By Dan Carter

18th Sep, 2023 | 9:40am

Gary Neville slams 'dreary' Everton as the Toffees have 'big problems' after Arsenal defeat

Gary Neville has slammed Everton for playing “dreary” football and insists they have “big problems” after their 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday 17 September.

The Toffees were resolute in defence in the hope of keeping Mikel Arteta’s side out at Goodison Park, but Leandro Trossard’s second-half goal ensured that the wait for a first Premier League win of the season continues for Sean Dyche’s side.

Despite being the home side, Everton only had 26 per cent of possession and completed 158 passes compared to the Gunners’ 595 leaving many including Neville to question how Everton will be able to improve to avoid being relegated to the Premier League.

Speaking on The Gary Neville Podcast (17 September) he said: “It seems to be a little bit dreary, not it is dreary. Let’s be clear the football’s a bit dreary. They’re living off scraps. What are they hanging onto? What are they coming into the game looking forward to the Everton fans?

“They’ll have easier games moving forward and we’ll find out as you say whether they’ll stay up but they’re hanging on by the skin of their teeth in every sense. You’re looking for signs about whether they can actually impress and improve.

“They’ve had a really poor start. They’ve got to keep their players fit, if they don’t keep them fit they’re going to have big problems.”

Dreary

There will be very few arguing over whether or not the football played by the Toffees’ in Sunday’s defeat wasn’t dreary, there was very little to suggest that Everton were ever going to score a goal in the match let alone come away with three points.

For the fans, it must be becoming incredibly boring let alone disappointing to see their side fail to threaten at home week in and week out without any real sign of progress that would suggest they’re getting closer to finding the winning formula.

Neville is correct that the Toffees will have much easier games than matches against the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City, realistically those are not the sort of games that will determine whether or not Dyche keeps his side in the Premier League.

But having already dropped points against Fulham, Wolves and Sheffield United the opportunities for Everton to turn this poor form around are running out. Something needs to change sooner rather than later to stop this “dreary” football, or their fate will be decided long before March.

In other Everton news, Sean Dyche has admitted that his first season at Goodison was the hardest in his footballing career