Premier League news: Five key takeaways from Everton’s narrow defeat to Arsenal at Hill Dickinson

Everton suffered a 1-0 home defeat to league leaders Arsenal on Saturday as a first-half penalty from Viktor Gyökeres proved to be the difference, but the Toffees will nevertheless be in the top half of the table at Christmas for the first time since 2020.

Here, Sports News Blitz writer Jon Shea assesses the key points from the clash.

More penalty drama

There was no debate about the Arsenal penalty, Jake O’Brien bizarrely deciding to raise both hands to the ball and making the decision a no-brainer.

However, with Everton chasing the game in the second half, it looked like William Saliba made contact with Thierno Barry’s foot as the former attempted to volley the ball away.

Everton players were aggrieved by the no-penalty verdict, and even former Arsenal forward Alan Smith said Saliba was ‘lucky’ to get away with it.

It is the lack of consistency from referees that has been a constant complaint throughout the Premier League season, with a series of similar challenges being punished.

Unfortunately for Everton, on this occasion, they missed out on an equaliser.

Big players missing

David Moyes is set to miss some big players over the next few weeks, and it will be interesting to see what he does with an already depleted squad.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is enjoying a spell on the sidelines with an injury, while Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye have joined up with Senegal for the Africa Cup of Nations.

The importance of those players was highlighted even more in their absence as those who replaced them against Arsenal did not perform.

Everton do have Merlin Röhl back following a prolonged period out with injury, so maybe he will find his way back into the starting line-up over the coming weeks.

Tyler Dibling featured off the bench against the Gunners, and with Dwight McNeil failing to perform, he may be given an extended run.

Jarrad Branthwaite is likely to return soon too – the Englishman is yet to play a minute this season but is reportedly close to a return to the squad.

The Toffees have been good defensively, but there are aspects that the team misses out on when Branthwaite is injured.

Composure on the ball is a key aspect that both James Tarkowski and Michael Keane lack as they don’t enjoy the ball at their feet in the same way Branthwaite does.

Branthwaite can moreover play a line-splitting pass into midfield and is very confident in his ability to keep the ball on the floor rather than hit it aimlessly long.

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Lack of goals

When your strikers have a combined total of two league goals halfway through a season, it is a massive concern.

Barry and Beto are simply not doing the business for Moyes and you would think this must be addressed in January.

They both have good qualities, but putting the ball in the net has been a massive issue – one that has held the team back at times.

Although playing centre-forward for Everton at this time is in all fairness quite isolating, the duo can do so much more.

The rest of the team have to chip in too, with Everton only scoring 18 goals all term, which is one less than Erling Haaland has managed by himself.

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Arsenal show class

Despite Everton’s lacklustre display, I thought Arsenal managed the game very well, particularly in the last few minutes when they nullified any sort of onslaught from Moyes’ team.

Arteta’s side is built on its defensive structure and they never gave Everton a sniff despite missing Gabriel.

They are probably the worst side to gift a goal to because they rarely give up any chances, and they could have had a couple more after hitting the post on two occasions.

I was particularly impressed with Declan Rice as he just took the sting out of Everton’s attacks and was so composed on the ball.

There have been questions asked about how entertaining the Gunners are, but I believe they are a fascinating watch, and the way they defend is certainly something to admire.

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