Arsenal solve Everton through Trossard’s moment of magic

Everton boss Sean Dyche is expressing surprise and frustration at his Toffees’ trouble collecting points this young season.

From the BBC:

“I was expecting us to get more points really from the feel from the group in the pre-season. The performance levels have been there but the details kill you in football.

“I said clearly after last season there was a massive amount of work to do. There still is, it can’t be all changed in one window.”

Mikel Arteta was very happy with the Gunners’ performance in the win, and continued to downplay his choice of goalkeeper David Raya over Aaron Ramsdale at Goodison Park as run of the mill.

From the BBC:

“We played a great game. We didn’t give anything away. We dominated the game and created numerous chances. The score should probably have been bigger. ... I really enjoyed this. Against Manchester United, I saw my face after and it was a bit of relief. This was enjoyment.

On picking Raya: “It is like playing Fabio Vieira, it is nothing different. I have 11 players to pick and no-one is different.”

One of the reasons the Gunners rarely felt threatened over 90 minutes is that their back four was so good with the ball.

Oleksandr Zinchenko had 96 touches over 80 minutes and William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Ben White all totaled over 100. Throw in Takehiro Tomiyasu’s eight in Zinchenko’s stead and that’s four centurions in this match alone.

Everton vs Arsenal player ratings (fotmob.com)

On the plus side, we don’t have that watch the game anymore?

One powerful strike was the easy highlight of a 90-minute slog at Goodison Park, as Leandro Trossard’s stifled Sean Dyche’s plan for a plodding point.

Arsenal out-attempted Everton 13-8 and held 74% of the ball. They only posted a little over one xG, but Trossard’s magic is one of the most moments that rise above the norm and numbers.

13 points for the Gunners, and off to the Champions League.

Despite David Raya’s best efforts, the game is only going to have four minutes stoppage time.

That would’ve been normal last year, but we’ve seen 8-10 on a regular basis this year and the Gunners have clearly slow-played this since taking the lead.

(And Everton often slow-played while level!).

Technical brilliance from the Gunners.

It’s a corner kick routine that finds Martin Odegaard, who touches to a driving Bukayo Saka.

The England forward cuts the ball back toward Leandro Trossard. The Belgian opens up his hips and snaps a vicious left-footed effort — how did he get so much pace on that?! — inside the far post.

1-0, Arsenal.

Arsenal wins a corner and it comes to nothing.

There’s been a whole lot of nothing, and the corner gave us reason to combine Jordan Pickford’s collection of said set piece with Arnaut Danjuma’s looping miss at the other end to let you know we’re still here.

Surely we can get a goal to avoid two nil-nil Sunday morning ties, yeah?!

Everton had a few first half chances despite Arsenal’s hold of the ball and it seems content to play the same way in the second frame.

In fact, the Toffees are even possession a bit in these early movements after halftime.

The pressing’s a bit harder and a bit higher, but Leandro Trossard dribbles a solid 50 yards as if trying to find the right piece for his jagged Tetris shape, and Arsenal’s in the Everton end long enough to threaten a furious Jordan Pickford.

Sean Dyche will be happy enough with the snoozy nature of this game.

Everton has been very physical and Arsenal’s not dealing with it other than to request fouls.

The Gunners have 78% possession but only have 0.20 xG and are being out-attempted 4-3.

Dyche won’t care too much about that. In fact he might like it. Will he pull the Dominic Calvert-Lewin card at some point? Beto’s been a force up top.

Arsenal, meanwhile, were forced into one sub but how long can Mikel Arteta look at his bench and not think about Gabriel Jesus, or perhaps Kai Havertz?

Everton attacks the other way and Abdoulaye Doucoure tries to win a penalty in the box to no avail.

The Toffees keep possession but there’s a tame shot that Raya stoops to collect inside his six.

The penalty shouts, rightly, go unheeded by VAR.

0-0, 31'

Martinelli’s had his goal taken off the board and now his day is cut short.

The Brazilian was injured at some point scoring the goal, tried to play on, and it’s just not working for him.

Martinelli limps off for Leandro Trossard. That’s pretty good depth.

This was a really good goal. And it won’t count.

A turnover in midfield finds Fabio Vieira, who is starting over Kai Havertz.

The 23-year-old Portuguese hits an inch-perfect ball to Gabriel Martinelli, who took off perfectly and opened up his hips to slot past Jordan Pickford.

But Eddie Nketiah had come back from an offside position as part of the turnover and was spotted by VAR. Tough one for Arsenal to stomach.

The Gunners have 76 percent possession and goalkeeper David Raya has had to touch the ball seven times, and six were passes.

Jordan Pickford’s had double that so far, and Arsenal is applying thick pressure. Now it needs to thin slice with a cutting edge.

Going on last season alone, David Raya was a busier goalkeeper than Aaron Ramsdale and it’s difficult to argue he wasn’t objectively better.

Raya posted significantly better passing numbers and clearly superior numbers of saves above expected. He was also ahead in crosses collected/90 and defensive actions outside the 18.

Raya’s had time to bed into the team and Arsenal have two games this week. There’s a reason the Spaniard wanted to move from Brighton and surely it wasn’t under assurances he wouldn’t play.

(Stats compared by fotmob)

Sean Dyche has two forward-minded ideas here, with Dwight McNeil and Vitaliy Mykolenko coming in for James Garner and Nathan Patterson. It gives the Toffees a bit more experience in the XI, too.

The big news is David Raya in goal over Aaron Ramsdale as Arsenal preps for Champions League play later this week.

Eddie Nketiah keeps his spot up top, holding off Gabriel Jesus, while Fabio Vieira has claimed a starting place from Kai Havertz.

Arsenal injuries

OUT: Jurrien Timber (torn ACL - out for season), Thomas Partey (groin), Mohamed Elneny (knee)

Everton injuries

OUT: Seamus Coleman (knee), Dele Alli (groin), Jack Harrison (groin) | QUESTIONABLE: Andre Gomes (calf), Lewis Dobbin (knock)