Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal Vs Everton: 5 things we learned – Mikel Arteta brilliance

By Andrew Dowdeswell

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 23: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates scoring his teams third goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Everton FC at Emirates Stadium on February 23, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Chloe Knott - Danehouse/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 23: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates scoring his teams third goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Everton FC at Emirates Stadium on February 23, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Chloe Knott - Danehouse/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 23: Richarlison of Everton scores his team’s second goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Everton FC at Emirates Stadium on February 23, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 23: Richarlison of Everton scores his team’s second goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Everton FC at Emirates Stadium on February 23, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /

3. Set-piece defending still an issue

Much has been made of Arsenal’s defensive improvements under Mikel Arteta. After three successive clean sheets and having conceded fewer than a goal per game under the Spaniard, there was good reason for the wide-ranging praise. Arteta had had a very positive impact.

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But here, those same defensive vulnerabilities arose once again, especially from set-pieces. Everton scored within a minute from a deep freekick. Sead Kolasinac was busy fighting with Yerry Mina, standing five yards deeper than the rest of the defensive line, which caused panic in the Arsenal ranks, David Luiz failed to head clear, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin was the only player to react to the loose ball, brilliantly prodding home an acrobatic finish.

Then, shortly before half-time, Everton scored from another poorly clear set-piece. A corner was only headed clear to the edge of the area, then Mina won the second ball to flick a header to Richarlison, who poked the ball through the legs of Bernd Leno. Arsenal failed to clear the ball, were panicked when it returned to the penalty area, and saw Leno stay on his line when he should have been more assertive.

All in all, it was panicked, disorganised, hapless set-piece defending. Arteta has improved many things at the club, especially defensively, but there are still weaknesses to be addressed.