1-6

By Big Andy
August 16 2009

Arsenal certainly showed Everton just how it’s done yesterday at Goodison when they romped home to a 6-1 win against an Everton side who thought they were still in pre season game mode.

The Gunners exposed Everton's problems in defence and the lack of depth David Moyes has in his side to even think about finishing in the top half of the table, let alone top six.

Arsenal turned the clock back to 1958, that’s when Arsenal last inflicted a 6-1 victory at home against the Toffees.

Everton were torn apart time and again and found themselves 3-0 down and out of the contest by half time with goals from Denilson, Thomas Vermaelen and William Gallas. By the time Arsenal grabbed their first goal on 26 minutes it was already all too obvious who was going to win this game.

Phil Neville misplaced a ball in midfield, the Gunners flowed forward before Nicklas Bendtner drove a shot over the bar, then Bendtner headed down for Robin van Persie to see his shot on the turn deflected wide by Lescott. Arsenal then went into the lead, Bendtner came in from the left before flicking a pass to Cesc Fabregas, he in turn played the ball into the path of Denilson and he curled the ball into the net from just outside of the box.

Everton did have a go back and their best chance of an equaliser was denied by Denilson who cleared a Marouane Fellaini header from off the line.

But after 37 minutes Arsenal were 2-0 up, they were awarded a free kick on the right and Van Persie sent in a ball that Vermaelen headed home from beyond the far post while the Everton defence stood around and watched.

And four minutes later Gallas headed home another free-kick, this time from Fabregas, and the game was all over for the home side.Three minutes into the second half and the Gunners were at it again with a pitch length move that involved Denilson and Van Persie and ended with Fabregas sending a shot past Howard.

Everton were caught by a pitch-length move from Arsenal that ended with Fabregas cruising into the box to send his shot past Howard. Moyes then tried to alter things by making a triple substitution. Saha replaced Leon Osman, Dan Gosling came on for Tony Hibbert while Jack Rodwell took over from Jo.

Fellaini and Pienaar both had chances as Everton tried to resume some pride from the game.

Arsenal sent on Emmanuel Eboue for Bendtner after 63 minutes and Fabregas netted again on 69 minutes, he collected a throw from Manuel Almunia and ran from inside his own half without facing a tackle to drive home the fifth.

Arsenal took off Fabregas and Van Persie, sending on Aaron Ramsey and Eduardo as the ground started to get quite empty.

Everton and their fans just wanted the game to end now but Eduardo still had time to score the sixth, netting from close range after Andrey Arshavin's shot had come back off a post. Everton finally managed to pull a goal back in stoppage time Saha netted after Pienaar's shot had been blocked.

Everton Howard, Hibbert (Gosling 58), Yobo, Lescott, Baines,Osman (Saha 58), Neville, Cahill, Pienaar, Fellaini,Jo (Rodwell 58).

Subs Not Used: Nash, Vaughan, Duffy, Baxter.  

Arsenal Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy,Fabregas (Ramsey 72), Song Billong, Denilson,Bendtner (Eboue 63), van Persie (Eduardo 72), Arshavin.

Subs Not Used: Mannone, Silvestre, Gibbs, Merida.

Att: 39,309

Ref: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).