Everton 0-1 Arsenal: Match report, player ratings, fan reaction & more

Arsenal headed into Sunday’s game as the heavy favourites to pick up the win.

Everton had lost three and drawn one of their opening four games, leaving them sat in the relegation zone, whilst Arsenal could have moved up to second with a win on Sunday.

When all was said and done at Goodison Park, Arsenal came out on top.

Arsenal were on top from the get-go and opened the scoring 18 minutes in when Fabio Vieira slipped a lovely ball through to Gabriel Martinelli who finished well. However, it was ruled out by VAR because Eddie Nketiah was offside in the build-up. Martinelli was forced off with an injury a few moments after this.

Martinelli’s disallowed goal was the only real action of the first 45, with the score locked at 0-0 heading into the break.

The second half continued in the same vein. Everton sat very deep and created little whilst Arsenal struggled to create many meaningful chances.

Player ratings

Everton

• GK: Jordan Pickford (6.5)
• RB: Ashley Young (6)
• CB: James Tarkowski (6.5)
• CB: Jarrad Branthwaite (6)
• LB: Ashley Young (6)
• RM: Dwight McNeil (6)
• CM: Idrissa Gueye (6.5)
• CM: Amadou Onana (6.5)
• CM: Abdoulaye Doucoure (5.5)
• LM: Arnaut Danjuma (5)
• ST: Beto (4.5)

Substitutes

• Dominic Calvert-Lewin (3)
• James Garner (3)
• Nathan Patterson (N/A)
• Youssef Chermiti (N/A)

Arsenal

• GK: David Raya (7)
• RB: Ben White (7)
• CB: William Saliba (7)
• CB: Gabriel (7)
• LB: Oleksandr Zinchenko (7)
• CM: Declan Rice (7)
• CM: Fabio Vieira (7.5)
• CM: Martin Odegaard (7)
• RW: Bukayo Saka (7)
• ST: Eddie Nketiah (6.5)
• LW: Gabriel Martinelli (5)

Substitutes

• Leandro Trossard (7)
• Gabriel Jesus (5)
• Kai Havertz (3)
• Takehiro Tomiyasu (3)

Match reaction

Declan Rice’s first half by numbers vs. Everton:

94% pass accuracy
60 touches
50/53 passes completed
19/20 final third passes completed
4/6 ground duels won
3/3 long balls completed
3/3 dribbles completed
3 ball recoveries

Controlling the midfield. 🎮 pic.twitter.com/NDB9ndJ0Fd

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) September 17, 2023

Everton haven’t lost at home to Arsenal in the Premier League since Arsene Wenger’s last visit 👏

A fortress in this fixture 🏰#EVEARS pic.twitter.com/dv00BNEFus

— Premier League (@premierleague) September 17, 2023

It’s like no one wants to score #EVEARS

— Josh (@joshwk21) September 17, 2023

Will someone just f***n shoot?? #EVEARS

— RJ – 43 Phases 🔴⚪️ (@sitrafox) September 17, 2023

Please where is Nketiah in this game💁🏾‍♀️ #EVEARS

— ‘Yemi Dynamyte (@Yemzd) September 17, 2023

Everton playing a flat back 10 #EVEARS

— Sean Buckley (@19SB82) September 17, 2023

we are playing well just the goal missing really #EVEARS

— jadsøn (@me_jadson) September 17, 2023

Sweet lord why can’t these players pass the ball faster. They are so relaxed.#EVEARS

— Nwoke Dike goziri (@Black_dragoneel) September 17, 2023

Both these teams aren’t very good #shite #EVEARS #yawnfest

— Dave (@DaveLpooltaxi) September 17, 2023

Bukayo Saka has now scored or assisted 5 goals in his last 6 Premier League games:

⚽ vs. Wolves
⚽ vs. Nottingham Forest
❌ vs. Crystal Palace
⚽ vs. Fulham
🅰️ vs. Manchester United
🅰️ vs. Everton

In some form. 🌶️ pic.twitter.com/R6aOFmEGgf

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) September 17, 2023