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Arsenal gained a much needed boost in their faltering title tilt as goals from Danny Welbeck and Alex Iwobi ensured a comfortable 2-0 win over Everton in a crucial tie at Goodison Park.Just over 60 hours on from a 3-1 humbling at the hands of Barcelona in the Champions League, the Gunners desperately needed a win to lift themselves out of the lurch they were left in after being knocked-out from two different competitions in a span of just four days, and got just that with a highly improved performance at Merseyside.The victory keeps Arsenal on third with 55 points, 11 adrift of leaders Leicester City with only eight more games left in the season. Here’s what we learned from the Gunner's comprehensive victory over the Toffees.
#1 Arsenal play to the gallery
Having been knocked out of the FA Cup after the embarrassing 2-1 loss to Watford at home, Arsenal were then driven out of the Champions League by holders Barcelona, who triumphed 5-1 on aggregate.
With the Premier League also slipping away from their clasps after a run of 3-winless games, the pressure was really on the Gunners to deliver, and the victory over Everton couldn't have come at a better time.
In a situation where the slurs and smears surrounding them have increased tenfold, Arsenal managed to cut themselves some slack with a marked improvement in their performance. The visitors, today, were robust in defence, dominating in midfield and threatening in attack, thereby ticking all the boxes required to nick a game of this magnitude.
Although the win still doesn’t tilt the title in their favour, it will surely provide them with a much needed fillip for the remainder of the season.
#2 Iwobi makes a start to remember
Arsenal youngster Alex Iwobi made the headlines for starting the game at the Camp Nou in midweek ahead of usual suspect Olivier Giroud, and put on a promising display. An impressed Arsene Wenger opted to play him ahead of the Frenchman again, handing him his first start for the club in the Premier League, and yet again, did not disappoint.
Not only did the 19-year-old dispatch an encouraging show, but also got on target to bag his first ever Premier League goal. Hector Bellerin picked out the Nigerian from an impeccably hooked cross, who kept his composer and slid the ball under Joel Robles to double his side's advantage.
Iwobi has been terrific in the recent and also perhaps, one of the few bright lights in an Arsenal side that was stuttering in their tracks. Performances like these will only consolidate his position in the first team, and the omens look good for the Nigerian international.
#3 Welbeck continues to shine
Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck struck the onion bag once again as he continued to shine since he returned to the team from a long injury layoff. Having spent the entire first half of the season on the sidelines, Welbeck appears determined to salvage for the loss by pulling one blinder of a performance after another.
Against Everton this evening, the England international came to the fore once again as he struck the opener inside the first 10 minutes of the game and also carried a huge threat for the 75 minutes that he graced the field. He has now accrued four goals in the nine games he has played since recovering from injury. Not a bad return considering the number of months he’s spent without kicking a ball.
#4 Time\'s up for Funes Mori
In a very baffling scheme of things, Everton manager Roberto Martinez continued to pin his faith on Ramiro Funes Mori ahead of John Stones in the defence, and once again, fell flat on his face. The Argentine defender was poor at the back and often landed his side in hot water with his leggy showings.
Flaky in the air and nervous on the ball, Funes Mori cut a forlorn figure and also gave away the ball very cheaply on multiple occasions, one of which resulted in Arsenal’s second goal of the evening.
The 25-year-old has had enough chances from the manager to impress, but the Argentine has disappointed consistently. It’s high time Martinez reinstates John Stones back in the defence.
#5 Giroud falling behind in the pecking order
Since bagging a brace in the 4-0 hammering of Hull City in the FA Cup, Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud has started each of the following three games on the bench. The French hitman has strut the field for a combined total of barely 100 minutes in that span, and questions have started to appear over his first-team chances.
His benching in the game against Watford may be seen as a rest given to the striker, but having been overlooked even against Barcelona raises suspicion. To add more fuel to the fire, Giroud was once again overlooked against Everton, and would only set afoot in the field for the final 15 minutes of the game.
With the Euros on the horizon, the Frenchman should be playing more, but is instead left warming the bench. With Welbeck and Iwobi in great form, it seems Giroud may have to contend with just that for a little longer.
