Everton hit new low after Ozil regains form in an Arsenal riot
IF THIS was the end for Ronald Koeman, it came not with a bang but with the most pitiful of whimpers. This is how you know your time may be up: when Mesut Ozil outjumps your entire defence to score a header.
“You’re getting sacked in the morning,” was the gleeful cry from the visiting fans as the Everton manager stood powerless. Frankly, after this showing Koeman will have been lucky to last that long.
Seeing your team outplayed, out-thought and even – heaven forfend – out-muscled by Arsenal is not the most vivid demonstration that you are the man to lead this club out of its dramatic slump.
And to think, after the abject home performance against Lyon in the Europa League – a match which had done little more than showcase the multitasking capabilities of local fathers as they combined child care with hooliganism – things had started rather well for the beleaguered Everton boss.
When his side actually took the lead here after just 12 minutes, it looked as if his luck had changed.
Arsenal had begun with a zip, passing at pace between the Everton lines, prising open the home defence as if it were constructed of melting butter.
But, as is their wont, they had failed to capitalise on their dominance, squandering three cunningly worked one-on-ones.
Actually, squander is a little harsh on Jordan Pickford, who saved brilliantly from Aaron Ramsey and Alexandre Lacazette. But then Idrissa Gueye slid in on the perpetually dawdling Granit Xhaka in the middle of the Arsenal half. Wayne Rooney picked up the loose ball, waited for runners to distract attention, then took two touches before curling a beautiful shot past Petr Cech.
Almost 15 years to the day since he announced himself to the world with a spectacular goal against Arsenal, he reminded us he was still around with another.
The bad news for Koeman was it never seemed likely to keep a plodding, unimaginative, incoherent Everton in the game. Arsenal may have been profligate, but they were in sufficient control to keep conjuring chances.
Pickford had already turned an Alexis Sanchez strike past a post before the inevitable equaliser. This time Pickford could parry a Xhaka shot only into Nacho Monreal’s path. The defender slammed the ball home.
In a bid to add zest, at half-time Koeman brought Tom Davies on for Ashley Williams. It did little to invigorate his insipid side. The second-half had barely got started
when, invited to run by Lacazatte’s pass, Sanchez scooted down the left and snapped a lovely cross into the box.
Ozil, arriving ahead of Phil Jagielka, deftly headed home. It was the first time Arsene Wenger had played Lacazette, Sanchez and Ozil together and, as the chances came, Ozil was running the game.
“He was superb, agile, quick, intelligent, always at the service of the team with the quality of his passing,” said Wenger, whose 68th birthday could not have been sweeter. “He’s exceptional.”
Any hope Koeman might have had of constructing a recovery evaporated after 68 minutes when Gueye launched himself at Xhaka’s ankles and was dismissed for a second bookable offence.
It was the cue to an avalanche. Arsenal conjured 14 shots on target as Everton’s defence chased shadows. The third Arsenal goal came when Ozil drifted unopposed down the right and found Lacazette, who gleefully sidefooted home.
Koeman hardly enhanced his standing when he substituted local favourite Dominic Calvert-Lewin – an announcement that was widely booed. Unlike the reaction to the news that Jack Wilshire, whose name had been chanted throughout by the visiting fans, was to come on for Lacazette.
And when Ramsey added the fourth at the end of normal time, the trickle of those in the home stands heading for the exits turned into a flood. Thousands missed substitute Oumar Niasse stumble a late consolation and, perhaps fortuitously, Sanchez’s brilliant solo-effort for Arsenal’s fifth.
“Taxi for Koeman,” someone shouted as that strike hit the net.
What was most telling about his chances of surviving this crisis is that, by the time the final whistle blew, there was barely anyone left in Goodison to order him one. (© Daily Telegraph, London)