3 negatives and positives from Arsenal’s 5-1 thumping of Everton

Negative #2 – Failure to keep a clean sheet

Arsenal improved defensively this season but the boss will be concerned by the lack of a clean sheet to round off the campaign.

The unwanted streak continued on Sunday as Donny van de Beek waltzed into the box and met Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s cross before converting beyond Aaron Ramsdale. Hopefully, the backline starts next season on a better note than they ended it.

Arsenal’s last clean sheet came against Aston Villa back in March with Bernd Leno in goal. Being without two starting defenders down the stretch has proved to be detrimental and it highlighted the need for qualitative improvements at full-back.

Positive #2 – 3 goals from set-pieces

Set piece coach Nicolas Jover has rightfully been given a lot of praise this season for Arsenal’s improvements on dead-ball situations.

That came to fruition once again on Sunday with Eddie Nketiah, Gabriel, and Cedric’s goals all coming from corners.

Arsenal has been fantastic in these situations all season – scoring and defending set pieces – and should look to build on it in 2022/23.

Continued on the next slide…