EPL Week 1: Arsenal Slaughter Everton 6-1
August 15th 2009 21:07
Many pundits are looking at this season as the end of the Big Four's reign and to several of them, Arsenal will be the team to fall as Manchester City, Everton, and Aston Villa all eye a Champions League spot. The Gunners' first response to those critics was a big, fat middle finger as they thoroughly outclassed one of the Big Four contenders with a 6-1 beating.
Although the game started out as a pretty balanced affair, doubt and hesitation slowly creeped into Everton's psyche after Denilson fired off a cracking shot to put Arsenal ahead 1-0 in the 25th minute. That same Denilson would deny Everton the equalizer less than ten minutes later by clearing Fellaini's header off the line after a corner-kick.
Newcomer Thomas Vermaelen thanked the manager for his starting debut by scoring Arsenal's second goal in the 36th minute, heading Van Persie's free-kick past Tim Howard. Although small in stature, the Belgian midfielder made up for his size with an explosiveness quite similar to Nemanja Vidic's style. Four minutes later, the Gunners scored a similar goal to Vermaelen when William Gallas headed Fabregas' free-kick in the back of the net. At the end of the first half, Arsenal were up 3-0 without having any striker on the scoresheet.
Although not a scorer today, Van Persie kept up his role of playmaker in the second half, setting up Fabregas for the visitors' fourth goal of the game just two minutes after the game. Completely overwhelmed, David Moyes' team didn't know how to react anymore. At the 69th minute, Fabregas was able to run from the kick-off circle to the edge of Howard's box completely unchallenged as Everton defenders simply backed up. The Spanish midfielder made the Toffees pay for their naive play by firing a superb low shot fir his second of the game and Arsenal's fifth. To celebrate the goal, he went to the bench and took out a Daniel Jarque shirt to pay his respect to his fellow countryman who died of a heart attack seven days ago.
The pace of game slowed down a bit after that goal and the cameras panned several times to the stands where Everton fans were leaving in droves. Substitute Eduardo scored Arsenal's final goal in the 88th minute by seizing Arshavin's shot which had bounced off the post. Everton could only console themselves with Louis Saha's goal which came in the 91st minute when the French striker was presented to an empty net.
This game was an excellent start to the season for Wenger's season. In their playing, you could see that this was a time that took time to gel in the off-season. However, Arsenal's problem last year wasn't good results, regularity was. They have a Champions League qualifier next week instead of a league game. If they can't perform as well in those two upcoming matches (by performing well, I mean a convincing result, not necessarily a 4-0, 5-0 massacre), then I guess it will be the same ol' same ol'. Their work will be cut out for them as they'll face Champions League regular Celtic on Tuesday.
Arsenal line-up: Manuel Almunia, Bacary Sagna, William Gallas, Thomas Varmaelen, Gael Clichy; Nicklas Bendtner (Emmanuel Eboue, 62nd), Alexandre Song, Cesc Fabregas (Aaron Ramsey, 72nd), Denilson; Andrei Arshavin, Robin Van Persie (Eduardo, 72nd).
Although the game started out as a pretty balanced affair, doubt and hesitation slowly creeped into Everton's psyche after Denilson fired off a cracking shot to put Arsenal ahead 1-0 in the 25th minute. That same Denilson would deny Everton the equalizer less than ten minutes later by clearing Fellaini's header off the line after a corner-kick.
Newcomer Thomas Vermaelen thanked the manager for his starting debut by scoring Arsenal's second goal in the 36th minute, heading Van Persie's free-kick past Tim Howard. Although small in stature, the Belgian midfielder made up for his size with an explosiveness quite similar to Nemanja Vidic's style. Four minutes later, the Gunners scored a similar goal to Vermaelen when William Gallas headed Fabregas' free-kick in the back of the net. At the end of the first half, Arsenal were up 3-0 without having any striker on the scoresheet.
Although not a scorer today, Van Persie kept up his role of playmaker in the second half, setting up Fabregas for the visitors' fourth goal of the game just two minutes after the game. Completely overwhelmed, David Moyes' team didn't know how to react anymore. At the 69th minute, Fabregas was able to run from the kick-off circle to the edge of Howard's box completely unchallenged as Everton defenders simply backed up. The Spanish midfielder made the Toffees pay for their naive play by firing a superb low shot fir his second of the game and Arsenal's fifth. To celebrate the goal, he went to the bench and took out a Daniel Jarque shirt to pay his respect to his fellow countryman who died of a heart attack seven days ago.
The pace of game slowed down a bit after that goal and the cameras panned several times to the stands where Everton fans were leaving in droves. Substitute Eduardo scored Arsenal's final goal in the 88th minute by seizing Arshavin's shot which had bounced off the post. Everton could only console themselves with Louis Saha's goal which came in the 91st minute when the French striker was presented to an empty net.
This game was an excellent start to the season for Wenger's season. In their playing, you could see that this was a time that took time to gel in the off-season. However, Arsenal's problem last year wasn't good results, regularity was. They have a Champions League qualifier next week instead of a league game. If they can't perform as well in those two upcoming matches (by performing well, I mean a convincing result, not necessarily a 4-0, 5-0 massacre), then I guess it will be the same ol' same ol'. Their work will be cut out for them as they'll face Champions League regular Celtic on Tuesday.
Arsenal line-up: Manuel Almunia, Bacary Sagna, William Gallas, Thomas Varmaelen, Gael Clichy; Nicklas Bendtner (Emmanuel Eboue, 62nd), Alexandre Song, Cesc Fabregas (Aaron Ramsey, 72nd), Denilson; Andrei Arshavin, Robin Van Persie (Eduardo, 72nd).
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