George Overhill

Wed 1 March 2023 21:38, UK

Everton were soundly beaten 4-0 at league-leaders Arsenal as mistakes late just before the interval threw away a strong first-half performance.

A very good first half from the Toffees was undone after 40 minutes by a lapse in concentration to allow Bukayo Saka to float into the box between Michael Keane and Vitalii Mykolenko to smash the opener high past Jordan Pickford, before catastrophe struck in stoppage time as Idrissa Gueye was caught in possession to allow Gabriel Martinelli to slot a second.

That killed the game and Martin Odegaard added a third, and Martinelli a fourth, after the break to leave this side inside the relegation zone.

Here, Goodison News rates the Everton players out of 10 for their performances at the Emirates.

Jordan Pickford – 6

Not a great evening only really saw him involved when picking the ball out of his net. Twice in two games he has conceded at his near post but in truth there was probably not a great deal he could do with Saka’s strike into the roof. Left completely exposed by Gueye’s error for the second. Made a couple of decent saves later on but the goals kept coming.

Seamus Coleman (off for Godfrey ’61) – Man of the Match 8

Had his hands full but did everything asked of him and will have been highly frustrated by a pair of errors on the other side of the defence undoing all that hard work. Likely taken off to save his legs with the game looking lost, and it was noticeable when he wasn’t there. Can hold his head up for his performance.

Michael Keane – 5

Actually looked considerably more confident than Everton fans have become used to in just his second Premier League appearance of the season, but it was between him and his left-back that Saka found space to break the resistance at the crucial time. Completely overwhelmed after the break.

James Tarkowski – 6

Pretty composed in a first half where the Toffees frustrated the league-leaders. Nothing he could do about the two lapses down the left. Couldn’t keep the onslaught back after the half.

Vitalii Mykolenko – 5

Plenty to do defensively but held up fairly well with assistance from McNeil until he left Saka alone on the edge of the box to roll him into the area and smash in the opener. That lapse sparked the collapse.

Idrissa Gana Gueye (off for Holgate ’45) – 3

Absolute nightmare saw him him caught in possession in first-half injury time by Saka, and Martinelli put the game out of reach. Sean Dyche showed what he thought of it by taking him off at the break immediately after. Hadn’t looked bad prior to that but it was

Amadou Onana – 6

Good start saw him be a disruptive presence in front of the defence, stealing possession more than once and starting Everton counter-attacks. Faded from prominence as the game moved out of reach and both the third and fourth goals were finished off by players he probably should have been closer to.

Abdoulaye Doucouré (off for Davies ’79) – 6

Looked pretty good in a defensive sense but has limitations going forward. Showed a willingness to drive into the Arsenal half with possession but probably didn’t do enough with the ball each time, to demonstrate the lack of attacking flair in this side.

Dwight McNeil – 7

Closest to an attacking threat Everton had. Covered very well defensively throughout to help Mykolenko deal with Saka and Leandro Trossard. Provided a decent outlet on the break, but couldn’t find Maupay properly with a key early cutback. Actually tested Aaron Ramsdale with a hard low shot on the hour but didn’t truly threaten.

Alex Iwobi – 5

Far from his best game, and probably outplayed by McNeil on the other flank. Provided strong cover against Martinelli going back to his own goal but couldn’t keep possession enough in attack or get anything going in the opposing half.

Neal Maupay (off for Gray ’61) – 4

Another miserable outing for the Frenchman who is increasingly coming to represent the attacking deficiencies of this side. Had a couple of early efforts as he looked to show he can be the answer but never really went close. A weak back-heeled flick didn’t do him many favours at the end of a dangerous break in the opening exchanges, although McNeil’s ball was behind him.

SUBSTITUTES

Mason Holgate (on for Gueye ’45) – 5

Unable to have any notable impact on the game as Arsenal passed the ball around him.

Demarai Gray (on for Maupay ’61) – 6

Ben Godfrey (on for Coleman ’61) – 4

Pretty horrible substitute appearance, albeit having been introduced to a very difficult situation. Possibly lucky to get away with just a booking for a challenge on Trossard. Got absolutely nowhere near the Belgian as he assisted Odegaard’s third.

Tom Davies (on for Doucouré ’79) – N/A

Somehow managed not to score from inside the six-yard box at the death.