Feature

Arsenal v Everton: Four things we noticed

Lacazette

We made it five consecutive wins by defeating Everton 2-0 at Emirates Stadium. 

Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were once again on the scoresheet - but what did we learn from the game? 

CECH'S SAVES PROVE CRUCIAL

Named man-of-the-match by Sky Sports, there's no doubt Petr Cech kept us in the game during the first half, and pulled off some more excellent saves late on to earn his first clean sheet of the season.

He made six saves in all, including two flying stops from Richarlison in the first half, to keep the game scoreless when Everton were on top.

The way the game completely flipped in our favour after our opening goal only goes to underline the importance of Cech's stops. Had Everton taken the lead during the first-half, their momentum could have been difficult to stop. Lacazette's wonder-strike will make a lot of the headlines, but Cech's heroics at the other end laid the foundation.

Bernd Leno made his debut in the Europa League on Thursday night, but given this level of performance from Cech, our German summer signing might be waiting a bit longer to feature in the Premier League.

Petr Cech

 

SECOND-HALF IMPROVEMENT

It's four successive Premier League victories now, but we are still yet to win a first-half this season. Once again we were slow to get going, in fact Everton took the game to us from the first whistle, and created the more dangerous chances. Everton pressed high, forced Arsenal into mistakes at the back, and much of the opening half hour was played inside our own half. The visitors' forwards were combining well.

In three of our last four league games Unai Emery had made a half-time substitution to kick-start our performance, and he must have been tempted to do so again here. In fact Alex Iwobi was just about to be introduced when Alex Lacazette struck the opener.

But the goal settled the team and it was a completely different game once we had gone ahead. Emery though, will be looking to get his Gunners firing earlier in the next few weeks. If Arsenal can take a lead into the second-half, they could easily go on to record a big win.

Unai Emery

HOLDING BENEFITS FROM THURSDAY'S ACTION

When Sokratis limped out of the game on 39 minutes, Rob Holding was pressed into action from the bench, and he certainly played his part in the win.

Holding hadn't featured at all this season until Thursday night, when he impressed against FC Vorskla in the Europa League. And having those minutes under his belt paid off against Everton, as he immediately picked up the pace of the game alongside Shkodran Mustafi in the centre of defence.

He made six clearances – more than any other Arsenal player – despite spending just 51 minutes on the pitch.

Depending on the severity of Sokratis's injury, Holding could be set for a run in the side – his performances this week show he's ready.

Rob Holding

THE AUBA AND LACA DOUBLE ACT CONTINUES

When these two have started together for Arsenal, they have managed nine goals between them in the past six matches.

Although our goals have been spread around the team so far this season, much of the goalscoring responsibility it expected to fall on these two. And Emery looks intent on playing them both from the start where possible – this was the third Premier League game in a row that the two had started together.

With both of them in excellent goalscoring form, it's difficult to see how the head coach can leave either of them out of the team. Lacazette made it seven goals in his last nine league starts, while Auba is now up to 14 goals from 21 Gunners appearances.

Aubameyang
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