Arsenal vs Everton: Five reasons why it was the most exciting game of the season so far

Arsenal vs Everton was the perfect game in many ways. The football was end to end and positive; the game evenly balanced itself out at the end in terms of possession and chances created. Both teams scored late goals which ended up in either of them dropping points with a sigh of relief transcending across the top half of the Premier League.

Here are some of the most intriguing factors that produced such a pulsating game or as the commentators so aptly put it, “the Premier League at its intense best”.

1) Centre-Half Perfection

One of the key elements in the game that ensured neither team ran away with goals was the performances of the centre halves on the pitch. Lukaku and Giroud were restricted to tandom individual moments threatening on the odd occasion.

Laurent Koscielny in particular was having a stellar game using his pace to intercept passes played behind the Arsenal defensive line, ensuring he did the same in front of the back line as well. Phil Jagielka produced a captain’s display marshalling the Everton defence even as Coleman and Oviedo galloped forward to aid the Evertonian attacking force.

Only such performances could restrict a game of such intensity, drama and goal scoring chances to what looked a dismal but fair score line at the end.

2) Jenkinson replacing Sagna

Bacary Sagna and Kierran Gibbs have been standout performers for Arsenal this season handing out increasingly consistent displays. Sagna’s crossing ability in particular has been used to a great deal by Wenger giving Arsenal’s forward line an added dimension.

Although, Carl Jenkinson was solid defensively, his offensive contribution was next to nothing. Arsenal lack a genuinely good crosser without Sagna and this weakness clearly showed through Arsenal’s one dimensional play. With no natural wide men in the starting 11, effectively utilizing width was an important factor. It was only until the introduction of Theo Walcott did Arsenal add the cutting edge.

3) Centre-Forward Show

Arsenal vs Everton also enabled us to see two fine centre-forwards in the classical sense strutting their stuff. Oliver Giroud and Romelu Lukaku have been in splendid form this campaign and this was evident in fine displays from either centre forward in either halves of the game.

While the first half was all about Lukaku’s brute power and link up play, the second half saw Oliver Giroud making his mark with some sublime touches and an incredible half volley that skidded off the crossbar right at the death. Giroud should have actually netted Arsenal’s goal which eventually fell onto the feet of their German playmaker Mesut Ozil who dispatched it calmly.

Lukaku himslef has some great chances but failed to convert showing us glimpses of what to expect of him next year at Chelsea with the tag of “The next Drogba” constantly hovering above him.

4) Barkley’s maturity

Although he tapered off towards the end especially when he was switched to the left by manager Roberto Martinez, Ross Barkley looked a fine young prospect for the future.

If there was a key factor influencing Everton’s first half dominance, it was the young Evertonian youth academy product who not only affected play when he received the ball but constantly demanded it playing just off the centre forward. He distributed play, tracked back and defended, ran at the opposition defenders at every chance he could and took a shot at goal at the every possible opportunity symbolizing the positive attitude and tactics of Martinez’s Everton.

He was one of the main reasons for an in from Arsenal to take the entire first half to find their foothold in the game.

5) Arsenal subs bring in the X-Factor

With Ramsey and Wilshere having average games, Arsene Wenger needed to bring on suitable replacements to add an extra dimension to Arsenals’ transitional play. He chose to play without natural wide men, an out and out central midfielder and a natural dribbler who could torment the opposition.

His substitutes brought in exactly what was required. In Theo Walcott, he introduced blistering pace and a natural wide man to provide width. In Tomas Rosicky, he introduced creative guile and a dribbler who could weave through the opposition rather than play in front of them. In Flamini, he brought on a natural hard man who could win tackles and go box-to-box.

Both Rosicky and Walcott were involved in the build up to Ozil’s goal and Flamini coming to close scoring as well with a half volley just skimming past the post also bringing in stability at the back as Everton pushed on for the winner.

Arsene, you did it again.