These are Fresh Football’s ratings for Everton’s Premier League clash at home to Arsenal on Tuesday night:
Everton
Maarten Stekelenburg - 6
Nothing spectacular from the Dutch goalkeeper in between the sticks, but he did provide a few successful ‘Cruyff turns’ on Arsenal’s stars that went down well with sections of the home crowd. His experience throughout periods of the game were also an invaluable feature in Everton riding spells of Gunners attacks, cutting the impetus.
Seamus Coleman - 7
A typical, tenacious Seamus Coleman performance, completed by the goal late into the first-half that brought the Toffees level.
Ashley Williams - 7
From zero to hero - the Welsh defender was at the centre of Arsenal’s first goal, deflecting Alexis Sanchez’s free-kick past Stekelenburg, but the ex-Swansea skipper more than made up for his less than fortunate moment with an 86th minute winner.
Phil Jagielka - 6.5
Solid alongside Williams and pivotal in the build-up that led to his defensive partner’s late heroics, but the former Sheffield United man will be ruing a late tackle that saw Mark Clattenburg brandish a red card upon him, subsequently ruling him out of the Merseyside derby next Monday.
Leighton Baines - 8.5
The English left back was on top form versus Theo Walcott, picked up an assist for Coleman’s equaliser and was on hand to salvage Everton with an 11th hour clearance off the line from Alex Iwobi’s shot in the dying seconds of the game.
James McCarthy - 6.5
Lifted the crowd with some borderline tackles which, ultimately, Everton benefited from over the course of both halves.
Idrissa Gana Gueye - 6.5
Alongside McCarthy at the base of midfield, Gueye’s energy was priceless in maintaining Everton’s often relentless tempo and making things uncomfortable for Arsenal through constant pressure.
Ross Barkley - 6
A better performance from the under-fire Englishman, who on another day might well have chipped in with a goal or two with the chances he had to either score or assist.
Aaron Lennon - 4.5
The ex-Tottenham Hotspur winger put a shift in when required to do so, but he was, ultimately, disappointing in the final third.
Enner Valencia - 7
Among his best performances for his new club, Valencia ran the channels well and ensured an uncomfortable night for Nacho Monreal with his pace.
Romelu Lukaku - 6.5
An incredibly sacrificial display from Lukaku, often hanging within Laurent Koscielny’s radius to occupy Arsenal’s star defender for the benefit of his teammates. The Belgian’s link-up play from direct balls proved to be sound, despite rarely threatening to beat Petr Cech himself.
Subs:
Kevin Mirallas - 5
The winger came on to refresh the left flank when replacing Aaron Lennon, but didn’t have much success up against Hector Bellerin.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin - N/A
Ramiro Funes Mori - N/A
Arsenal
Petr Cech - 6.5
There was little the Czech Republican could do for both headed goals scored by Everton, but Cech did come up with a big save to deny Jagielka just moments before Williams’ winner.
Hector Bellerin - 6.5
The Spaniard grew into the game from an offensive aspect, meanwhile keeping both Lennon and Mirallas at bay on the right flank.
Gabriel Paulista - 6
Filling in for the injured Shkodran Mustafi after spells at right back, Gabriel appeared to have made the smooth transition back into the heart of the defence, initially, but the likes of Valencia and Lukaku did get the better of the Brazilian on a few occasions as the game opened up.
Laurent Koscielny - 7.5
Busy with Lukaku in his peripheral view, the Frenchman dealt with much that came his way.
Nacho Monreal - 6
A game of phases for Monreal. At times he looked troubled, in particular when in foot races next to Valencia, but there were also moments when the experienced left back was on hand to trouble the Everton back line with associative play on the flank.
Granit Xhaka - 5.5
The Swiss midfielder failed to impose himself on a hectic, end-to-end game, and how Arsenal could have done with someone to set the tempo on a night filled with disappointment.
Francis Coquelin 6.5
Played his part in combating Everton’s tenacity, pressing with success himself and winning his fair of 50/50s that kept Arsenal somewhat competitive in the middle of the park.
Theo Walcott - 4.5
Unfortunately for Arsenal, Walcott was never in the game.
Mesut Özil - 4.5
The pace of the game blew past the German playmaker, who will also be kicking himself for missing a great opportunity to make it 2-1 to Arsenal midway through the second half.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 4.5
Another who never managed to leave his imprint on the game, cutting a frustrated figure on Arsenal’s left flank and committing his fair share unnecessary fouls as a consequence.
Alexis Sanchez - 7
Looked to be the likeliest Arsenal player to tip the balance all night after scoring the first goal of the game, but too many of his teammates just weren’t on the same wavelength.
Subs:
Olivier Giroud - 4.5
The Frenchman’s introduction didn’t quite have the desired effect the Gunners imagined him to have, as Everton pushed up their defensive line and made it difficult for the target man to spearhead Arsenal’s counters through a natural lack of pace.
Alex Iwobi - 5
Promised more than both Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain from wide areas when coming on, but his general passing game was a little off in crucial moments.
Lucas Perez - N/A
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