Report : Ramsey shines on Aubameyang debut as Arsenal destroy Everton.
Arsenal turned on the class at the Emirates, battering Everton 5-1 in a devastating performance with Pierre Emerick Aubameyang scoring on his debut.
Arsenal hammered Everton 5-1 in a scintillating display at the Emirates as Aaron Ramsey scored his first hattrick for Arsenal. They were 4-0 up in the first half as Everton were simply blown away by Arsenal's swift attacking play. Arsene Wenger handed a debut to club-record signing Pierre Emerick Aubameyang with Henrikh Mkhitaryan making his home debut. Alexandre Lacazette was named on the bench. Theo Walcott started for the visitors on his return to the Emirates after signing for Everton.
Arsenal started the first half brightly and took the lead in just 6 minutes as Ramsey tucked in Mkhitaryan's low cross. Arsenal did all the early running as Everton were pinned back in their own half and soon conceded the second one at the 12-minute mark of a corner. Mesut Ozil found Shkodran Mustafi at the near post flicking on for Laurent Koscielny who got the better of Mangala and nodded in at the back post.
Everton were shellshocked and could not wrest control as Arsenal soon added a third at the 19th minute, Ramsey's shot deflecting off Mangala and beyond a helpless Pickford. On the other end, Mustafi superbly blocked Theo Walcott's shot as Everton had their first real chance of the match. But Aubameyang capped off a brilliant first half with a cool dinked finish after being put through on goal by Mkhitaryan. Although he was offside, no one at the Emirates was complaining.
Both sides made changes at the start of the second half as Kolasinac replaced Monreal for Arsenal and Tom Davies replaced Michael Keane. Arsenal eased off a bit in the second half as Everton began to create some chances, one such chance resulting in a goal 64 minutes into the match. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on for Theo Walcott (who got a warm reception from the Arsenal faithful) headed home beyond Petr Cech for a consolation.
But Arsenal weren't done yet as Mkhitaryan did well to capitalise on a mistake by Calver-Lewin and found Ramsey unmarked in the box and fired past Pickford for his first career hattrick before being replaced by Jack Wilshere. Henrikh Mkhitaryan finished the game with 3 assists to his name.
Arsene Wenger would be very pleased by what he saw today and if his new signings perform the way they did today. It augurs well for them in their bid to qualify for the Champions League.