Everton 1-6 Arsenal

What better way to open the new Premiership season than with a meeting of two of English football’s grand old teams at one of the country’s great old stadiums. Though certain areas of Goodison Park are showing their age, it is a little cramped and a number of pillars obstruct the view, it will be a very sad day when the Toffees leave a home rich in atmosphere and steeped in history.

The not-so-traditional 5:30 PM kick-off, in order that the ESPN channel could broadcast one of their first Premiership games, ensured that a spell of heavy afternoon rain had subsided by the time the action started.

Centre-back Joleon Lescott received a mixed reception from the home fans over his ongoing Manchester City transfer saga, and the minute’s applause for the late Sir Bobby Robson was warm and genuine. Despite limited transfer activity by both clubs this summer hope and optimism still prevailed among both sets of supporters.

Many anticipated a tight affair with last season’s FA Cup finalists Everton using their well-organised, hard-working, functional approach to contain a vibrant young Arsenal side, playing their own imitation of Total Football, spearheaded by Robin Van Persie and Andriy Arshavin.

As it transpired Everton disappointed by beginning the game sluggishly and off-the-pace, as if they were still in pre-season. Arsenal were first to most loose balls and when Everton did receive possession they were quickly dispossessed. Arsene Wenger’s young guns showed a work ethic to match their quick fluid passing game.

The opening goal arrived on 25 minutes when Denilson curled a beautiful shot past Tim Howard from outside the area. Everton seemed unable to raise their game in response to the setback and the pattern for the rest of the match was set.

By half-time the Gunners had added two more goals, both headers from central defenders Thomas Vermaelen and William Gallas at woefully defended set-pieces.

Two minutes after the break Cesc Fabregas was given the freedom of Goodison to run at the heart of the Everton defence. Even as he burst into the penalty area the Everton back-line left him unchallenged to make it 4-0 with a cool finish.

As Arsenal sat back knowing they’d been gifted the three points the home side ventured forward but the nature of their attacks were feeble, limp and unthreatening. The disgruntlement of the home fans was summed up by their frustration at right-back Tony Hibbert’s inability to clear the first man with any of his crosses.

Hibbert was soon put out of his misery along with the ineffectual Jo and Osman as youngsters Gosling, Rodwell and senior striker Louis Saha entered the fray. It was too little too late, and shortly after Arsenal broke away resulting in another close-range goal for Fabregas as the Everton defence and midfield went AWOL again.

Still with 20 minutes to go, Goodison began to empty. Evertonians were angry, hurt and disbelieving at their team’s sorry performance, unable to take any more.

With a couple of minutes remaining more abysmal defending inside their own penalty area by Everton let Arsenal sub Eduardo fire home in after a scramble to make it 6-0.

Mercifully for Everton it did not get any worse. In stoppage-time Saha hit a sweetly-struck consolation for the home fans brave enough to stick it out to the bitter end.

Not only was the scoreline unusual for the opening game of the season but the nature of the home side’s performance was mystifying. Manager David Moyes runs a tight ship and though it’s clear the club has been rocked slightly by the Lescott saga (ironically one of their better performers in this match), it was still inexcusable.

The likes of Fellaini, Cahill , Jo, even the ever-dependable Phil Neville, simply failed to show. If they don’t get it together soon they could be battling in the wrong half of the table.

As for Arsenal, the future looks bright. The Gunners appeared capable of stepping up another couple of gears if required and were not only competent but very easy on the eye when in possession. They might not be title-winning contenders quite yet but they don’t look likely to struggle for a top 4 finish as some observers are predicting.


Man of the Match: Thomas Vermaelen. A very assured debut for the £10 million signing from Ajax. Though obviously not tested as much as he should have been, he showed enough to suggest Arsene Wenger was right to let Kolo Toure go. At 23-years-old, the Belgian centre-back has his best years ahead of him and his goal highlighted his threat at the other end of the pitch. For Everton, Steven Pienaar comes closest to meriting the award for effort alone.