Arsenal inflict five-goal thrashing on sorry Everton that leaves Ronald Koeman on the brink of being sacked

Same teams, same end of the ground, same weekend of the year, same magnificent technique; a very different result. It had been almost 15 years to the day that Wayne Rooney sent a shot racing past David Seaman, a goalkeeper more than twice his age, to become the most famous teenager in England, to end Arsenal’s 30 game unbeaten run in the Premier League, to win the game for Everton.

The stage was set here when Rooney, 32 on Tuesday, released a similar shot past Petr Cech. This time, however, he was opening the scoring rather than concluding it in injury time as he did back then. Instead there was still 72 minutes left to play, and that left Arsenal with the necessary time to regain the composure they had started with. Ultimately, this would be too much for an Everton team now in the relegation zone and struggling desperately under Ronald Koeman.

It would be tempting to make concessions for Koeman because Everton were still just about in with a chance of getting something when the scoreline was 2-1 to Arsenal and 22 players remained on the pitch. That was before Idrissa Gueye got himself sent off for the type of challenge that happens when a midfield is told to snap into challenges. To offer concessions, perhaps, would be to ignore Koeman’s very instructions to unsettle Arsenal, who had been pre-warned about Everton’s approach.

Koeman revealed his side would play this way following their defeat by Lyon. Ashley Williams repeated the message in the bowels of Goodison’s main stand later that evening. Then in his programme notes, Koeman reiterated what he had said before, writing, ‘It is clear that being more direct and more aggressive is the way for us.’

There is very little any opponent can do, though, when Arsenal mesmerise as they did in patches but particularly at the beginning. On four occasions in the opening eight minutes, there were moments of attacking promise. Had Michael Keane connected with Alexis Sánchez following an unruly attempt to stop his run, then Arsenal would have had a penalty. Had Aaron Ramsey and then Alexandre Lacazette been more clinical following sweeping moves, then Arsenal would have been 1-0, 2-0 or even 3-0 up and the result would have been settled before Everton had really touched the ball.

Maybe Arsenal’s ease lured them into thinking they could do what they wanted. Everton’s opener came from the sort of careless defensive play that has become their hallmark. It resulted in Granit Xhaka attempting to take far too much time in possession in a dangerous area and Gueye hunting him down. From there, Rooney had much to do. His finish, though, was stunning, opening up his body to disguise the direction of a curling 25-yard shot that Cech might as well have not dived for.

Arsenal are so frustrating to watch. They were guilty of trying to score the perfect goal. While Everton’s was borne out of simplicity: the sheer will of Gueye, the two touches of Rooney, there were occasions when Arsenal had opportunities to speculate a bit more but instead preferred to keep the move going, like when Sanchez created his own chance through quick feet and found himself centrally with a clear sight of Jordan Pickford, only to feed Hector Bellerin. Had Bellerin’s subsequent cross been buried by Lacazette then the lauding for aesthetics would have been merited. But Arsenal were still losing.

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The irony then, when their equaliser came through a long-range shot from Xhaka: of all people. It was as if the Swiss midfielder had become bored of all of the neat interchanges taking place between those in front of him, deciding it was time to lash something at Pickford, whose footwork was slow on a soggy surface. And yet, he was not helped by his defenders who did not react to his save and from there, Nacho Monreal was allowed to impose the maximum punishment.

It was the first time in months Everton were not booed off at half-time in a league fixture. Koeman, though, had either identified he had picked the wrong team by making a change or he had identified a problem he could not ignore. Williams’s keenness to show his aggression meant he was on a booking and therefore vulnerable to a red card, especially with Arsenal being so tricky in and around his feet. Williams’s removal meant a tactical switch with Tom Davies’s introduction in midfield pushing Nikola Vlasic out wide. Vlasić had started in the centre for the first time since arriving from Hajduk Split in August and though enthusiastic, had not fully embraced his new responsibilities defensively, which had helped Arsenal to stream forward.

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Playing behind Vlasić was Jonjoe Kenny and he was left without any protection from the Croatian when Arsenal’s lead was established through Sanchez’s perfect cross and Mesut Özil’s stylish header.

If Koeman had guarded against a Williams dismissal he had not with Gueye who was similarly on a booking from the first half. Everton’s confidence was flattened now and so, their prospects of a recovery became more unlikely when Gueye was deservedly ordered off after he clattered into Xhaka. With the extra man, Arsenal were irresistible again – and further goals from Lacazette and Ramsey settled matters.

Though Arsenal would later register their fifth goal through more Sanchez brilliance, it seemed appropriate that Everton would make the scoreline slightly more respectable because of an Arsenal mistake involving Monreal and Cech, which allowed substitute Oumar Niasse to roll the ball into an empty net.

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This was potentially always going to be a predictable story to write: one where Everton’s promises to go big on tackles would highlight Arsenal’s brittleness again, or one where Koeman would move one step closer to the sack. In the end, perhaps it proved to be both.

Everton (3-4-2-1): Pickford; Keane, Williams (Davies h-t), Jagielka; Kenny, Vlašić, Gueye, Baines; Sigurdsson, Rooney (Lookman 75); Calvert-Lewin (Niasse 75).

Subs not used: Stekelenburg, Mirallas, Martina, Klaassen.

Arsenal (3-4-3): Čech; Koscielny, Mertersacker, Monreal; Bellerin, Xhaka, Ramsey, Kolašinac; Özil (Coquelin 80), Lacazette (Wilshere 78), Sánchez.

Subs not used: Macey, Giroud, Walcott, Holding, Iwobi.

Referee: Craig Pawson