Premier League
Quick Fire Double Helps Arsenal Defeat Everton
Two goals in three minutes helped Arsenal to a fourth straight Premier League win.
A brilliant curling shot from Alexandre Lacazette and a goal from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang helped secure the victory.
Arsenal improved after the break and got the breakthrough on 56 minutes.
A neat through ball from Aaron Ramsey set up Lacazette inside the penalty area. The Frenchman then curled a great curling shot into the roof of the net.
Three minutes later Arsenal doubled their lead.
Everton defender Kurt Zouma gave the ball away to Mesut Ozil. He drove forward into the penalty area and squared the ball for Ramsey.
The Welshman flicked the ball into the path of Aubameyang who fired his shot beyond Jordan Pickford in the Everton goal.
However, the Gabon international looked to be way offside but the linesman’s flag stayed down.
The two quick fire goals knocked the stuffing out of Everton who were the better side in the first half.
They almost took the lead inside the opening minute. A great through ball by Tom Davies set striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin in on goal.
But the Englishman couldn’t get around Petr Cech in the Arsenal goal.
Everton looked a threat on the counter attack and missed a great chance after 37 minutes.
A brilliant pass by Gylfi Sigurdsson set Theo Walcott in on goal. However, Walcott was unable to dink the ball over Cech who rushed off his line to make a good save.
Arsenal struggled for fluency in the first half and their best chance fell to Nacho Monreal.
His shot from six yards out was well saved by Pickford.
Everton looked threatening at the start of the second half and if a goal was going to come it looked like it would be for the Toffees.
But two goals in three minutes changed the course of the game and Arsenal easily held on for their fourth Premier League win in a row.
Arsenal Making Progress Under Emery
Arsenal had a hard start to the Premier League season, with both Manchester City and Chelsea in their first two games.
Two defeats from those games put Unai Emery under pressure.
But four wins in a row has lifted the early gloom around the Emirates. It is still very early days under Emery but there are encouraging signs.
They have two fantastic goalscorers in Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who will get a number of goals in the Premier League.
If Emery can get the best out of Ozil as well, Arsenal have a number of attacking options which will cause teams problems.
The big plus from this game for Arsenal will be keeping a clean sheet for the first time this season.
There are still big improvements that need to be made defensively. If Everton had a more clinical striker Arsenal would have been punished.
The Arsenal defence is still a big worry, in particular against the better sides.
It is an area that Emery will have to continue to strengthen, if Arsenal are to challenge for major honours.
They are still a work in progress but four wins from six in the Premier League is an encouraging start to life without Arsene Wenger.
Richarlison Key For Everton
Despite the defeat there are a number of positives to take from the game for Everton.
They were the better side in the first half and up until Arsenal’s opening goal.
Marco Silva’s side looked a real threat on the counter attack and should have been in front had it not been for a couple of good saves from Petr Cech.
One of the biggest positives is having Richarlison back from suspension.
He will be key to Everton’s success this season. The Brazilian looked a threat going forward and caused Arsenal’s defense all sorts of problems.
There is an argument that he should be playing as the central striker instead of out wide.
That’s the biggest problem for this Everton side, they lack a quality striker who can score 15-20 goals a season.
Just six points from six games is a disappointing start for Everton, considering the amount of money they have spent over the last two seasons.
They need more from their attacking players in particular Glyfi Sigurdsson. Everton paid Swansea £45 million for the Icelandic international. But too often he plays on the fringes instead of influencing the game for the Toffees.
Everton need more from him if they are to have a successful season.
They will look to get back to winning ways against Fulham on Saturday in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Arsenal face Brentford at the Emirates in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
Photo credit to Dickson Dagogo via Flickr
