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| Olivier Giroud rescues a point after Arsenal show backbone at Everton | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Roberto Martínez appeared on Goodison’s giant screen before this game kicked off, filmed undergoing an ice bucket challenge. For most of the game it appeared his players were carrying out an instruction to douse Arsène Wenger in cold water, yet for a second week in succession Everton let a lead slip and had to be content with a draw that must have left Martínez feeling numb all over again. | Roberto Martínez appeared on Goodison’s giant screen before this game kicked off, filmed undergoing an ice bucket challenge. For most of the game it appeared his players were carrying out an instruction to douse Arsène Wenger in cold water, yet for a second week in succession Everton let a lead slip and had to be content with a draw that must have left Martínez feeling numb all over again. |
| Merseyside has not been a happy hunting ground for the Arsenal manager of late. He was on the wrong end of an 8-1 aggregate scoreline after the visits to Anfield and Goodison last season, and though Arsenal eventually secured Champions League qualification ahead of Everton and even picked up a couple of trophies on a winning streak since their 3-0 defeat here last April, this was a return to their old failing of too easily being bullied or beaten up on northern grounds until late goals by Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud rescued a point in the most unpromising circumstances. | Merseyside has not been a happy hunting ground for the Arsenal manager of late. He was on the wrong end of an 8-1 aggregate scoreline after the visits to Anfield and Goodison last season, and though Arsenal eventually secured Champions League qualification ahead of Everton and even picked up a couple of trophies on a winning streak since their 3-0 defeat here last April, this was a return to their old failing of too easily being bullied or beaten up on northern grounds until late goals by Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud rescued a point in the most unpromising circumstances. |
| Everton were not unduly physical or intimidatory. Martínez encourages a more patient passing game and places more emphasis on ball retention than the up and at ’em approach favoured under David Moyes, but man for man Everton just happen to be bigger than Arsenal. Bigger in stature, and perhaps in appetite. As Arsenal can point to tiredness after a trip to Turkey and a goal that could have been disallowed for offside, this result must have felt like a victory after trailing for so long. The old script had a surprise new ending. Alexis Sánchez as lone striker is an experiment that may not be repeated, but otherwise Arsenal fans went home happy. Their side had shown character and perseverance when the game appeared to have gone. | Everton were not unduly physical or intimidatory. Martínez encourages a more patient passing game and places more emphasis on ball retention than the up and at ’em approach favoured under David Moyes, but man for man Everton just happen to be bigger than Arsenal. Bigger in stature, and perhaps in appetite. As Arsenal can point to tiredness after a trip to Turkey and a goal that could have been disallowed for offside, this result must have felt like a victory after trailing for so long. The old script had a surprise new ending. Alexis Sánchez as lone striker is an experiment that may not be repeated, but otherwise Arsenal fans went home happy. Their side had shown character and perseverance when the game appeared to have gone. |
| Both sides tinkered with their expected formations. Everton moved Romelu Lukaku out to the right for his first home game as a permanent signing; Wenger left Giroud on the bench and deployed Sánchez as a notional front man. The two newcomers came together in the 12th minute, when Sánchez showed some impressive footwork and a couple of stepovers by the left touchline, only to be muscled off the ball by Lukaku to set up an Everton attack. | Both sides tinkered with their expected formations. Everton moved Romelu Lukaku out to the right for his first home game as a permanent signing; Wenger left Giroud on the bench and deployed Sánchez as a notional front man. The two newcomers came together in the 12th minute, when Sánchez showed some impressive footwork and a couple of stepovers by the left touchline, only to be muscled off the ball by Lukaku to set up an Everton attack. |
| The visitors came up with the first attempt on goal worthy of the name, when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was only narrowly wide with a snap shot after a reckless clearance by Seamus Coleman had presented him with an unexpected shooting chance, albeit from distance. The Everton full-back made amends almost immediately, heading Everton into an early lead from Gareth Barry’s diagonal cross after Leighton Baines had found the midfielder in space following a free-kick played short. The cross was probably intended for Lukaku, who could not quite reach it, but Everton had a spare man in the unmarked Coleman who easily steered the ball into the top corner. | The visitors came up with the first attempt on goal worthy of the name, when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was only narrowly wide with a snap shot after a reckless clearance by Seamus Coleman had presented him with an unexpected shooting chance, albeit from distance. The Everton full-back made amends almost immediately, heading Everton into an early lead from Gareth Barry’s diagonal cross after Leighton Baines had found the midfielder in space following a free-kick played short. The cross was probably intended for Lukaku, who could not quite reach it, but Everton had a spare man in the unmarked Coleman who easily steered the ball into the top corner. |
| Suddenly the home side were all over their opponents, and Kevin Mirallas could easily have made it two on their next attack, ghosting behind the Arsenal defence to latch on to Steven Naismith’s astute ball forward but poking his shot the wrong side of a post with only Wojciech Szczesny to beat. | Suddenly the home side were all over their opponents, and Kevin Mirallas could easily have made it two on their next attack, ghosting behind the Arsenal defence to latch on to Steven Naismith’s astute ball forward but poking his shot the wrong side of a post with only Wojciech Szczesny to beat. |
| Arsenal responded in the only way they know, with Ramsey, Mesut Özil, Jack Wilshere and Oxlade-Chamberlain all involved in intricate passing patters on the edge of the area, though there was no end product to bother Tim Howard apart from another long shot from Oxlade-Chamberlain that drifted wide. With James McCarthy in particular getting back to help his defence and clear up threatening situations, Everton were taller and stronger in most challenges.Not for the first time, Arsenal appeared to shrink from the physical confrontation, although it is fair to point out that they had a demanding game in Europe in midweek while Everton were able to rest. | Arsenal responded in the only way they know, with Ramsey, Mesut Özil, Jack Wilshere and Oxlade-Chamberlain all involved in intricate passing patters on the edge of the area, though there was no end product to bother Tim Howard apart from another long shot from Oxlade-Chamberlain that drifted wide. With James McCarthy in particular getting back to help his defence and clear up threatening situations, Everton were taller and stronger in most challenges.Not for the first time, Arsenal appeared to shrink from the physical confrontation, although it is fair to point out that they had a demanding game in Europe in midweek while Everton were able to rest. |
| With Lukaku not making much impact on the right, Mirallas on the left was Everton’s most effective outlet in the first half, producing some penetrating runs and a cross that fell just behind his fellow Belgian on the stroke of the interval. Mirallas also went close with a shot from a free-kick that rippled Wojciech Szczesny’s side netting before Everton’s £28m acquisition from Chelsea finally showed his worth, and showed up some pretty unimpressive Arsenal defending, in the closing seconds of the half. | With Lukaku not making much impact on the right, Mirallas on the left was Everton’s most effective outlet in the first half, producing some penetrating runs and a cross that fell just behind his fellow Belgian on the stroke of the interval. Mirallas also went close with a shot from a free-kick that rippled Wojciech Szczesny’s side netting before Everton’s £28m acquisition from Chelsea finally showed his worth, and showed up some pretty unimpressive Arsenal defending, in the closing seconds of the half. |
| First Lukaku had the strength to keep his feet in accepting a pass in his own half, resisting a challenge from Per Mertesacker in which the Arsenal captain sold himself far too easily. Leaving the big German on his backside, Lukaku knocked the ball into empty space as Calum Chambers vainly attempted to cover on half-way, and with only Mathieu Flamini left to cover the Arsenal penalty area it was a simple matter for Everton’s record signing to play in Naismith for the Scot to beat Szczesny with a smartly-accepted shot on the turn. Arsenal protested with some justification that Naismith might have been fractionally offside when Lukaku released the ball, but it was a technicality missed by most people in the ground including the officials, and had the goal been chalked off it would almost have constituted an undeserved reprieve for a defence that had all too demonstrably been taken to the cleaners. | |
| The ineffective Sánchez was hooked at the interval in favour of Giroud, who almost scored with his first touch with a volley from Oxlade-Chamberlain’s cross. Unlike Sánchez the French striker is at least accustomed to playing up front on his own, and he was involved in Arsenal’s next two chances, first pulling a shot wide from the edge of the area then forcing a save from Howard after the ball briefly broke to him in front of goal. With Lukaku giving Mertesacker a torrid time, however, Everton should have increased their lead in the second half, with the Belgian himself most guilty of wasteful indecision. After spending an eternity on the edge of their own area as the game moved into its final 10 minutes, the home side had only themselves to blame when Ramsey pulled a goal back from Santi Cazorla’s probing cross. | The ineffective Sánchez was hooked at the interval in favour of Giroud, who almost scored with his first touch with a volley from Oxlade-Chamberlain’s cross. Unlike Sánchez the French striker is at least accustomed to playing up front on his own, and he was involved in Arsenal’s next two chances, first pulling a shot wide from the edge of the area then forcing a save from Howard after the ball briefly broke to him in front of goal. With Lukaku giving Mertesacker a torrid time, however, Everton should have increased their lead in the second half, with the Belgian himself most guilty of wasteful indecision. After spending an eternity on the edge of their own area as the game moved into its final 10 minutes, the home side had only themselves to blame when Ramsey pulled a goal back from Santi Cazorla’s probing cross. |
| That gave Arsenal fresh heart, and with Lukaku off the field and Everton no longer able to break out of their own half at will, there was a certain inevitability about Giroud turning up with a last-minute equaliser after Nacho Monreal had crossed from the left. While Everton had dominated the game, Giroud could easily have had a second-half hat-trick. Everton would really have been left kicking themselves had he found the target with his easiest chance, a free header from a corner five minutes from time. |