Arsenal thrash Everton as Liverpool move up EPL table

Arsenal got off to a slow start against Everton who lost by a single goal at Goodison Park last month. The game was Sean Dyche’s first in the EPL as the former Burley manager immediately took charge of the Toffees.

But a replica performance was washed away at the Emirates as Arsenal suffered a 4-0 thrashing. Everton have now failed to score in seven away games.

Meanwhile, the match started with different agendas from both teams as Alex Iwobi started in his 37th game against his former club who are looking for their 100th win against Everton to become the club with the highest winning record against an EPL side.

Bukayo Saka broke the deadlock before assisting Gabriel Martinelli for Arsenal’s second goal late in the first half. Captain Martin Odegaard added a third and Martinelli completed a brace in the second half.

The game

Everton were content to keep all 11 men behind the ball and Arsenal didn’t register a shot on target before Saka’s opener.

Saka, Arsenal’s top scorer, broke the deadlock when he converted Oleksandr Zinchenko’s through ball with a fine shot. The goal made him the sixth youngest English player to reach 50 goals after Micheal Owen, Wayne Rooney, Robbie Fowler, Cesc Fabregas, and Chris Sutton.

As the interval began, Idrissa Gueye’s sloppiness cost the visitors another goal as Saka caught the midfielder napping and clipped the ball before passing to Martinelli who scored to put the Gunners two in front.

The Brazilian became the third Brazilian to achieve double figures in the EPL after Gabriel Jesus, in 2017-2018 and Richardlison in 2018-2019.

At the start of the second half, both managers made changes in midfield. While Arteta strengthened the midfield by sending on Thomas Partey for Jorginho, Dyche brought on Mason Holgate for the errant Gueye.

In the 57th minute, Leandro Trossard’s volley hit the target and Aaron Ramsdale saved Dwight McNeil’s 18-yard shot three minutes later.

The Belgian then set up Martin Odegaard for Arsenal’s third goal in the 71st minute. But with the Gunners still trying to add to their thrilling game, Jordan Pickford interfered with Partey’s through ball to Nketiah seven minutes later.

However, all efforts to prevent the Gunners from getting another goal in the second half failed as Eddie Nketiah’s cross was quickly converted by Martinelli in the 80th minute.

Elsewhere at Anfield, Virgil Van Dijk and Mohammed Salah scored to give Liverpool a 2-0 win over Wolves. It was Jurgen Klopp’s first win since the 5-2 defeat by Real Madrid in the Champions League.

After both sides played to a draw in the first half, Liverpool scored first in the 66th minute from a Darwin Nunez strike which was ruled out by VAR. The Reds soon broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute with Van Dijk’s header from Diogo Jota’s cross.

And four minutes later, Mohammed Salah doubled his lead by finishing from Kostas Tsimkas’ pass.