New Everton manager Sean Dyche enjoyed a dream start as a much-improved side deservedly edged out Premier League leaders Arsenal at a raucous Goodison Park.
Dyche was appointed as boss last Monday following the departure of Frank Lampard, who was sacked with Everton in the relegation zone.
But the hosts picked up their first victory in 11 games in all competitions courtesy of a link-up between two men who played for Dyche at Burnley.
Centre-half James Tarkowski rose at the far post to power home a header from Dwight McNeil’s corner to spark the sort of joyous scenes that have been witnessed rarely at Goodison this term.
Everton had enjoyed much the better chances in the opening period too, but striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin could not convert from the excellent Amadou Onana’s low cross and also flicked a header wide.
Arsenal were outfought for large periods and failed to find any rhythm, although January signing Leandro Trossard forcing Jordan Pickford into a sharp save late on.
The Gunners were unable to find the leveller and will see their lead at the top cut to two points if champions Manchester City beat Tottenham on Sunday.
Premier League leaders Arsenal are the first opponents for Sean Dyche today as the new Everton boss looks to pull the club out of relegation trouble.
Huge issues off the pitch have left the Toffees staring into the abyss and the ex-Burnley boss could hardly have asked for a tougher first week in the job.
Mikel Arteta has got his side ticking magnificently and a win at Goodison Park will put them eight points clear atop the table after back-to-back league wins over rivals Tottenham and Manchester United. However, they have not beaten Everton away from home since 2017.
Arsenal have Thomas Partey available to start after an injury issue meaning Jorginho is on the bench while waiting for his debut. Dyche has, as expected, refreshed his side’s ailing line-up. Follow Everton vs Arsenal live via Standard Sport’s match blog below, featuring expert analysis from Dan Kilpatrick on Merseyside!
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Kick-off!
1′ Arsenal get us underway.
2′ H2H
Everton are hoping to win three home matches on the spin v Arsenal for the first time in more than 45 years.
It hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for the Gunners recently. The North Londoners have picked up just two victories in their past 10 PL visits to Goodison Park.
However, an Arsenal win today would be a landmark one. They have beaten Everton in 99 league matches. No team has ever recorded 100 victories versus a single opponent in English league history.
3′ OUCH!
Mykolenko is all over Odegaard like a rash on the right touchline. The Gunners man plays the ball back but is caught late by the defender.
You feel that may have been a yellow card later in the match. It was a late one.
4′ DYCHE V THE GUNNERS
Sean Dyche has only been beaten in one of his past five meetings with Arsenal, winning one and drawing three. However, the ex-Burnley manager’s home record versus the Gunners is two draws and five losses.
5′ Everton sitting deep off the ball with a bank of five almost due to Zinchenko dragging McNeil back on the left flank.
Every challenge thrown in by a home player gets a big cheer as they look for some inspiration.
Images via Reuters
6′ A clash of heads between Saliba and Onana leaves the Everton man worse off. So, a break in play.
7′ ONANA DOWN INJURED – BUT SHOULD BE OKAY TO CONTINUE
The Everton midfielder clashes heads with a defender as he tries to attack a right-wing cross.
Arsenal break at speed and are slightly disappointed the referee halts play for the injury.
10′ EVERTON CHANCE!
Calvert-Lewin reacts to a deflected shot from just outside the area but Ramsdale moves swiftly to his left to parry it away.
11′ ARSENAL ATTEMPT
Partey lets rip with a first-time 20-yard strike that Pickford gathers at the second time of asking.
13′ 200 UP!
Pickford is making his 200th PL appearance for the Toffees today.
And it’s also a landmark outing for Xhaka too. He’s starting his 200th PL game for the Gunners.
17′ ARE WE ALREADY SEEING THE DYCHE EFFECT?
There’s evidently a greater intensity about Everton and, dare we say, a better organisation to the side overall.
It’s early days, but the home fans seem quite happy with what they have seen so far.
19′ SAKA DOWN INJURED FOR ARSENAL
There are some concerned faces on the Gunners bench as Saka goes down with a knock too his face.
There appears to be a bit of swelling by his eye but after some treatment, the England star returns to the action.
21′ CLOSE CALL!
Saliba does well to nod clear under pressure as Onana attacked a deep right-wing corner.
The Blues take another corner from the opposite side and Tarkowski sees his header deflect wide off an Arsenal leg.
The hosts look very dangerous from set pieces.
23′ EVERTON ATTEMPT
Calvert-Lewin meets another corner from the left at the near post but can’t guide it anywhere near the target.
The Toffees piled on plenty of pressure there with four corners in quick succession.
All of the deliveries were of real quality too.
25 ‘EVERTON, EVERTON, EVERTON…”
The home crowd respond to that positive spell from their side with some strong vocal support.
That’ll be music to Dyche’s ears.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
26′ EVERTON ATTEMPT
Calvert-Lewin unleashes a shot from a tough angle on the right side of the area but can’t find a way past Ramsdale.
Onana then tries to catch the Arsenal keeper off his line as Everton halt the counter, but he doesn’t get enough lift on the effort.
30′ ARSENAL CHANCE
Nketiah rifles wide of the near post after taking Saka’s pass in his stride, beating his man and taking aim from a tight angle on the right side of the area.
32′ STRONG GOALKEEPING
Ramsdale comes way off his line too pluck a high ball to the edge of the box out of the air after Everton had won a free kick on the right.
34′ EVERTON CHANCES
Onana bursts down the left and charges into the area. He rolls a delicious ball into the six-yard box but Calvert-Lewin can’t stretch enough to divert it home on the slide.
Everton come again down the left flank and Doucouré ghosts into acres of space in the box but contrives to miscue his free header wide from a pinpoint cross.
36′ ARSENAL’S DEFENCE CREAKING
The Gunners have kept nine Premier League clean sheets this term, with seven coming away from home – but they could easily have shipped a goal in this first period.
40′ ARSENAL CHANCE!
Saka meets a left-wing cross with a low volley but is disappointed to see Coady well-placed too clear it off the line.
43′ ARSENAL ATTEMPT
Xhaka improvises with a heeled flick at the near post but can’t direct it anywhere near the target from a left-wing free kick.
45′ STOPPAGE TIME
Three minutes added on after that earlier Saka injury.
45+3′ EVERTON CHANCE
Calvert-Lewin flicks a header wide of the far post from Coleman’s devilish cross.
Everton 0-0 Arsenal.
Lots of chances for both teams, Saka and Calvert-Lewin coming closest in an enthralling first half.
Everton get us back underway.
47′ GREAT SAVE!
Ramsdale adjusts well to a deflected shot from Gueye to parry the ball to safety.
The flag was up for offside against DCL in the build up, but he didn’t know that.
51′ AN IMPORTANT HALF FOR ARSENAL
As it stands, Arsenal will move six points clear of Man City.
A win would make it eight and given they still have to play the Citizens twice, Arteta will be keen to establish as big a lead as possible in the weeks ahead.
55′ ARSENAL ATTEMPTS
The visitors work a short corner and catch Everton out. Saka and Partey both have shots but Everton get bodies in the way.
57′
58’EVERTON ATTEMPT
A strong move down the right ends with a headed clearance dropping for Mykolenko. He looks to take on the 30-yard strike but then wishes he hadn’t as he skews it well wide of target.
59′ ARSENAL CHANCE
Nketiah dances past two on the left and lays the ball back for Odegaard, who blazes a first-time shoot over the bar. That was a big opportunity.
60′ ARSENAL CHANGE
Jorginho on for his debut.
60′ ARSENAL CHANGE
Trossard on.
GOAL! EVERTON 1-0 ARSENAL
Tarkowski heads home McNeil’s deep right-wing corner at the far post.
Action Images via Reuters
63′ A GOAL MADE IN BURNLEY
There’s no doubt Dyche has been working on set plays given his style with the Clarets – and it was a former Burnley man who crossed for a former Burnley man to head home.
64′ YELLOW CARD
Mykolenko cautioned for a foul on Saka.
66′ ARSENAL PENALTY APPEAL
Maupay appears to use his body to bring down Gabriel on the far edge of the box.
VAR checks, but there’s nothing in it
69′ YELLOW CARD!
Onana booked for a foul on White.
73′ EVERTON CONTINUES TO LOOK DANGEROUS
The home side haven’t let up since taking the lead. Maupay offers less of a threat to DCL, but they remain a real threat at set pieces.
75′ MORE MAYHEM FROM AN EVERTON SET PIECE
Arsenal have struggled to handle set pieces all afternoon and they have to throw bodies in the way as the ball pin balls dangerously in the area. This time an offside flag saves them.
77′ ARSENAL CHANGE
Vieira on.
78’ARSENAL CHANCE!
Trossard lets fly from the left side of the area but Pickford is there to beat it to safety.
80′ ARSENAL ATTEMPT
Saka lashes a strike way over the bar after Xhaka’s left-wing cross had been half-cleared into his path at the far post.
82′ ARSENAL EFFORT
Trossard opts for a curler from just inside the area but it’s a good five or six yards too high.
85′ ARSENAL CHANGE
Tomiyasu on.
86′ YELLOW CARD!
Pickford booked for time-wasting.
88′ AS IT STANDS
Arsenal will stay five points clear of Man City on 20 games played apiece.
City can cut it to two if they win at Spurs on Sunday.
Everton would move up to 17th spot from 19th if they can hold on.
90+1′ STOPPAGE TIME
Six minutes have been added.
90’ARSENAL ATTEMPT
Zinchenko shoots from distance, but it’s high, wide and not so handsome!
90+3′ ARSENAL CHANCE
Zinchenko lashes a first-time strike on the edge of the box just over after Arsenal worked a clever short corner from the right.
What a win for Sean Dyche!
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