Everton will prick and poke the Premier League's elite

Everton will provide stern challenges to the Premier League’s elite

Many don’t expect Everton to be competing for the Premier League title but led by the visionary Roberto Martinez, they will be pricking and poking those who are, reminding the Premier League’s elite, financial and sporting, of their excellence.

Champions League qualification is their objective and it is not unrealistic, very much the opposite. Even without substantial financial muscle as their rivals, Martinez has a formidable team at his disposal, a united unit driven on by the raucous Goodison Park faithful. They are not an assembly of superstars but their work ethic is outstanding, helping them to punch above their often marginalised weight.

Yet if they are to meet Martinez’s ambitious requirements, of securing a top four place, they will have to learn quickly. Leading 2-0 against Arsenal, an experienced team would have closed out the game and ran the clock down, but the Spaniard urged his team to attack, leaving them exposed and static in defence.

“We ran out of energy and it became a feeling of wanting the game to end,” he said. “We are not that sort of side. That’s not the way we play. I was delighted with the performance for 80 minutes. I thought the first-half was phenomenal. We’ll make sure going forward we make it a 90-minute performance.”

Martinez spoke of his elation at his side’s display for 80 minutes and rightly so. They harried and substantially out-played Arsenal, particularly within the duration of a scintilating first-half display. Romelu Lukaku was a strong physical presence, providing Calum Chambers and Per Mertesacker with a stern challenge and running the duo ragged.

Smart transfer business and squad depth

Eyebrows were raised at his £28 million valuation but individual moments of genius similar to the one he produced in the build-up of Steven Naismith’s goal for 2-0 prior to half-time will be powerful in vindicating his pricetag. The Belgian desired guaranteed first-team football, which was uncertain had he remained a Chelsea player, and Martinez believes in the 21 year-old, instiling faith in the promising striker which he duly vindicated.

His role in Everton’s second goal encapsulated Lukaku’s playing style to the extent that the Belgian’s shirt should have come embossed with the word POWER. Forcefully rolling Per Mertesacker, Lukaku powered forward, skipping above a challenge from Chambers, teasing Mathieu Flamini and threading a superbly-weighted pass into Naismith, the Scot slightly offside, who finished exquisitely.

Another of Martinez’s summer recruits, who, like Lukaku, had excelled on a season-long spell last season, was impressive. Gareth Barry, disillusioned at Manchester City and unwanted by Manuel Pellegrini, was pivotal in Martinez’s push for Champions League football in their previous campaign and seems primed to improve, establishing a coherent and stable defensive midfield partnership with James McCarthy, another beneficiary of Martinez’s unerring faith.

The England international, who aspires to force himself back into contention for a call-up, orchestrated Everton’s surpremacy, particularly in the first-half. He made interceptions, nullified the threat of Ramsey and co and orchestrated Everton’s attacks, providing a sublime cross from which Coleman scored. It was a class assist which should have come with a gilt edge.

In Naismith and Leon Osman, Martinez has two diligent workers at his disposal who are prepared to play out of position for the welfare of the team. Naismith is a proven goal-scorer while Osman is a leader, hugely respected and influential within the confines of the club.

Towards the culmination of last season, with Champions League football in their destiny, Everton collapsed, most notably in a home defeat to Crystal Palace, due to a combination of fatigue and pressure, as a consequence of which Martinez bolstered his team in the summer to avoid the former.

In Muhammed Besic, acquired from Hungarian club Ferencvaros in a £4 million deal, the Spaniard has secured the services of a promising 21 year-old capable of challenging for a starting place, having impressed for Bosnia & Herzegovina at the World Cup.

Aiden McGeady, who started on the bench against Arsenal, is a highly competent addition by Martinez, the Irishman impressing on the Premier League’s opening day away at Leicester City and scoring an exceptional goal. Given a proper chance, the former Celtic wingman can prove his worth.

Martinez has leaders in Sylvain Distin and Phil Jagielka and a spine running through the team in the form of Howard, Distin, Jagielka, Barry and Lukaku.

The foundations were laid by David Moyes but Martinez has advanced Everton, possibly, viably, into a Champions League team.