A second half Dudu double helps the Gunners pull themselves off the mat for a 4-1 come from behind victory away at Everton on Saturday.
After a first half to forget about, Arsenal found themselves 1-0 down at the half thanks to a 19th minute goal by Tim Cahill. The second half was a completely different story, as Eduardo da Silva opened his league account with a goal just one minute after the re-start.
With the score on level terms, it was Arsenal who were in the ascendancy, and after 58 minutes, it was 2-1 Arsenal thanks to a cool finish by the Crozillian.
Nick Bendtner found himself sent off after 74 minutes for a second bookable offense after making a very stupid tackle on Andrew Johnson. It was striker’s challenge, but exceedingly dumb considering he was already on a yellow, and was just moments from being subbed for Emmanuel Adebayor, who made a rare start on the bench.
Down to ten men, Arsene Wenger subbed the big man in for Eduardo, and within moments, Adebayor had made it 3-1 to the Gunners thanks to a mix up in the Everton defense. For a fraction of a moment, the ball seemed stuck in between two blue jerseys, and Ade pounced on that second, slipped into the space, and guided the ball into the net.
Six minutes from time, it was suddenly 10 v 10, as Mikel Arteta saw a straight red for elbowing Cesc in the face. There’s no telling whether it was intentional, but with the additional space on the pitch, the Gunners controlled the ball for the remainder of the match. Another substitution, Tomas Rosicky, sealed the victory with a 94th minute strike to make the final 4-1 to Arsenal.
An excellent win considering the lifeless first half, and coupled with Man U’s loss at West Ham, a win that sees Arsenal top of the table once again.
So, a few days rest, and then it’s back to league action at home on New Year’s Day against West Ham. The Hammers will no doubt be up for it considering they just knocked off Man U, so it’s sure to be a cracker. Kick off is 10 AM ET tomorrow, and the match can be seen live here in the US on Setanta USA.
(I know this is very late, but this is the first I’m sitting in front of a computer since Friday afternoon. In related news, we’ll be taking applications for volunteer admins to help get match reports up in a more timely manner when both Dan and I are away from the web.)
12 Responses to “Everton 1 - 4 Arsenal”
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December 31st, 2007 at 1:46 pm
What happened to the other article named “That’s my point, exactly” or something like that?
December 31st, 2007 at 1:54 pm
Did you write an article nip? And it didnt get submitted by any chance? If yes…then you’re not the only one who it has happened with..
December 31st, 2007 at 2:04 pm
No dude, there was an article put my Mike which was published and I even commented on it and now it’s nowhere to be seen. Not the first time it has happened.
December 31st, 2007 at 2:16 pm
This was the first one I put up on this match. Not sure what’s going on…
December 31st, 2007 at 2:56 pm
Sorry mike… I’m just sore my previous article didnt get put up
.. and nipuna is probably celebrating new year already 
December 31st, 2007 at 3:09 pm
I saw the other one too, nipuna. I don’t think its absence is significant though- seems someone may have reconsidered its posting. I’d be willing to get the previews and match reports, though you may want someone not in the Eastern Time zone… I done Website maintenance as side parts of my IT job and from my college days too. I don’t always post but I check the site out 3-4x daily.
December 31st, 2007 at 3:10 pm
It was posted by Rick. I saw it too and made a short comment on it. I believe that, luckily, someone realized it was a bid idea to have it up and took it back down.
December 31st, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Alright, let’s get this done before I disappear into a blizzard of Thunderbird wine.
I am still a bit confused by the Everton result. It was a classic case of careful what you wish for. The first half went according to our mid-season slump - we were outplayed, outfought, and down a goal. Then we pounced on some freebies and turned it around using a) the long ball, b) less than ennobling underhand tactics and theatrics, c) an over-physical approach and d) Dudu scored exactly the kind of individual goals I felt we were missing from the Henry/Pires years.
I am the guy, like so many others, who’s bemoaned Wenger’s tactical inflexibility in the face of tough norther opposition. And now he’s come up trumps - atop the league on new year’s day - why am I still still queasy about our chances of fighting of ManUre?
Don’t get me wrong. I’m loving being top of the league and ManUre shooting themselves in the foot (especially when that foot is a yard to the left of the upright.)
But this is a team defining itself with every game. Even now, 20 games in, it’s like every fixture will show us something new, rather than confirm what we already know.
The West Ham game is now the chance for us to re-assert our high tempo passing game - not to mention some more revenge for doing the double over us last year.
December 31st, 2007 at 4:38 pm
Since this posting is a quasi-preview of the West Ham game, let’s look to that since it arrives tomorrow morning for us on this side of the pond.
A few observations- Justin Hoyte at RB?! Is Flamini actually suspended for this game?! Unless Diarra is partnering Fabregas in CM I think it makes no sense- unless he is being sold.. or perhaps a reward for Hoyte’s loyalty…
Rosicky and Adebayor back in to start with hopefully Eduardo still in the starting XI. Diaby and Walcott can be the impact subs.
So, my starting XI:
Almunia
Hoyte, Toure, Gallas, Clichy
Hleb, Fabregas, Diarra, Roscky
Adebayor, Eduardo
Bench: Lehmann, Diaby, Walcott, Song, Denilson
Finally, RvP out another 10 days (optimistically!) wtf!! Minor muscle problem is approaching 30 days… Counting him as a new signing in January is BS. If this is his expected contribution we will be counting on Eduardo, Walcott, Bendtner, and Vela as members of our strikeforce not him..
December 31st, 2007 at 7:31 pm
Off topic… sort of. Does Arsenal America have a mascot? If not I’d like to nominate my dog Gracie for the spot. Here are her qualifications. 1. She predicts Arsenal goals by having to take a piss. All four of the goals against Everton I had to rewind because she made me take her out. 2. She hates Yids. Especially Huddlestone. I could barely hear the commentary of the last Tottenham game cause she was growling and barking the whole time.
Check her out.
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.editAlbumPhoto&albumID=278267&imageID=19908066
January 6th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
will we need toure when he is out at the african cup of nations for two months or longer
January 6th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
surely we should have been in the lead 6-0 or more Bentners bike and Eduardo should have a hat-trick against Burnsely but we play decently and we took the win 2-nillllllllllllllll