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Arsenal vs Everton: Dissected in three tweets

Oliver Giroud was wasteful in front of the Everton goal. With Phil Jagielka sitting on his right shoulder and Sylvain Distin on his left, goal-scoring chances were always at a premium for Giroud. But he squandered the few best chances he had in the game.

Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud reacts after missing a chance during the match against Everton at The Emirates Stadium in London, on April 16, 2013. (Getty Images)

The Frenchman should have buried Aaron Ramsey’s cross from the right, but he couldn’t direct the ball into the goal. A sitter of a goal that would have given Arsenal the lead at half-time.

In the second half, a similar chance was created by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the right, but Seamus Coleman poked the ball away from Giroud.

Giroud created his third chance by moving away from Jagielka and blazing the ball over the bar.

In his 32 league appearances this season, Giroud scored 11 goals. Out of which, only three are against a top half opposition, the rest are against the bottom half of the league. He has started 23 matches and has been used as a substitute, nine times.

With Arsenal playing the 4-2-3-1 formation, Arsene Wenger has no choice but to field Giroud consistently, as the lone striker. Theo Walcott used his contract as leverage to start as a centre-forward but, since signing his extension, he is back playing on the right. Walcott scored four goals in his six starts as a centre-forward, and yet Wenger uses him as a prop instead of giving him the lead role.

The race for Champions League places has reached the final lap. Does Wenger have an ace up his sleeve? Or will he pull out a spade when the situation demands an ace?

Mikel Arteta and Ross Barkley compete for the ball during the match between Arsenal and Everton at Emirates Stadium on April 16, 2013 in London, England. (Getty Images)

For the first time in this season, David Moyes used the 4-5-1 formation. Abandoning his preferred 4-4-1-1 formation, Moyes moved Marouane Fellaini from the hole to center midfield, alongside Darron Gibson, and used Everton’s academy product Ross Barkley to support Victor Anichebe.

While, Fellaini was breaking up attacks in midfield, Barkley shouldered the attacking responsibilities. Barkley slipped past Mikel Arteta more than once and came inches close to scoring his first senior goal for Everton. Picture this: Barkley receives a pass, flicks the ball with his right foot, turns and runs past Arteta to setup Anichebe to score. If Anichebe had converted the chance it would have been the best move of the game. Expect to see a lot of him in midfield for Everton next season.

David Moyes has been in charge of Everton for 11 years. His contract runs out at the end of this season. Word has it that he will not commit himself unless he is given assurances by the Chairman Bill Kenwright, regarding the money made available for transfers next season.

David Moyes of Everton points during the match against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on April 16, 2013 in London, England. (Getty Images)

The club has been punching above its weight for quiet sometime now, and it would be shame if Moyes walks out due to lack of transfer funds. Nonetheless, his away record against the top four clubs is very poor. He is yet to win a single game away from home against Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United. Even a struggling Liverpool were able to hold off David Moyes in the last couple of seasons. Moyes hasn’t registered a single win in 11 derbies played at Anfield, since he took over Everton in 2002.

However, he can change that stat if he could win at Stamford Bridge and Liverpool in the upcoming fixtures. After the draw against Arsenal, Moyes said that Everton needs to win all of its remaining fixtures if they want to qualify for Champions League next season. If could manage pull it off, there would no better way to sign off from the Merseyside club.

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