wardrobe appeared to have an immediate positive effect, but illustrated the absolute poverty of that first half performance and team selection.
Our best period of the game was the ten minutes after half time. There were a few good chances but none looked remotely like being taken.
The rest of the second period was Arsenal pressing but Everton looking more likely to score on the break.
In summary, we were garbage and made an average Everton side look quite good.
This pretty much sums up the performance …..
Conclusion
What has become a somewhat predictable away performance from Arsenal. Few chances created but plenty of opposition chances allowed. We probably could have played for another hour and not scored. Beaten by a really poxy set piece calamity of a goal.
So, we’re back behind the spuds and those 4 away games left look dangerous unless there’s some sort of change in mentality.
Getty Images
Ratings
Leno – nowt much do again, a good block from Sigurdsson in the second half and a fine block when Bernard was through – when the keeper is MOTM and you’ve lost, you know it’s been a shite performance from the team … 7
Mustafi – a pretty standard performance from the German – some good challenges mixed in with some garbage … 5
Sokratis – too often left exposed by our weakness on the flanks – his booking means he misses our next two matches against Watford and Palace … 5
Monreal – struggled manfully as usual but received no cover from the wing back or central midfield … 5
Maitland-Niles – seemed confused by Everton’s intensity – mind you, he wasn’t the only one … 3
Kolasinac – pretty clueless – no help to Monreal and he passes backwards if he’s not barrelling toward the byline, which he never was … 4
Guendouzi – felt sorry for him – a 19 year old shouldn’t be placed under that much pressure and responsibility … 5
Elneny – a squad player at best – a chance to shine and he was barely noticeable in that first half … 3
Mkhitaryan – lightweight and not what was required for a battle at Goodison … 5
Ozil – captain? do me a favour – not very good leadership either by command or by example … 4
Lacazette – not one of his best days – almost our best move/chance and Laca could only fall over when a simple pass to Aubameyang was on … 4
Subs
Ramsey – raised the level of Arsenal’s performance from the depths – but couldn’t engineer a goal … 6
Aubameyang – another who perhaps should have been on from the start – it would have been nice to see him double-teaming with Laca, especially near the end when we needed a goal … 5
Iwobi – had an excellent little test of his dribbling skills for 15 minutes – perhaps unlucky not to achieve more … 6
Managers
Emery – he’s still not cracked the away form weakness – let’s hope inspiration comes before Watford … 5
Marco Wagner – set his team up to steamroller the Southern softies into submission and it worked – 3 points reduction for beating us … 4
Ref
Kevin Friend of Everton – a penalty and a yellow for Zouma in the first few minutes and it’s a different game – allowed far too much niggly foul play from the Toffees … 3
chas
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
1 point behind 3rd and we’ve now played our toughest away fixture
I know, I know, easy for me to say as I didn’t have to watch it (saw 20 odd mins)
Thanks to both Chas and Erik for posts today and yesterday
Haha you can take the boy out of Stoke…. 😂
Sue
Have you listened to the That Peter Crouch podcast series?
One of the earlier ones has him reminiscing about the Arsenal players visibly shaking getting off the team bus at the threat of the aerial bombardment to come.
Flippin heck, Bayern beat Dortmund 5-0, no wonder the spuds beat them!
Just watched highlights of Wolves Watford. Some comeback that was
Morning All,
Thank you chas.
It was painful viewing.
If Ramsey only had 45 mins in him, it must be better to play him in the first half and establish a foothold in the game. As you say, expecting Douzi and Elneny to compete against a strong Everton midfield was misguided.
Nothing much to say about that spineless, clueless debacle, other than it was an ineffectual, incompetent, fiasco.
The result did not come as any surprise, and I can only surmise that there is something in the mindset of Arsenal players that renders them incapable of responding when things do not go their way,
Some may accuse me of spoilt boy finger pointing, although everyone does it sometimes, but I am going to name names; these guys were not too good,
Monreal, The Cupboard, Mustafi, Sock-it-to-me, Maitland Miles-and Miles, Dozy-Beaky-Mick-and-Tich and all the rest of them.
There! It needed to be said!!
Cheers Chas. A comprehensive report and well argued ratings – not easy after such a deception. I saw all players trying hard enough but the game plan for the first half was poor and our midfield play was once again under par – or you could say it was missing. So for me Emery got this wrong and, although we had more energy and penetration in the second half, we still did not boss the midfield and were unable to get enough men around Everton’s D-area.
We missed Xhaka controlling the game and Torreira’s bite and (better than Douzi and Elneny’s) ability to pass. If we had had at least one of them on the pitch it probably would have been different. Having said that, as a manager you have to compensate for this and the Elneny-Douzi combo was a poor choice. Maybe he should have moved Maitland-Niles in midfield or play Mustafi or Kola next to Rambo. Something different was required, that’s for sure.
Without that midfield base the rest were made to look ineffective and frustrated. The Toffees had a clever game plan in midfield and that’s why/where we lost the game.
No blame for any of the players from me, and I would have given them all a 6 or 7 (Laca, Sok, Mus and Mesut), but I understand that many will spout their digital vomit on the players rather than Emperor Emery.
thank you Chas for the match report
Watching the game was like being double staked and rubber tubed.
Onwards and upwards
“Watching the game was like being double staked and rubber tubed.” 😀
My thoughts on Arsenal’s performance can and will be summed up in one word,
SHOCKING.
Blooming’ eck, TA, I love you but you have been mixing with some dodgy English speakers — “many will spout their digital vomit on the players rather than on Emperor Emery” — that’s almost as bad as “Watching the game was like being double staked and rubber tubed” (not that I have a clue what the latter is all about). 😳
I used to be a season ticket holder – and when I first got my ticket I did not know anyone around me.
Between me and the next guy along there was a spare seat, and eventually I said “Who would want to miss a home game against the Spuds?”
The guy told me that it had been his wife’s seat, and she had been going to games with him for 25 years, but sadly she had just passed away.”
I said, “That’s terrible — couldn’t you get another member of the family, friend, or someone else to come with you?”
He looked at me sadly and said “No…they are all at her funeral!”
Some weeks later, I saw in the local paper this add,
— “Local man offers marriage to any woman that has tickets to the Champions League final. Those interested must send in photo of the tickets.”
I mentioned this at the next game, and said that it seemed a good idea, and maybe he should try it too.
“Nah” he said, “that was me, and I’m gettin’ married the Friday before the game.”
Sheesh.
This is sad, 😩
A man arrives at the gates of heaven, where St. Peter greets him and says: “Before I can let you enter I must ask you what you have done in your life that was particularly good.”
The man racks his brains for a few minutes and then admits to St. Peter that he hasn’t done anything particularly good in his life.
“Well,” says St. Peter, “have you done anything particularly brave in your life?”
“Yes, I have,” replies the man proudly.
St. Peter asks the man to give an account of his bravery.
So the man explains, “I was refereeing the local derby between Arsenal and the Spuds at the Emirates. The score was 0-0 and there was only one more minute of play to go in the second half when I awarded a penalty against Arsenal.
“Yes,” responded St. Peter, “I agree that was a really brave act. Can you perhaps tell me when this took place?”
“Certainly,” the man replied, “about two minutes ago.”
Hi Chas,
Thank you for (at least) momentarily putting that terrible performance in a mental lock box and then taking the trouble to write us a well -grounded review.
This morning I woke up surrounded by burst bubbles.
Chas
No I haven’t listened to the Crouch podcast.
I was visibly shaking when the team news came out yesterday 😄
The man literally. Unscored the goal
Don’t agree with the rating mustafi ozil and mkhitaryan should have been given zero
No blame for the player TA
U saw mustafi running to recover a ball and some how carlvet lewis beat him to the ball
Also he beat our defender to every header
Shocking to kind of a word G5
Very disappointing result, but as mentioned above, if the referee awards the penalty then it’s a different game.
Apparently Arsenal and Ipswich are the only two teams in the four English divisions not to have an away clean sheet in their respective division.
Good post Chas, it was painful to listen to on the radio and MotD didn’t lessen the pain, but I gotta say, we don’t have much luck on the road, certainly not as much as Chelsea or Man Utd.
RA 🙂 🙂 🙂
Fred, I have never seen Mustafi take it easy… He may lack one or two key defending qualities but lazy he is not.
It is the tale of last few seasons – we never capitalize on opportunities to secure a Top 4 spot when we can…This season it happened a few times and the previous seasons too…
The line-up was strange to be honest with Elneny, Ozil and Mikhy starting together…I think Iwobi or Auba could have started instead of Mikhy or Ozil. As of Elneny, we knew why he started but still…
We have a lot of away games left and we can’t afford to NOT WIN them if we are to qualify for the CL via the EPL…
COYG!
Note for next year:
– Need a back-up RB – Meunier from PSG?
– Need a CB – Moukandji from Dortmund?
– Need a DM and a CM – Gueye from Everton and Ndombele from Lyon
– Need a Winger – Zaha maybe?
– Need a FW – Mitrovic or Haller?
Mikhy or Ozil will leave this summer
RC. Mhki is on 250k a week, Ozil on 350k. Who is going to buy them.
Our only hope is the Chinese 😀
TA remind me to get your pair of glasses
VP
Ha ha ha 🙂
Hammers rolling over again. Not been the same since Lasagnegate
I remember that like if it was yesterday
Instead of the need to blame (player/’ers/manager/ref/luck) I reckon everyone should get a Fred snow dome 🙂
Yeah, but it hasn’t helped Fred – he’s the worst of the lot for meltdowns and rating players at zero!
Fred hasn’t the faintest idea how to use a snow dome, so you can’t just go around willy nilly blaming snow domes for not working based on a sample of one 🙂
Micky
Got any quick thoughts for a post? The cupboard’s bare.
Raddy’s in charge if you need help in getting it up. 🙂
Cripes and blimey. I guessed we had another GN5 goal machine post
I’m leaving in half an hour. Thinks….poll…..urrrr
BR can’t do polls.
I’m going to work in 5 mins.
We’ll have to leave it to Mr Copenhagen.
Haha, the sample of one snowdome has tickled my fancy. 😆
Laters
Morning ALl,
Reading the last few comments results in a serious “oh dear” and a emoji with a frown.
Thanks Chas for the report. We were a bit pants. The contrast in our play in some of our games is quite significant.
One thing I feel is that we are actually going over cautious with how we set up and play away but play with more of a debonair and cavalier attitude at home, which seems to suit us more.
We seem to try and play tight and deeper with less support to the front man away but don’t seem to have the current players and / or ability to pull it off so we start to look a bit mid tabley and hanging on by the skin of our teeth away from home.
At home we seem to commit more to the attack, because it is expected of us, and currently that seems to work better. Attack really does seem to be the best form of defence where we are concerned currently, so I would suggest we just play every game till the end of the season as if we were the home team and take the you score 1 we’ll score 2, you score 2 we’ll score 3 attitude.
Got an idea for a post based on a couple of questions of the day. Will put it up here in a minute.
I still feel that one of our major problems is that UE has inherited an unbalanced squad that had been getting more steadily unbalanced over the latter few seasons.
In many ways it could be argued that UE is over-achieving with this current squad, but I also wonder if at times he doesn’t quite know how to set up what he has at present to give us a team where the players compliment each other and therefore give a more rounded and fluid performance.
Questions could be:
Do you feel the squad is unbalanced?
What do we need to do to improve the balance in the squad?
What are the orders of priority to be addressed?
If we are talking about ins and outs within the team in the summer TW it would be good if suggestions are quantified to fit within what is likely to be our financial constraints, rather than just a load of players that will exceed it, and therefore is not realistic.
My comment was swallowed. Sorry guys will have to wait a short while and will re-do it
Oh no there it is. Not sure what just happened. Anyway, morning all
No it has appeared. Not sure what is happening. Anyway morning all
Morning GoonerB,
I saw your bemusement over the swallowing of your comment and reassure you that you are not alone in that. Others have succumbed to the Goblin of AA — and in this instance I am not referring to Chas.
My own deduction about the randomness of the disappearing and regurgitating of comments is that the AA Blog cannot deal with comments, especially the more longwinded (not yours, of course) meeting up with others of indifferent sizes at approximately the same time they were posted.
In your case, that naughty Dane – Erik the Red – posted his comment at 8:17 – and your comment was posted at 8:18.
They will eventually both plop out of the belly of the digital dragon, but not as quickly as might be expected.
Ooooh, matron I need to go and lie down now.
Another consideration is Ramsey. I like Ramsey, and ideally would have liked to keep him, but have always felt he was replaceable. More recently, however, he seems to have become increasingly important in our play.
Is this because he has now transcended to a different level, or is it more that he has a a style of play we are missing elsewhere in the squad, so his importance to us is overly magnified beyond what it really is, which is what I kind of felt with Sanchez in the last 2 seasons.
What he brings does seem to be needed to be replaced though, so how?
Morning RA. Hope you are well. You may have noticed I actually kept these comments this morning more concise. I have been in short comment training.
GB. I have taken both comments and will publish now …
There is a New Post.
Do they still sell those?