Arsenal lost just their second Premier League game of the season with a shock 1-0 defeat to a Sean Dyche-inspired Everton.
The league leaders struggled to cope with the intensity of the home side at Goodison Park and struggled to break them down in a goalless first half.
They were ultimately undone by a typical Dyche goal – a header from a corner.
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James Tarkowski rose the highest on the hour to give his former Burnley boss a massive three points in his first game in charge.
Mikel Arteta, meanwhile, will be ruing the following four things he got wrong.
One of Arsenal’s best characteristics this season has been waiting for the right moment to go in for the kill, no matter how long they may have to wait.
It took until the last minute of the game to find the winner against Manchester United last time out in the Premier League – but it looked like they wanted to have the win wrapped up inside the opening 45 minutes at Goodison.
Gabriel Martinelli was a particular culprit of trying to force a breakthrough which resulted in possession frequently being lost before he was hooked for Leandro Trossard.
The impatient build-up did them no favours.
- Not testing Pickford enough
The Gunners enjoyed 75% control in the first half but just two efforts on target, neither of which tested Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Conor Coady blocked Bukayo Saka’s goal-bound shot off the line, but Eddie Nketiah’s close-range attempt should have reached the net.
While Arsenal has played some of the greatest football in the league this season, it never hurts to have a few shots on goal from nowhere.
It was also a quiet second half for Pickford, who will be wondering how he only faced one more effort after the interval.
2. Putting Odegaard on Tarkowski
Given Everton’s toughness, you’d think Arteta planned who’d be marking who at set-pieces, but Martin Odegaard marking Tarkowski defies belief.
Nobody was surprised when the Everton centre-back pushed him off as he sped through to head home the opening.
Whoever made the choice, it was a poor one that might prove expensive in the Premier League championship chase.
3. Losing the midfield battle
You wouldn’t expect the club starting the day 19th in the Premier League league to dominate the play more than the side starting first, but that’s exactly what happened.
The typically imperious Thomas Partey was off his game, which was understandable given his maybe premature return from injury, and Granit Xhaka was also not at his best.
They were outplayed by the Everton combination of Idrissa Gueye, Amadou Onana, and Abdoulaye Doucoure, who limited their influence on the game.
4. Impatient build-up
This season, one of Arsenal’s strongest traits has been waiting for the ideal opportunity to go in for the kill, no matter how long it takes.
Last time out in the Premier League, it took until the last minute to get the winner against Manchester United – but it appeared like they expected to have the win wrapped up within the first 45 minutes at Goodison.
Gabriel Martinelli was a notable offender for attempting to force a break, which resulted in possession being regularly lost before he was hooked for Leandro Trossard. The hurried buildup did them no favors.
