Goodison Tactics: How did Everton beat Arsenal?

Wed 8 December 2021 15:36, UK

Everton finally ended their dreadful winless run in the Premier League with a professional and determined performance against Arsenal on Monday night.

VAR denied the Toffees two goals, but that didn’t stop them from fighting back from a goal down to win and send Goodison Park wild.

The winner was pretty special from Demarai Gray, and hopefully, this will inspire the Toffees onto bigger and better things [Sky Sports YouTube].

Here we will look at all three goals in the game.

The Gunners opened the scoring at the end of the first half, and we can’t imagine Rafael Benitez would have been too impressed by the defending.

Arsenal work the ball out to Kieran Tierney. Martin Odegaard is totally free in the middle. Neither the defence or the midfield is picking him up.

Tierney sends his cross into the box and Odegaard is still totally free. He then guides a volley past Jordan Pickford but someone in blue has to be marking him.

This was a great finish from the former Real Madrid man, and it was also a good cross from Tierney.

MORE TOFFEES STORIES

However, Everton had to mark Odegaard, but instead, he was allowed to wander unmarked into the box.

The Toffees responded well and grabbed an equaliser in the second half.

Abdoulaye Doucoure nicks the ball high up the field. Andre Gomes makes a forward run in anticipation.

The ball comes into Demarai Gray and he curls a strike at goal. Gomes made an overlapping run that opened up the space for Gray. The shot comes back off the bar and Richarlison nods it in. The Toffees have an overload on the far side.

This will definitely be a goal that will please Benitez because the Toffees won the ball high up the field.

They then got men in the box, and an unselfish run from Gomes allowed Gray to have a shot.

The winger was so unlucky not to score, but he wasn’t to be denied.

Gomes makes a driving run through the Arsenal midfield.

Gomes finds Gray on the left in a lot of space.

Gray approaches the box. Doucoure makes another selfless run that opens up the space for Gray to shoot. The winger then unleashes a stunner into the top corner.

This was not only a brilliant goal because of Gray’s strike, but Gomes’ run and Doucoure’s run were clearly practised, and ultimately, they both paid off.

This was Everton’s best display in a long time, and hopefully, the confidence comes back into the team as they prepare to face Crystal Palace.

In other Everton news, Michael Ball has had his say on the Lucas Digne situation.

Be sure to follow Goodison News on Facebook and Twitter for 24/7 updates on Everton and more exclusive interviews with Kevin Campbell.