EPL 2016/17: Everton 2-1 Arsenal - 5 Talking Points
Everton came back from a goal down to hand the Gunners their first defeat in the league since fellow Merseyside club Liverpool beat them back on the opening matchday.
Arsenal went a goal up away at Goodison Park through a deflected Alexis Sanchez free kick before a Seamus Coleman header levelled proceedings. Ashley Williams scored in the 86th minute through another brilliant header as Everton won their first game after five matches and took all the three points.
The game was a tightly contested one with the hosts looking like the better outfit for the most part. A red card to Phil Jagielka and an early injury concern for Idrissa Gueye aside, Koeman’s men will be happy with their performance.
Here are the main talking points from this enthralling match –
#1 Star duo Ozil and Sanchez were no shows
In what was a lacklustre performance all round for the Gunners, the in-form Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil failed to do conjure up anything concrete in the match as their absence was felt in a poor attacking display by Wenger’s men.
Although Sanchez will take credit for the goal, it came through a heavy deflection and apart from that the Chilean looked out of sorts throughout the game. Fellow partner in crime Ozil was not his usual self, and the German did not have any impact on the ball, often failing to find teammates in space. Overall, the playmaker just had an extremely poor game.
Wenger will be hoping that his two main men just had an off day and are back to their usual selves for the weekend game as they face fellow title rivals Manchester City next.