Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah admits their standards dropped in the 1-0 loss to Everton, but he gives the Toffees credit for how they played the game.
Mikel Arteta’s side went into the match in fine form, having lost just a single game all season.
Fans expected them to get another routine win in the fixture, but that never happened and they returned to London emptyhanded.
Everton enjoyed a surprising win, thanks to some fine tactical work from Sean Dyche, but it was an off-day for many Arsenal players who simply had no answer to what Everton provided them in the fixture.
‘It was a difficult game,’ Nketiah told Arsenal’s official website. ‘They made it very tough.
‘Personally, we weren’t at the standard we needed to be at today and we’ve got to improve and make sure we bounce back in our next game.
‘Credit to them, they put out a good gameplan and executed it well today. I felt like we just didn’t execute ours to the best of our ability, we were a bit sloppy at times.’
Just Arsenal Opinion
Our standards obviously dropped in that game and it is hard to remember a time that Arsenal struggled in a game as was the case yesterday.
However, that should not stop us from getting back to winning ways in the next match, instead, it should serve as a motivation.
Think that pretty accurately sums up how most of us feel. Yes Everton played better than they have for awhile and executed a game plan. Still they were not that good and this Arsenal side would of won that exact type of match most times this season, so clearly something went a little bit wrong in our execution.
Now we need the response against Brentford. That will set us up for the top of the table clash which City will go into under immense pressure now. Meanwhile we’ll have ours fans making a difference just like Everton had at Goodison.
I think the Gunners ball playing in the Epl this season is very very strong. And is undoubtedly the strongest in the top flight division of the Epl.
And for this reason, that’s why Arsenal are currently atop of the League table at the week no 21 stage into the campaign.
So, it was a surprise when the Gunners felt to a 1-0 away defeat to the Toffees yesterday’s afternoon af Goodison Park.
But why did the Gunners allow the fall that they fell to the Toffees in the match to happen to them i asked myself?
In my own thinking, I think the Gunners fall to the Toffees in the match bothered on carelessness by the Gunners for their taking beating the Toffees in the match for granted when it was being played. Consequently failing to read the handwriting on the wall as the game pans on when the Toffees raised the level of their game playing to a higher level that they’re not known of to play this reason.
But the Gunners stayed at a level af playing in the match that didn’t match that of the raised to the high level of playing of the Toffees. Talkless of them to raise the level of their own game above that which the Toffees are offering in the game.
Which if the Gunners had done. They might not have returned home empty handed with no point collected in the match as was the case. But they possibly could have come back with all 3 points collected by them. Or at least come back with a point collected. To make it having halved a loaf of bread to quench the burning fire of hunger in the stomach is better than not having it at all.
They didn’t play so badly, only thing I’d we have been winning so many matches ,so we couldn’t take s loss
Arsenal were in control in my opinion as was evident in the first 20 minutes. Sadly opportunities were missed during this period and when a finger was accidentally poked by a back hand to Saka’s eye, the match took a different turn afterwards. Sean Dyche and his team were vigorously discussing tactics and reinforcing the game plan during the break in play for Saka’s eye treatment. When the match restarted strategic advice was followed to the letter breaking the 20 minutes pressing pressure by Arsenal in Everton’s half, resulting in 4 consecutive corners to the Toffees changing the momentum. Everton’s coaching staff and the fans all went into maximum overdrive. It was a very challenging atmosphere for Arsenal from then on to keep composure but they still gave me a thrilling match. Come on! Saka had 2 players constantly marking him. Every time Arsenal had possession of the ball the boos,jeers from the Everton fans at Goodison Park were deafening and when the Toffees won the ball or made any positive move the cheers were wildly shattering.
Everton played the match like a) a Cup Final, b) promotion to the Champions League, c) fighting for dear life to avoid relegation. Every Everton player wanted to make a mark, impress the new coach in this particular match against the League leaders, securing more future playing time not forgetting home advantage also in favour. Yet, this young Arsenal team kept their head, held composure, showed maturity and gave a very respectable performance! Was the Corner Kick to Everton that produced the deciding goal correctly awarded? Anyway this match, the F.A. Cup elimination by Man City and the defeat by Man United at Old Trafford breaking our unbeaten run at the time will only strengthen the Arsenal team that has done everything right this season.
The lessons learned by these three setbacks are blue prints for greater coming victories. Well done! Arsenal we are, and always will be, very proud of all your efforts, achievements, past, present and future.