[Match Thread] Everton F.C. vs. Arsenal F.C.

Minute 4 and we're still 0-0. First hurdle cleared.

NEVER IN DOUBT (heart rate still recovering)

You smart watch congratulating you on a good workout. Haha

The reason why Raya might be playing instead of Ramsdale right there. Apparently he's better at stopping crosses.

Rice was worth every penny

Martinelli nooooo

God I hate playing Dyche away.

Why not bring in a natural winger for Nelli? Why Trossard instead of Reiss?

Trossard has played in the LCM position in pre season and I think Arteta wants the LCM and LW to be interchangeable, so when one tucks in, the other goes out, and should the CM push forward the winger covers as a CM.

Always hate when they show people leaving early; if you want people to not do that then fix how the fucking train schedules line up with games

But they're Home fans, not like they'll have to go back to the South coast or anything
- Eh, you can be a home fan and not live immediately around there. They weren't even that early anyway.

This is fitting into Dyche's plans

In a way. They have done well limiting chances but they are letting us settle into possession a little too often and their counter looks rather toothless.
- Yeah this might be one where we snatch a late winner. Although this season's theme has been that we just get maximally punished for the tiniest of mistakes, so I would not be surprised at all if Everton stole one well against the run of play, especially with how lenient the referee is being.

Raya about to go body surfing to get a clean sheet

Zina has done very well defensively

Used all of VAR magic against United.

Who's that wanker wearing a Barca kit to this game

Like who are you even supporting, it's red and blue

A US fan probably
- Still, at least wear just one of the colours XD or just buy one at the club shop
Reminds me of Yankees fans wearing kits to the Boston games when they were playing other teams. They're just doing it for attention.

White ALMOST showing Saka how it's done lol.

Tbf Saka's run was better XD

Vieira is such a player man

TDK in the mud lol
- Viera hasn't looked impressive until recently to be fair. Yes there were moments of brilliance, but given what we want to achieve those moments need to happen for 90 min, every game.
  I'm assuming it's a confidence thing in that Viera has finally settled into the team and his role within in and is now proving he is a great player. I think Havertz will have the same issue and will need awhile to settle and grow his confidence to a point where he becomes the great player I know he is.
- Give it a while and we'll be saying the same about Havertz

That's why Raya is playing

Oh my lord Trossard you silver haired assasin.

Trossard isn't doing well today

Hasn't done great this season so far in general, wonder if something's up with him.
- He impressed in pre season as I recall, hopefully that wasn't just a flash in the pan?

That was disappointing from DCL.

Lucky for us though

Nice of Everton to give us another corner after Martinelli slipped.

Blight Mcneil goes off

That's a great nickname

I want to see Jesus. I think we need that extra chaos and driving things open

Jesus for Nketiah, Smith Rowe for Vieira
- I take my last message back. Trossard is god, and I never once believed otherwise
- I was hoping ESR would have come on for Martinelli. We need someone who is happy to turn and run at the defense
Ask and ye shall receive
- Can I have a Saka hat trick?

Martinelli injured ffs

Martinelli is hurt :(

Kai and Tomi coming on

Let's go and score another to crush this crowd

Martinelli 😢

At least we have great squad depth now.

Home fans leaving at 1-0 lol

The current state of being an Everton supporter.

"No Everton manager has lost this fixture since Ronald Koeman" that really puts into perspective how much this game is a bogey

Happy to see McNeil off tbh, always a worrying player

Feel like our 6s never communicated like that til Jorginho came, or am I crazy lol

Everton got sloppy there. Great finish.

At what point do we see Mykolenko get just one card

Ramsdale getting the Leno treatment after the international break.

Nah I'm not convinced, I think Arteta is genuinely rotating here. Just based on the stuff he's said and all that, it wouldn't make any sense for it to not be just rotation here.
Who'll get the Turner treatment dawg
- Don't think we could get a better goalkeeper unless we somehow pry Allison away from Liverpool.

Good defending from Everton there

ESR would be nice to see

Havertz and Tomi look like they're coming on

TROSSARDDDD

Bit late haha
- I'm following along from the metro, the tunnels are a bitch :P

Here we go. Everton corner

Maaaaan really needed that jesus wondergoal

Respect for the moment of silence. Too used to hecklers during them.

Dycheball. Throw your bodies at it

This isn't like the game last year. We are in control and baring some blunders this should be a comfortable win at the end of 90.

Agreed. We look extremely comfortable. Plus they don't have DCL on the pitch which helps.

Takehiro playing centrally

Dude is massive. Really gives us a strong presence in that part of the pitch
Just that Zinny role but more defensive I think.
- Or maybe a CB with Gabi shifting left

Love this team

Good play from Rice there

Fuuuuuuck Gabi

Ohhh Vieira.. woulda been a nice one to score but eh lol

That oughta be a card for Mykolenko

Saka looks like his normal self again

Martinelli vs Ashley Old should be fun

Love corners. Really love em

always rated set pieces

This is starting to feel like our usual bogey games

Not bad from Eddie

Just drive it to the corner flag tbh

Everton crowd like know they're getting relegated this year.

I hope they don't but it's long overdue at this point. At least they've been bought so they won't go under.
- At least Luton came up this season to occupy the 20th slot on the table.

0 corners for Everton so far.

Good chance there, Everton are so deeply parked though

Trossard is finally turning up

Probably got a hairdryer at half time
- Now I have a visual of Arteta with a hair dryer for a mouth, which is hilarious.

Saka you filthy man what a meg haha

Declan Rice mwah

Wait, why is the NLD 1pm in UK but 9am in NY?

Ode has had some wonderful flicks and beautiful passes.

What's that Barca shirt doing in the Everton crowd? Haha

Ooof Rice. Not the place or time for a giveaway like that. Still worth every penny and he has been solid all game.

Every player makes mistakes but yeah that was concerning

What a run from White lol

When the hell is Mykolenko getting carded

Needs one just for accumulation at this point.

Ok that shouldn't be a yellow

If that's a yellow then Mykolenko should also be on one at least

Tomi for Zinny, Havertz for Vieira.

4 minutes. Hahahha. Fuck off Dyche

They're still discussing the offside call on Sky... it's off lol let it rest

Unless you think Beto played the ball imo

So it is a 442 from them then. Good to have confirmation.

Their 27 does drop a good bit deeper Tbf but yeah
- Watching a bit more it does seem like they are more of a 4-1-4-1

Some beautiful little moves so far.

That passing sequence early on between Saka Ødegaard etc was lovely.

MARTINELLI

I feel like that should be off tbh for Nketiah
- Yeah thought so
- The angle is kinda shit but I trust their tools

Didn't it come off an Everton player last?

Didn't intend to play to ball would mean it doesn't count. Deflections don't make it not offside.

That was a scramble and a half.

that looks even worse

Not even a free kick wtf

What was that throw in lol

That doesn't look good

FIRST TIME PLEASE, EDDIE

Eddie has not looked as great today as he was before the break

Besides Mykolenko who should be on a card, ref's been pretty good tbh.

Yeah that's a clear yellow

Good clearance from Rice there

Awwww if there was someone on that cross

Since Trossard came on, I've seen Fabio closer to the touchline and him doing an underlap.

Looking good already

Just as the commentator just finished saying Everton "are in it"

For some reason reminds me of that game where Xhaka went off sick to be replaced by Vieira against wolves, can't remember how we did there though

Am I crazy or does Trossard look like Lina Hurtig from afar

Can we get off the touch line please XD

That's definitely handball lol

Not a pen but still handball lol

Zinny wants his goal

Should have been called earlier tbh

Jover looks angry lol

Wait why's DCL got a mask

I know we haven't seen much from Raya but he really looks kinda small lol, Everton suck though and he does look like he can jump well

Needed a little trick set piece against Everton. Thank you Jovier

Trying not to scream cuz my voice is still shot lol

To the Arsenal One-Nil

Only his second goal for us somehow btw iirc

Vieira shoulda first timed that

Why not bring on Reiss ffs

For whom? Trossard came on as a sub and Saka's doing good

4 feels about right tbh, maybe 5 or 6 though

Need to see Dyche's brand of hoofball in the CL

Feel like Havertz shoulda kept that in tbh

I get it though
- Oh we got a free kick well that's fine then