Ancelotti and Arteta survey size of tasks that lie ahead
On this evidence there is plenty of work to do for Carlo Ancelotti and Mikel Arteta. Both were in the directors’ box at Goodison Park and got a close-up look at why their new teams have been struggling this season.
Ancelotti wore that circumspect look he bears whether he has won the Champions League or been defeated in a pre-season friendly, while Arteta, sandwiched between Arsenal directors, had an expression that never strayed from serious.
They watched a game short on quality and goalmouth action, aside from a superb save from Jordan Pickford to deny a winner for Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
There was no hint of the “Caretaker Derby” becoming a carefree, open final game for Everton’s Duncan Ferguson and Freddie Ljungberg, of Arsenal, before they handed over the reins to the Premier League’s newest managerial appointments.
In the final seconds the pair spoke while the ball was still in play, Ljungberg’s hand cupping his mouth and Ferguson with his arm around his counterpart.
“I was telling him I hoped the whistle would go because we were all happy with a draw,” said Ferguson. “It wasn’t a great game, so let’s get it finished.”
Ferguson’s suit, sweatband and lucky watch from the late Howard Kendall, will now go back in the cupboard, but he expects to be part of Ancelotti’s new set-up.
The Scot has overseen memorable performances against Chelsea and Manchester United in the Premier League, and a Carabao Cup semi-final comeback against Leicester, but this game will not be included in the highlights reel of the season.
Ljungberg made a bold team selection with his starting line-up having an average age of 23.6, including teenagers Gabriel Martinelli, Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka, who filled in at left-back to solve Arsenal’s defensive injury problems.
Mesut Ozil had a foot injury, but would have been dropped anyway after his angry reaction, as he left the field, when he was substituted last weekend against Manchester City.
Ljungberg also had £72 million of talent unused on the bench with Nicolas Pepe overlooked for Joe Willock.
“We have a lot of talent, but I wasn’t happy with the effort we put in,” said Ljungberg. “They are a top, top team. But you still need to run. You need to put in an effort.
“I know they are young and some don’t have experience, some were making their Premier League debut, we had an 18-year-old winger at leftback. But, hey, they did really well away from home and dominated the game so we should be proud of that.”
Arteta’s return to the club where he played was confirmed on Friday, then he travelled with the team and had another reunion on Merseyside. The Spaniard spent six years at Everton and staff from his other former club embraced him as he arrived.
He was in the changing room just before kick-off and after the final whistle.
“Mikel wants us to be brave, take responsibility and to work hard for each other. We’ll be working hard on his philosophy this week in training,” said Arsenal centre-back Calum Chambers.
Arteta will be encouraged by a clean sheet – Arsenal’s first since the start of October – but going forward it was not it appears there is an appetite for stability and support after falling so far off the pace behind the Premier League. Footage later emerged of AFTV’s Robbie Lyle being confronted by fans, with police involved in ugly scenes Fans also sang “Mikel Arteta, he’s one of our own” and could have been travelling down the M6 with all three points but for Pickford’s save. In the only moment of excitement in the game, Aubameyang clipped the ball towards goal from the back post from a corner, only to see Pickford claw it away. Ferguson’s final act as caretaker manager was to hook another of his substitutes, as he had done last weekend with Moise Kean at Old Trafford.
This time Kean came on for Cenk Tosun, who had been introduced earlier following a hamstring injury to Alex Iwobi that is expected to rule him out of the Christmas fixtures. The Turkey striker did not look impressed as he headed down the tunnel.
“I can understand why they are upset, but I make the decisions,” said Ferguson. “I do it for the benefit of the team as I see it; it might be the wrong call or it might be the right call. As far as I’m concerned we’ve got another point and a clean sheet.”