EPL 2017/18: Everton 2-5 Arsenal: Player Ratings
In Sunday’s early kick-off, an under-pressure Everton team welcomed a wounded Arsenal side to Goodison Park. What followed was a match consisting of great entertainment for the neutrals.
In the end, Arsenal ran out 5-2 winners as goals from Alexis Sánchez, Mesut Özil, Aaron Ramsey, Nacho Monreal and Alexandre Lacazette gave the Gunners all three points. However, the defeat means Everton slip into the bottom three for the first time this season, ensuring Ronad Koeman’s job security hits an all-time low.
Here’s how the players on either side rated:
Everton:
Jordan Pickford: 7/10
The cliché that every keeper playing against Arsenal turns into Manuel Neuer is tiresome but for Jordan Pickford today, it was true. The 23-year-old was Everton’s best player as he saved the Toffees from an even more embarrassing scoreline. Pickford made 8 saves and had to clear his goal 3 times. With a different keeper in goal, Arsenal could have easily scored seven at Goodison Park.
Michael Keane: 5/10
The former Burnley man looked out of depth against the Gunners. It’s clear that Everton don’t possess the same defensive organisation as the Clarets and Michael Keane has suffered because of it. He looked out of place, uncomfortable and was rash in his decision-making.
Phil Jagielka: 5/10
In the middle of the defence, Phil Jagielka felt the full force of Arsenal’s attacking prowess. The final third runs of Aaron Ramsey kept taking him unaware and led to the Englishman being overrun all game.
Ashley Williams: 5/10
Much like his fellow defenders, Ashley Williams was absolutely ripped apart by the Arsenal attack. The Gunners simply toyed with him at times and his tendency to fly into tackles worked against him, as the likes of Sánchez & Özil just played tiki-taka around his outstretched legs.
Idrissa Gueye: 6.5/10
If Idrissa Gueye hadn’t had got himself sent off, it could have been a stellar afternoon for him. The Senegalese midfielder was relentless in his off the ball pressing of Arsenal and constantly entered himself into duels.
In his time on the pitch, Gueye won 67% of his tackles, made 1 interception and made 3 clearances. He was Everton’s only hope of salvaging anything from the game defensively.
Jonjoe Kenny: 4/10
The 20-year-old failed to make an impact on the game, as he was constantly dragged back by Alexis Sánchez, rendering him useless in attack.
Nikola Vlaši?: 6/10
In his 5th league game for the club, Vlaši? showed signs of becoming a pivotal player for the Toffees. The Croatian continuously tried to make things happen by driving forward with the ball but his efforts were in vain as nobody else was on his wavelength.
Gylfi Sigurdsson: 5/10
The former Swansea playmaker was invisible for Everton today. Usually known for his vision and brilliant set pieces, Sigurdsson looked a shell of himself as he failed to create any chances throughout the 90 minutes.
Leighton Baines: 5/10
Not only did the wing-back have to track Mesut Özil, he had to deal with the constant overlaps of Héctor Bellerín. Because of that, Baines couldn’t go forward as much has he wanted, but in defence, he wasn’t much help either.
Wayne Rooney: 6/10
Some things never change, 15 years after scoring his debut PL goal against Arsenal, he scores his 203rd Premier League goal against them. The 25-yard strike was Rooney’s 15th PL goal he’s scored against Arsenal over the years, he hasn’t scored more goals against anyone else. However, despite that wonderful strike, the Evertonian didn’t do much at all to hurt Arsenal.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin: 5.5/10
The youngster made a few promising runs in behind the Arsenal defence, but they weren’t enough to trouble the Gunners.
Substitutes:
Tom Davies: 5/10
The robust midfielder came on at half time as Ronald Koeman tried a switch in formation. However, Davies couldn’t do much to stop Arsenal from creating as they pleased.
Ademola Lookman: 6/10
The Nigerian youngster was lively in his few minutes on the pitch, but he came on too late to really affect the game.
Oumar Niasse: 6/10
Niasse was able to capitalise on a defensive mix-up between Petr Cech and Nacho Monreal to score his 3rd goal in 4 league appearances. His tap-in made the scoreline more respectable but his little cameo wasn’t that effective.