On the final day of the season, Arsenal welcomed a solid Everton team to the Emirates. With their top 4 hopes still in the balance, Arsenal needed to beat Everton convincingly and hope Liverpool dropped points at home to Middlesbrough.
Arsenal’s top 4 push got off to a great start when Hector Bellerín slotted in from seven yards out in the 7th minute. Unfortunately, the positive start was quelled when Laurent Koscielny got shown a straight red in the 13th minute. Wenger’s men responded well by doubling their lead in the 26th minute though an Alexis Sánchez tap-in.
The game became even more interesting when Romelu Lukaku converted a penalty in the 57th minute to make the score 2-1. Arsenal would then go on to secure all three points as Aaron Ramsey produced a long-range curler in the 90th minute.
The win means Arsenal finish the season in 5th place and out of the Champions League for next season. It’s the first time in Arsène Wenger’s tenure that the Gunners have missed out on the top four.
Here are the 5 biggest talking points from the game.
#5 Gabriel man marking Lukaku superbly
When the main man in defence gets sent off, the fringe players have no choice but to step up. Despite already starting, Gabriel was thrust back into the centre-back position alongside an unfamiliar partner in Rob Holding. Before his injury in the 49th minute, Gabriel was Arsenal’s best defender.
The Brazilian completed 100% of his tackles, won 100% of his aerial duels, made 2 interceptions and completed 95% of his passes. Gabriel was truly exceptional and he kept Romelu Lukaku in his pocket for as long as he was playing.
#4 Hector Bellerín has found a new lease of life
The Spaniard truly did save his best till last. In a season where the youngster has put in mixed performances, Bellerín put in his best display of the year against a solid Everton side. Despite going down to 10 men, the Spaniard ensured his attacking flair down the right hand side was present at all times.
A competent Leighton Baines could only watch in awe as Bellerín flew past him time after time.
Hector made an astonishing 14 passes in the attacking third, completed 1 take-on and served up 3 crosses for Danny Welbeck. The full-back was everywhere he needed to be. In defence, he was just as good. He stopped every cross he tried to block and didn’t lose out on one single tackle.
#3 Ross Barkley playing like a man already sold
It’s no locker room secret that Ross Barkley’s Everton career is hanging in the balance. His boss Ronald Koeman has not shied away from his displeasure at the Englishman not signing a new contract. Koeman gave Barkley the ultimatum that if he doesn’t sign a new deal this year, he’ll be sold in the summer.
Five months later and the 23-year old is no closer to signing a new contract.
Today’s performance only typified Ross Barkley’s situation. Having been dropped from the starting line-up, Barkley came on in the 26th minute for Tom Davies. It was a deliberate change by Koeman who wanted to capitalise on the numerical advantage the Toffees had. However, the change would be rendered futile.
In his 65 minute cameo, Barkley misplaced 4 passes, only created 1 chance, completed only 1 take-on and had 3 shots off target. It’s no surprise not many Everton fans are begging for him to stay.
#2 Rob Holding gives away a costly penalty
In the 57th minute, the Arsenal youngster nearly undid all the good he had done in the previous four games. Whilst defending a cross from Leighton Baines, Holding seemingly panicked as he motioned his arm into an unnatural position towards the ball.
Michael Olivier responded by pointing to the spot instantly. Lukaku then converted the following penalty and it was game on again.
For Holding, it’s one blip in a series of blinding performances. Ever since the 21-year old emerged from the reserves, Rob Holding has been a revelation at the back. He’s played with the experience and knows it all of a 30-year old veteran that’s won several league titles.
In a back three, he complimented Koscielny and Gabriel well through his excellent positioning, in a back four, Holding intelligently dropped back as Gabriel pressed forward. He adjusts to any defensive scenario.
The Englishman recovered the ball on two occasions and made 17 passes in the middle third. His stats show that he was influential in breaking up play and starting counter attacks. He turned the ball over consistently with several interceptions, whilst making pinpoint passes to the midfielders.
#1 Laurent Koscielny red card
When this incident first occurred, I literally jumped out of my chair in anguish screaming expletives at Michael Oliver. Five minutes and a couple of replays later, my opinion changed.
Replays show that the Frenchman lunged, yes lunged, in with both feet off the ground. Even though only one foot was aimed at Enner Valencia, both of Koscielny’s feet were off the ground in an aggressive manner.
By the laws of the game, Koscielny’s stance, body position and force of tackle all warranted a straight red card. The dismissal meant Arsenal had to play another 77 minutes with 10 men against the 7th best side in the league. Somehow, the Gunners were able to maneuverer a meaningless victory in the end.
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