Game Recap: Arsenal vs. Everton

The players celebrating Eduardo's goal

Score:
Arsenal 6 - 1 Everton

Scoring Summary:
Denilson 26'
Vermaelen 37'
Gallas 41'
Fabregas 48'
Fabregas 70'
Eduardo 89'


What an impressive win for Arsenal! I had predicted a 2-1 win for the Gunners, and I felt that might have been pushing luck as Everton at Goodison are tough to beat. However, that was not the case as the team came out and gave a masterful performance and fully deserved the 6-1 win. The team had 18 shots and bossed the game with 54% possession. The team played with great fluidity, passed extremely well and finished with great precision. Thomas Vermaelen made his debut and fit in like he has play playing with this team for ages.

Arsene Wenger surprised me and actually decided to play the 4-3-3 formation. This is probably because of the number of injuries to our midfielders and its success in the preseason. The formation for Arsenal was:

----------------Almunia-----------------
Sagna----Gallas---Vermaelen----Clichy
----------Denilson--Song--------------
------------------Cesc-----------------
Arshavin---------------------Bendtner
----------------Van Persie-------------

which was what Arsene was toying with in pre-season. The game started a bit tentatively and both teams were a bit careless. However just after the 20 minute mark, Bendtner juked by a couple of defenders on the left side and laid it square to Fabregas who played a square touch pass to Denilson who curled a sweet 20 yarder into the top left corner. Denilson was playing a bit shaky before the goal and this seemed to settle him.

The team started to play with a bit more style but the subsequent goal was one of the most un-Arsenal like in recent memory. Van Persie curled a sweet free kick and Vermaelen scored a free-header at the far post. 2-0 up and Arsenal are cruising. If Arsenal are able to add proficiency at set plays as a successful way method to score, then we may be able to break open games where the opponents are content to sit 10 behind the ball. The third goal was similar to the second, this time Fabregas whipping it in and Gallas giving it a bit of a touch past a hapless Everton. Their defending on set pieces - usually very strong - was lacklustre.

The fourth and fifth goals were scored by Fabregas drifting up from midfield and drilling shots from range. The fourth goal was beautifully set up from RVP as he nut-megged a defender and Fabregas scored through Howard's legs. The fifth goal was on the counter as Almunia threw it out to Fabregas who ran the entire pitch, evaded the half-hearted Fellanini tackle and scored from 20 yards out. Great goal and if we are able to supply goals from midfield this upcoming season, it will put less pressure on the forwards and the loss of Toure and Adebayor will not be as severely felt as some predicted.

The sixth goal was a cheeky rebound goal by Eduardo after Arshavin toyed around with the Everton defense and toe-poked a shot off the post. Eduardo made his first league debut since his awful injury and looked sharp. His finishing will be important this upcoming season off the bench to break down negative opponents.

Arsene Wenger was very satisfied with the result saying:

'It strikes me the team are maturing at just the right time, and when you look at the players who could still come in, it is clear we are not short of firepower,' he said.

'We were ruled out as title contenders before the game, but now everyone will have us down as super favourites.

This is a very good result for the opening fixture and will give the team belief and strength for the upcoming Champions League match against Celtic on Tueday. It will be interesting to see if Arsene will stick with the 4-3-3 or adjust to a more defensive 4-5-1 or traditional 4-4-2.

Match preview of Arsenal - Celtic tomorrow!