By Daniel Lewis

18th Sep, 2023 | 4:10pm

Sky Sports pundit Stephen Warnock 'surprised' by subdued Everton fans at Goodison Park v Arsenal

Stephen Warnock admits he was “surprised” that Everton supporters were so subdued during their side’s defeat to Arsenal at Goodison Park.

The Toffees’ winless start to the Premier League season continued on Sunday [17 September] as they fell to a 1-0 reverse on home soil.

It was another abject performance from Sean Dyche’s side, who had just one attempt on target all afternoon.

Reflecting on another disappointing day for Everton on Sky Sports News‘ The Football Show [18 September, 10:28], presenter Rob Wotton said: “It’s a conundrum, isn’t it? The crowd getting behind you and roaring you on gives you something extra, but the crowd need to see something to get up for it.”

In reply, Warnock said: “I’ve been to Goodison on many occasions where when the players walk out the tunnel there’s this huge roar and you get the sense of ‘here we go’. But even yesterday, whether it’s the new ownership, the form the team are in, you didn’t feel that at all.

“As soon as the game started it was very quiet and I was surprised. I understand Everton’s game plan, but even when challenges went in, I thought the crowd would pick up. It did for 30 seconds or a minute but then died down again.

“You’re right, Rob, you’ve got to give them something to cheer about. There was zero quality in the game, such a poor performance from Everton.

“There’s a real sense at Everton that they’ve lost the club with the ownership. What’s going on there, you get the feeling that there’s big trouble ahead for Everton that they need to sort out quickly.”

Fed up

It really is a perfect storm at Goodison Park at the moment, with concerns both on and off the field.

Sticking to matters on it, Everton have now picked up just one point from the first 15 on offer.

A home game against Arsenal has often been used as a catalyst to kick-start the season, not least last season when winning 1-0 in Dyche’s first game in charge.

Not this time.

In truth, the slightly underwhelming atmosphere at Goodison was down to Everton’s players failing to offer any sort of real threat against Arsenal.

These games will not define the Toffees’ campaign, but the visit of Luton Town later this month certainly will.

Everton fans will be up for that early season relegation six-pointer, and hopefully those on the field will be too.

In other Everton news, Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s importance was further highlighted with a “painful statistic” against Arsenal.