Jordan Pickford 5
Had little to do for the first 40 minutes beyond acting quickly to gather a through ball to Gabriel Martinelli and resisting claims from the home fans that Aaron Ramsdale should be England’s number one. Then out of nothing his, and Everton’s game, changed. Saka’s goal was rifled in at his near post but it is hard to blame the keeper such was the ferocity and placement of the finish. He was as surprised as anyone when Arsenal’s second developed. In the second half he pulled out a number of good stops but could do little as Martin Odegaard and Martinelli were given the freedom of the box to hammer in Arsenal’s third and fourth.
Seamus Coleman 5
Arsenal posed little threat down the right and appeared to focus elsewhere more, leaving Coleman with limited duties, which he handled well. His performance looked better after his departure, with Arsenal repeatedly exploiting space down Everton’s right as they converted their dominance into goals.
Michael Keane 5
Michael Keane thinks he can play with the ball at his feet and was adept in releasing the Blues as they picked up the pieces on the edge of their own box. His strength was his biggest asset though and he played well up until the goals, neither of which were his fault
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James Tarkowski 6
The focal point in both boxes, Tarkowski was too strong for Leandro Trossard and Odegaard while the game was goalless. Was looking set to have a big game before the goals but they changed the game and in the second half the midfield caved before him.
Vitalii Mykolenko 5
Tasked with marshalling Bukayo Saka and before the opening goal had actually beaten the England winger and not been bypassed himself. Mykolenko skipped beyond his opponent to deliver a cross into the box as Everton became more adventurous. Saka exploited the space between Mykolenko and Tarkowski for the first goal but it was a piece of magic to find him from Oleksandr Zinchenko. He was hardly involved in the second half as Arsenal had all their joy down Everton’s right.
Alex Iwobi 7
A really effective outlet and his energy was crucial to helping Everton get up the pitch in the first half. He won his side’s first corner by stealing the ball from Zinchenko and when it was cleared was mopping up trouble in his own box seconds later. In the second half he was still full of energy and his resilience was perhaps the only positive of a difficult second half.
Idrissa Gueye 3
Battled well and was a key disruptor on the edge of the Everton box but his lapse in concentration for Martinelli’s goal proved fatal to his side’s chances in this game. Was replaced at half-time for Mason Holgate.
Abdoulaye Doucoure 5
Was central to several Everton counter-attacks but while he relieved pressure really well, his end product just stopped the visitors short of creating clear cut opportunities. Part of a midfield that became increasingly ragged in the second half.
Amadou Onana 5
A force in the midfield, imposing, disruptive and eager to impress at both ends. Heading into half-time it looked like his performance could have been a major talking point. But in the second half Everton’s midfield lost cohesion and both second half goals came with midfielders, including Onana, working out whose man had scored.
Dwight McNeil 6
Formed a good defensive unit with Tarkowski and Mykolenko to manage Arsenal’s threat down the left for much of the first half. Saw plenty of the ball and fought hard. Found Neal Maupay with a nice cross that the striker could only flick at Ramsdale. In the second half he kept trying and forced Ramsdale into a good save with an effort from 25 yards.
Neal Maupay 4
Busy without being dangerous, had the first two shots on target of the game. Effective at occupying defenders as Everton pressed. Unable to provide a threat in the second half and, while he was able to earn chances, if he cannot convert them then the Blues season is set to be the Aston Villa and Arsenal games - positive starts undermined by a lack of ruthlessness - on repeat.
SUBS
Mason Holgate 4
Harsh to be too critical with Holgate coming on at half-time and in what is not his favoured position. But was unable to offer protection to the back four.
Demarai Gray 5
Tried hard when he was introduced just after the hour-mark with his side 2-0 down. But he was feeding off scraps and struggled to create anything clear-cut.
Ben Godfrey 5
Replaced Coleman at the same time Gray was introduced. Looked to get forward as much as possible and his pace offered Everton an outlet down the right.
Tom Davies N/A
Came on just before Arsenal added a fourth. The game was long gone for his side by that point.
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