Instant Reaction
The long drive to London was made twice as long going home after giving it all for 89 minutes before Arsenal got the breakthrough. We were in the match at all times and although we had to defend deeply at times, the team worked their socks off and should be proud of the work from the start to the end. It was one point lost in the end although the prospects of getting anything out of this before kickoff were slim to none. We are a good team who has a manager who is making us better, let’s continue
this growth next week at home. Bring on Chelsea!
Ultimately, eighty-nine minutes of resolute defending was undone by a huge error from Jordan Pickford. In his 350th match for the club, he made some great saves today and looked set to celebrate another clean sheet when he committed himself to cut out a cross from the 16 year old Arsenal winger Max Dowman. He was inches away but the miscalculation undid all of the great work that had been done by the team. He did make a great save in extra time but that could not get the point back. Pickford has saved us many times in his 350 matches, we have to give him some grace this one. He has earned it.
There was no explanation from Moyes regarding Tarkowski’s absence in the pre-match presser. In the broadcast, there was some speculation that there may have been some personal issue between Tarks and Moyes in Portugal, although that had no basis in fact mentioned. What I can say is that without Tarkowski and Branthwaite in the middle, the Everton duo of Keane and O’Brien were excellent. Moyes has to see that Tarkowski is less mobile and both Keane and O’Brien, along with Branthwaite when he is fit, has to be in the mix ahead of Tarks.
Today, the xG for the match had Everton at 1.02 and Arsenal were at 0.59 before the first of the two late goals. Before the deadlock was broken at the death, the bigger chances fell to the players in the royal blue. Dwight McNeil rattled the post in the early moments of the match. Beto had probably the best chance when he poked the ball from 5 yards out to the corner of the goal, only for Raya to get a toe on it. The header from Keane also just slid by the post. This match was not unlike the win at Old Trafford but that final touch was not there.
It could be argued that the game swung in Arsenal’s favour when sixteen year old Max Dowman entered the match with half an hour to go after he took over from Saka on the right wing. David Moyes should take note and be willing to give some of our youngsters the chance to get on the pitch and grow like Moyes did with Rooney. Talent needs to be nurtured but it also needs to be given a chance. We know our attack needs someone to add a spark. Beto and Barry work hard and have scored some goals but they don’t have a spark. A certain Braiden Graham might be that spark now that safety is assured and we look to next year!
