MESS OF BLUES

Koeman, his players and the fans are unable to fathom the depth of Everton’s dire collapse

RONALD KOEMAN was asked if there were any positives to be taken from this capitulation to the kings of capitulation.

He groped into the darkness of dismal defeat and came up with nothing remotely believable. They were OK in the warmup and that was about it. Forget Wayne Rooney’s throwback goal, the deceptive curler from distance, that gave Everton a thoroughly unlikely lead. That was slightly surreal. The reality was an Everton devoid of creativity having to look to a labouring, long-past-his-best Rooney for inspiration. Forget the irresponsibility of Idrissa Gueye’s second yellow card when Arsenal had the slenderest of leads.

Eleven versus 10 merely turned a mismatch into a formality.

Arsenal did not need cojones to win this game, they just needed to turn up.

And as they applauded their team from the field, moments after Alexis Sanchez had insulted a dysfunctional Everton defence for a final time with a knifetwisting solo effort, that is what should concern Farhad Moshiri and Bill Kenwright most.

Don’t forget, it was only two months ago, when a point was taken from the Etihad, that confidence amongst Everton fans and players was relatively high, if not bubbling, that faith in Koeman (left) was strong.

In two months, that confidence and faith has evaporated, turning the Goodison air silent with resignation and gloom.

It was so eerily silent in the second half you could hear Mesut Ozil whispering to the ball.

Ozil’s dreamy contribution, the elusiveness of Sanchez, the inventive industry of Aaron Ramsey, and as refined a team display seen from Arsene Wenger’s team this season, should not be debased.

After Nacho Monreal pounced on a Jordan Pickford parry to level

with a nicely-struck left-footer, you knew there was only going to be one winner.

That was confirmed when a Sanchez cross was so good that Ozil only had to give it a knowing look and when Gueye’s umpteenth foul of the afternoon ended his involvement.

There was to be no brave rallying from the Everton 10, no raucous encouragement from the muffled support, just an air of resignation as French striker Alexandre Lacazette gave an Ozil assist a thumping, rightfooted welcome and Ramsey casually clipped a fourth over a keeper who didn’t have this much to do at Sunderland.

Arsenal had 30 shots to the home side’s eight. One of the eight was when Oumar Niasse walked in a consolation after a mix-up between Monreal and Petr Cech but there was still time for the Sanchez mickey-taker (below).

At the end, there was no toxic protest from the smattering of Evertonians who had not already turned tail. Maybe they are as bewildered by the sheer depth of this trough as most observers.

Yes, the recruitment has turned out to be merely prolific rather than remotely productive, good in numbers, poor in number-scoring.

But this Everton squad should not be this clueless, should not look like it does not know what system it is meant to be operating or what formation it is playing.

Koeman was curt post-capitulation, his parting shot… write what you like. No one likes to write it but, right now, Koeman does not seem to have a clue.