Sean Dyche urges Everton to start bringing ‘home mentality’ to away games after heavy Arsenal defeat
Sean Dyche has urged his Everton side to start bringing their “home mentality” to away games, following their heavy 4-0 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night [1 March].
Two goals either side of half-time in the capital succumbed the Toffees to their third defeat under their new manager and their second in succession after a 4-2 loss to Aston Villa at the end of February.
Gabriel Martinelli scored twice while Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard were also on target as Arsenal ran riot but the result leaves the Blues still languishing inside the drop zone.
The Toffees have won just one game away from home all season and the former Burnley manager believes his side need to change their mentality when playing away from Goodison Park.
Speaking after the loss to Arsenal [via Liverpool ECHO, 1 March], he said: “You have to bring the home mentality to away games. It’s been there a while [away difficulties], it’s not a new thing.
“Someone has to start the process. The fans have been great, they came here again in numbers.
“There’s been too many soft moments in terms of goals conceded. We as staff have to try and give them the edge to perform better away.”
Dreadful
Indeed, the Toffees’ record away from home this season is absolutely dreadful with just one win on the road all campaign, but their home still leaves a lot to be desired also.
Their one huge problem is scoring goals. Goals win games and more importantly, they get you out of trouble. Everton simply cannot do that, currently possessing the worst goalscoring record in the division with just 17 in 25 league games.
In addition to that, the Toffees seem to struggle in their defending too as shown against Arsenal on Wednesday night, and that is a recipe for disaster. Relegation is on the horizon for the club if they don’t dramatically improve their form.
You feel Dyche has been brought into an impossible situation at Goodison Park considering the lack of quality at his disposal, and if the Burnley boss manages to keep them up at this rate, he certainly deserves the keys to the city or a statue of some sort.