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Post by staggerstag on Dec 19, 2020 17:19:46 GMT
Aubemeyang is out injured for the visitors and Tom Davies steps in for the hamstringed Brazillian Allen. Let's see if Tom can show us something today. A couple of seasons ago I would have sworn he'd be first on the England team sheet by now but lack of first team play since then has hindered him, that's for sure. It would be interesting to hear the view of OffTheBoatPsycho on this one because I really rated Davies back then and could see him going nowhere but to the top of his game. Everton (4-2-3-1) Pickford; Holgate, Mina, Keane, Godfrey; Doucoure, Davies; Iwobi, Sigurdsson, Richarlison; Calvert-Lewin. Substitutes: Olsen, Lossl, Kenny, Nkounkou, Coleman, Branthwaite, Tosun, Bernard, Gordon. Arsenal (4-3-3) Leno; Maitland-Niles, Holding, David Luiz, Tierney; Ceballos, Elneny, Saka; Pepe, Nketiah, Willian. Substitutes: Runarsson, Bellerin, Cedric, Mustafi, Kolasinac, Willock, Smith Rowe, Lacazette, Martinelli. - Rob Smyth is obviously too excited about the earlier game and winning a fortune on Liverpool winning the league to offer up any thing bigger than a three line Preamble. Everton 13/8 Arsenal 13/8 12/5 the draw |
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Post by staggerstag on Dec 19, 2020 17:51:27 GMT
Well, the last three Arsenal match threads on here didn't go particularly good for them and it's Everton who are running things on this one so far. Coming up to 20 minutes and the home side are presenting confidently while Arsenal seem yet to find their feet.
Here's Everton's Kean outside the area. He decides to unleash a swerver on goal but it picks up too much of a curl as it bears down on the target and whistles just wide of the post. Was Leno even expecting that to come at him?
The 2,000 crowd could do with a bit of a livener as well, subdued isn't the word for it.
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Post by staggerstag on Dec 19, 2020 17:57:11 GMT
Oh it's there. Sustained control finally manifests into a goal for Everton on '23. Richarlison played it wide out to Iwobi who drove a speedy cross into the box which Calvert-Lewin got his head to and which, without the deflection of Holding, was going off-target but the Arsenal man has been credited with the first pot here.
Now there's a bit of noise from the crowd.
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Post by OffTheBoatPsycho on Dec 19, 2020 17:58:24 GMT
DCL just scored as I was reading. Tom Davies just hasn't lived up to his potential or hype. Waited years for Barkley to reach his potential as the pundits kept saying. He never did. A few decent games followed by a drop in form. Wonder if DCL can keep it up for a few seasons as I thought him another of our players good but not good enough.
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Post by OffTheBoatPsycho on Dec 19, 2020 18:08:27 GMT
Now not only has to prove his worth for a place in the starting line up he has to make amends for the penalty he gave away. Better hope he doesn't get carried away and see a red.
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Post by staggerstag on Dec 19, 2020 18:08:46 GMT
Everton have had the first half hour under all but complete control and, freaks of nature aside, that looks set to be the story for the rest of the half.
Ah - that's me jinxing it as Arsenal are awarded a penalty. Tom Davies on Niles. Davies is smiling about it. I don't know why.
Up steps Pepe and he sends Pickford the wrong way for 1-1. Arsenal 1 shot on target, and that was it.
Let's see if that leveller can fire the visitors into something more than just turning up.
Everton have to start over as the break looms.
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Post by MrFurious on Dec 19, 2020 18:18:59 GMT
Christmas cracker this one.
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Post by staggerstag on Dec 19, 2020 18:22:09 GMT
That's naughty from Cebellos, going in studs first on Mina while the Everton player is down. Nothing given, though.
The action sweeps to the other end and Lewin unleashes a rocket on goal which Leno turns over at full-stretch for a corner which is curled in by Sigurdsson. Mina is first to reach it at the near post and heads it in for 2-1. It's nothing they don't deserve.
The ref blows up on the half. Arteta walks off composing his half-time talk. But what can he possibly say to turn this set of players into winners on the day?
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Post by staggerstag on Dec 19, 2020 18:45:10 GMT
David Luiz assaults the woodwork as Arsenal show us something better in the first ten minutes of the second portion.
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Post by staggerstag on Dec 19, 2020 18:56:43 GMT
Everton have a couple of forays into the Arsenal area after sitting deep for most of this second half so far, almost inviting Arsenal to molest them up front.
And now there is some proper noise from the crowd as they finally burst into a prolonged song.
Everton still with plenty of men behind every Arsenal ball and you have to say it's allowing Arsenal freedom to open up this game with 20-odd minutes to go.
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Post by staggerstag on Dec 19, 2020 19:12:50 GMT
Arsenal aren't out of it yet. They're showing a willingness to exploit Everton's deep (now deep-ish) defending.
But here's Sigurdsson with a corner on '80. The Arsenal players are dwarfed in the area by Everton's height. It comes in and falls to Iwobi who can't get his shot on target because it was deflected out by Willock.
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Post by MrFurious on Dec 19, 2020 19:15:48 GMT
Jesus!! Arsenal still have 3 games left to play this year.
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Post by staggerstag on Dec 19, 2020 19:17:11 GMT
Niles' cross, Willock! He heads wide, though, from yards out. Added time is almost upon us.
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Post by staggerstag on Dec 19, 2020 19:19:09 GMT
Jesus!! Arsenal still have If they lose here it's 5 points from last 30, I think.3 games left to play this year. If they lose this it's 5 points from last 30, I think. 2 minutes of added remaining.
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Post by staggerstag on Dec 19, 2020 19:22:06 GMT
There's an Everton substitution. But Richarlison is in no hurry. David Luiz shunts him off from behind, actually pushing him off.
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Post by staggerstag on Dec 19, 2020 19:27:13 GMT
The ref finally blows up after two minutes of added added time (5+2)
Everton held firm as Arsenal tried to fashion a point here in a hard-working second half, so much better than their first. But the concern for them remains with yet another winless performance. Everton go second to Liverpool with a solid outing here.
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Post by Carl LaFong on Dec 19, 2020 22:18:42 GMT
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Post by bluerisk on Dec 20, 2020 1:13:26 GMT
Easy: just win the Europa League, and all things are sorted out.  Edit: you will need enough points to avoid relegation though. But German teams from lower tiers have played on the European level. I'm sure English ones too. |
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Post by senan90 on Dec 20, 2020 2:47:57 GMT
Oh it's brilliant. That and Frank pathetically back peddling Chelsea's chances makes for entertainment. I hope Saints & Everton clinch the top 4.
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Post by sdm3 on Dec 20, 2020 7:23:28 GMT
Arteta claims we’ve “dominated” teams this season.
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