We definitely dominated the game, in all areas but it was so hard to score and break down a purely defensive minded Everton…They strangely enough played so low and let us control the game…They tried to work some counter attacks or set pieces but hardly created a chance…On our side, we did have some good shots on target especially through Odegaard but Pickford easily blocked them…Luckily, we worked out a beautiful goal out of a corner. Quick passing and finally, the Everton defense was out of position and allowed our super sub Trossard to score a wonderful goal on a Saka pass…0-1, minute 70. The scored remained the same until the end of the game although we could have scored another goal…

Key takeaways:

1. We kept cool and resilient throughout the game
2. Our training on set-pieces since last season are really helping us score goals
3. Trossard has been a wonderful super sub and with Martinelli now down with an injury, will he get the nod ahead of Smith-Rowe, Nelson, Nketiah, Havertz or even Vieira at LFW
4. Arteta made a bold decision in dropping Ramsdale to bring in Raya, who had a good game overall. What is next at GK for our team?
5. We looked more solid in our traditionnal back 4
6. Vieira came in for Havertz in midfield and he did fine but he was not as sharp as when he came in as a sub. Is Vieira more suited to a sub role in the end?
7. Nketiah was well taken care of by Everton’s defense. That defense has heart and some decent players in Branthwaite, Tarkowski and Mykolenko.
8. Martinelli is injured…let us hope we get him back quickly, he is still our best LFW by a mile
9. When is Arteta finally going to give some minutes to ESR?

3 points in the bag and still 2 behind City. Liverpool, Tottenham and Brighton having a good start as well – the race for Top 4 is on. Meanwhile, Man Utd and Chelsea still finding their feet. We finally broke our duck at Everton, at last…

Grades:

Raya – 7, solid and untroubled

White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko – 7, reliable

Rice – 7, steady but lacking a bit of sharpness in his passing and runs

Odegaard – 7.5, good positionnig and some decent shots. Shame he could not score.

Vieira – 6, a decent performance but clearly better playing higher up the pitch

Saka – 7.5, an assist and a threat on his right side.

Nketiah – 6, ran and ran and tried but without any decent output in the end.

Trossard – 8, scored and created. Excellent performance.

Others: 6

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