Sean Dyche gifted perfect Everton blueprint to frustrate Arsenal
Sean Dyche will have been paying close attention to Arsenal in the Champions League ahead of the clash against Everton.
The Blues travel to Emirates Stadium on Saturday [14 December] with the pressure easing regarding Dyche’s future at Goodison Park.
While Everton will be expected by many to return to Merseyside empty-handed, Dyche has been gifted the blueprint to nullify Arsenal’s primary gameplan – and it’s all thanks to Monaco.
Monaco had the perfect answer to the Gunners’ set-piece threat in the Champions League on Wednesday (11 December) by leaving three attacking players on the halfway line at corners, forcing Mikel Arteta to move players out of the penalty area to cover possible counter-attacks.
Arsenal scored their 23rd set-piece goal since the beginning of last season in the 1-1 draw against Fulham on Sunday [8 December], but Dyche could follow Monaco’s example this weekend.
Everton can flip the script on Arsenal
The Blues cannot afford to go toe-to-toe with Arsenal at the Emirates.
Dyche does not have the personnel to match Arteta’s men on the pitch, but an alternative route could sway the odds in the visitor’s favour on Saturday.
Everton are also experts from dead-ball situations – the 18-goal tally scored from set-pieces last term was the second highest in the Premier League.
All four goals scored in the win against Wolves came from set-pieces, and the penny finally dropped at Goodison Park as Dwight McNeil’s “perfect” deliveries gave the Blues the killer edge they have lacked all season.
And now the Blues have found the secret formula to thwart Arsenal’s effectiveness from set-pieces, Arteta’s men could be the ones picking the ball out of the back of the net at the Emirates.
Dyche will undoubtedly be eternally grateful to Monaco should Everton execute the perfect game plan on Saturday.
Having a plan is one thing, though. Actually executing it is another.
In other Everton news, Armando Broja could become the Blues saviour for Sean Dyche.
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