Arsenal are five points clear at the top of the Premier League after a galvanizing 4 – 0 win over Everton.
Wednesday night was Arsenal’s game in hand against an Everton side who beat them just three weeks ago. At Goodison Park, Everton frustrated and out-fought Arsenal.
The first 40 minutes of this game looked as if it could play out similarly until Bukayo Saka took initiative. After an opening period in which Arsenal struggled for incision, Saka turned in the box and rifled a shot into the net.
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In first half stoppage time, Saka pressed Idrissa Gueye and the ball trickled to Martinelli with the keeper to beat. He finished, and after a VAR review for offside the goal was given. 2 – 0 at halftime.
The Gunners began to feel themselves after the break and the second half was a treat for their fans. They were provocative, aggressive, incisive and began to play with a seductive swagger. They added a third on 70 minutes when Leandro Trossard cut the ball back for Martin Odegaard to finish.
With ten minutes left, Martinelli scored his second after good play from substitute Eddie Nketiah to set him up. 4 – 0, and but for some wayward finishing, they could have had a few more after that.
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Mikel Arteta will be delighted with this match for two reasons. First, to not only win their game in hand but to win it so emphatically will be a real boost. Nobody demands 4 -0 thrashings, and they aren’t necessary to win a title. However, the belief that they are capable of that will be important following a recent run of poor form.
The second boon will be the fact that their fringe players were able to get some minutes while Arsenal were on top.
Kieran Tierney (who actually played the Zinchenko position as basically a center midfielder), Fabio Viera and Emile Smith Rowe all came on and helped sustain Arsenal’s dominance.
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Fabio Viera had two chances to score, and looked confident to impose himself in a way he hasn’t before. Smith Rowe was clearly rusty but still could have scored.
Under Arteta, Arsenal have had a habit of somewhat losing the players who don’t play. It was their undoing last season when they sustained injuries and the backup players came in cold. If they’re going to win the title, they will need more than their first 11 and Wednesday night was huge in expanding the pool of players who can contribute.
With Gabriel Jesus also nearing a return from injury, Arteta’s team could be returning to full strength at exactly the right time.
