As an Everton fan, Arsenal’s 2-0 win over the Blues at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday was not a surprise. Arsenal are one of Everton’s bogey sides in the Premier League, so a trip to north London is usually a fruitless exercise.
However, for 56 minutes of Sunday’s game, the Toffees look like they could take something from the trip to the Emirates Stadium. In fact, Marco Silva’s side saw Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech keep three or four efforts in the first period.
In typical Everton fashion at a top-six ground, the Toffees conceded the first goal on 56 minutes. The superb finish from Alexandre Lacazette was like a knife in the back of Evertonian’s, but we have seen it all before.
It got even worse three minutes late when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored when standing miles offside. The second goal killed the game and gave the Gunners a fifth straight win in all competitions.
Winning despite transition
There is no doubt there was always going to be a transitional period after veteran boss Arsene Wenger left his position as Arsenal boss. New boss Unai Emery is just settling into his position at the north London club.
What started out as a poor start to the season with understandable defeats against Manchester City and Chelsea has turned around completely in recent weeks.
The Gunners have produced four straight league wins, yet they have not even played that well in many of their recent outings. In fact, I cannot say that Emery’s side has been convincing in any of their four league wins so far this season.
Nevertheless, the team from north London have been picking up maximum points while not playing that well, the sign of a good team some would say. If they are doing that without playing well imagine what they will do when they hit top form.
Found a way of getting Lacazette and Aubameyang in the team
For me, both Lacazette and Aubameyang were great signings for Arsenal. Both players know where the goal is and have an expert knack of finding it. The problem for Emery was getting both in the same starting eleven.
The Spaniard had previously stated he would not play two strikers. That meant that one of the forwards would have to play out wide. Aubameyang has been pushed out wide, a position he is not unaccustomed with having played there many times in his career at Arsenal and previous clubs.
Although both scored against Everton, neither had great games and it would be difficult to say that Aubameyang was a major success in his wide position. However, if he once again becomes accustomed to the position, the two forwards could prove to be even more potent for the Gunners in the future.
Arsenal moving up in the Champions League betting
Arsenal’s big objective this season is to finish in the Premier League top-four after finishing outside the Champions League spots for the last two seasons.
The Gunners started the season as sixth favourites to clinch a top-four spot, they have now moved above Manchester United in the betting for a Champions League spot.
At odds of 15/8 to finish in the top four, Unai Emery’s side are not bad odds to return to Europe’s elite competition next season. They have not yet found form, yet are just one point outside the top-four positions in the top-flight.
If the Gunners can continue in their current vein then they will not be a bad shout for a top four in Emery’s debut campaign as boss.
Can Arsenal clinch a Champions League spot this season?
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