VERY YERRY CHRISTMAS!
‘Unacceptable’ Arteta on naughty list
THAT target on the chest of under-pressure Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta just seems to get bigger and bigger.
“Hit ME” he has implored any Gooners unhappy with his management skil ls following an annus horribilis in which, despite winning the FA Cup, they find themselves languishing in the depths of the Premier League.
After yet another setback against an Everton side moving in the opposite direction it’s a case of forming an orderly queue to land a blow, as social media indicates there is a clamour to end Arteta’s reign.
It’s now seven Premier League games without a win as he wakes up this morning on the first anniversary of his appointment.
Arsenal sacked Unai Emery after 18 months in charge following a seven- game winless streak in 2019.
Arsenal’s long- standing flaws remained as unaddressed on the day Emery left as when he arrived. Many of which Arteta has inherited.
One is the question of Mesut Ozil – and the now growing call for Arteta to bring back the mercurial German.
It’s also 12 months in the Everton hot-seat for Carlo Ancelotti (above) but what a difference as his side leapt into second place in the Premier League table. No wonder he went over to the 2,000 fans allowed into Goodison Park to celebrate at the final whistle.
But while he can fight it out with Chelsea, Tottenham and Leicester for a top-four spot, the reality for Arteta is looking over his shoulder at the likes of Brighton, Burnley, bobbing around in the relegation zone.
Arteta said: “We are in a big fight. The results are not acceptable for the stature of this football club. This is the challenge.
“It’s a real ly complicated situation. We know that we have to change things quickly. But we also need a bit of luck. Against Everton we hit the post and had some big chances.”
Back in the North West here, former Etihad man Arteta was on more familiar ground geographically but is in the wilderness as far as the league table is concerned.
The Gunners arrived on Merseyside having recorded 34 Premier League victories against the home side, more than any other team – but even history couldn’t save them. It’s now their worst showing at this stage of a season since 1974-75. Everton with impressive back- to- back wins against Chelsea and Leicester, sensed that a nervy Arsenal were there for the taking.
Ancelotti said: “The position in the table is very good. But this is not the end of the table. I love it here and I would love to stay beyond my contract which runs until 2024. The aim is to win trophies.
“We have won our last three games because of the spirit of the team. We want to compete until the end and I believe we can.”
Everton owed their 21st minute lead to a touch of misfortune for Arsenal’s stand-in skipper Rob Holding.
The assist was made by former Gunner Alex Iwobi, whose £35million move to Merseyside has often been questioned by many Everton fans. But it was Iwobi who lit the fuse with a cross aimed at Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
The in- form striker’s glancing header was going wide only to skim of f Holding’s body and nestle in the back of the net. Arsenal hit back thanks to a moment of madness from Tom Davies. In attempting to hack clear in a crowded box he missed the ball and took out Ainsley Maitland-Niles giving referee Andre Marriner the easiest of spot-kick decisions.
Up stepped Pepe seeking redemption for his sending off against Leeds United – and he sent Jordan Pickford the wrong way.
But before Arteta could disappear down the tunnel for what should have been a comfortable half-time chat, a suspect Gunners defence once again went missing. Gylfi Sigurdsson swung over a corner and the only movement came from Yerry Mina who rose highest to direct his header past Leno from six yards.
Calvert- Lewin said: “We knew they would be exposed from set-pieces. At times we had to dig in to a man, but we never panicked.”
The Gunners moved up a gear after the break and almost levelled early on, Pickford’s weak punch from a Willian cross finding David Luiz whose effort was deflected onto the post by Abdoulaye Doucoure.
No one could really fault Arsenal’s determination, but although they huffed and puffed they couldn’t blow the house down, though Willock went close and Pickford did well to deny Bukayo Saka.
I love it here at Everton and would love to stay beyond my contract which runs until 2024 – my aim is to win trophies