Everton Battle to Victory over Arsenal
By Rhys Lewis
January 22 2006
Everton beat Arsenal 1-0 at Goodsion Park thanks to a goal in the 14th minute from James Beattie. Arsenal's misery was confounded in the last minute when Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas was sent off for raising his hands to Tim Cahill.
January 22 2006
Everton beat Arsenal 1-0 at Goodsion Park thanks to a goal in the 14th minute from James Beattie. Arsenal's misery was confounded in the last minute when Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas was sent off for raising his hands to Tim Cahill.
This was a fast and furious game, it was the type of game that makes the Premiership exciting to watch. Arsenal are one of the best passing sides in the world but today Everton didn't let Arsenal settle and show it. Right from the frst whistle to the last whistle led by James Beattie up front, Everton charged round the pitch with a real determination to win. The type of determination to win that got them 4th place last season.
It was Everton that looked the sharpest and looked most like scoring in the early stages. Beattie had his first site at goal after 6mins, a tremendous touch saw him break throught the Arsenal defence only for a superb challenge from Gilbert on his Premier League debut to deny Beattie. Arsenal then came close to opening the scoring after 12mins when some good work this time in the attacking third by Gilbert who found Ljungberg, whose shot was tipped onto the post by Nigel Martyn. Everton took the lead from the very next attack. Tim Cahill clipped a ball over the top for James Beattie to chase, he was 2 yards behind the Arsenal centre backs and had no right to win the ball, but he did. He barged his way past both Campbell and Senderos before cooly slotting it home past Jens Lehmann for his seventh goal of the season. It was the type of goal that a typical Everton no.9 would score, and Beattie is looking more and more like an Everton no.9 with every game. Beattie then had the chance to double the lead 10mins later. Some poor play from Fabregas led to a short back pass but Beattie only managed to clip it wide when he should have been more composed. Everton went in at half time 1-0 up and thouroughly deserving that lead.
Arsenal had more of the ball in the second half and for the first 20mins they were attacking constantly but without ever looking like breaking through. Alan Stubbs came on for his debut since his return, after Ferrari went off injured in the first half and his partnership with David Weir looked as strong as it did last season. Weir has looked shaky all season but as soon as Stubbs came on he looked more at ease. Despite the dominance of Arsenal it was Everton that came closest to scoring the second goal of the game. First of all the outstanding Leon Osman crossed it into the middle and had it not been for a brilliant interception from Sol Campbell, James Beattie would have made it 2-0. From the following corner Tim Cahill rose above everyone but could only put his header over the bar. The only real attempt of any note from Arsenal was a long range shot from the anonymous Robert Pires, which was easily saved by Nigel Martyn. Tim Cahill then nearly managed to wrap up the points for Everton late on but his scuffed shot was saved by Lehmann after some fine work from Beattie. Arsenal's frustrations were shown at the end when Fabregas was sent off. Arsenal were incensed after Cahill deliberatly tried to take out Henry but Fabregas unnecisarily got involved and raised his hand to Cahill leaving Alan Wiley no choice but to send him off.
This was Everton's fourth league win in a row and it is now 5 wins and a draw in the last 6 games. It has been helped by the return to form of Leon Osman and Tim Cahill as well as James Beattie continuing to show why he was such a handful at Southampton. It was a tremendous performance and a tremendous result, the team just have to make sure they dont let it slip as they did just one month ago.
It was Everton that looked the sharpest and looked most like scoring in the early stages. Beattie had his first site at goal after 6mins, a tremendous touch saw him break throught the Arsenal defence only for a superb challenge from Gilbert on his Premier League debut to deny Beattie. Arsenal then came close to opening the scoring after 12mins when some good work this time in the attacking third by Gilbert who found Ljungberg, whose shot was tipped onto the post by Nigel Martyn. Everton took the lead from the very next attack. Tim Cahill clipped a ball over the top for James Beattie to chase, he was 2 yards behind the Arsenal centre backs and had no right to win the ball, but he did. He barged his way past both Campbell and Senderos before cooly slotting it home past Jens Lehmann for his seventh goal of the season. It was the type of goal that a typical Everton no.9 would score, and Beattie is looking more and more like an Everton no.9 with every game. Beattie then had the chance to double the lead 10mins later. Some poor play from Fabregas led to a short back pass but Beattie only managed to clip it wide when he should have been more composed. Everton went in at half time 1-0 up and thouroughly deserving that lead.
Arsenal had more of the ball in the second half and for the first 20mins they were attacking constantly but without ever looking like breaking through. Alan Stubbs came on for his debut since his return, after Ferrari went off injured in the first half and his partnership with David Weir looked as strong as it did last season. Weir has looked shaky all season but as soon as Stubbs came on he looked more at ease. Despite the dominance of Arsenal it was Everton that came closest to scoring the second goal of the game. First of all the outstanding Leon Osman crossed it into the middle and had it not been for a brilliant interception from Sol Campbell, James Beattie would have made it 2-0. From the following corner Tim Cahill rose above everyone but could only put his header over the bar. The only real attempt of any note from Arsenal was a long range shot from the anonymous Robert Pires, which was easily saved by Nigel Martyn. Tim Cahill then nearly managed to wrap up the points for Everton late on but his scuffed shot was saved by Lehmann after some fine work from Beattie. Arsenal's frustrations were shown at the end when Fabregas was sent off. Arsenal were incensed after Cahill deliberatly tried to take out Henry but Fabregas unnecisarily got involved and raised his hand to Cahill leaving Alan Wiley no choice but to send him off.
This was Everton's fourth league win in a row and it is now 5 wins and a draw in the last 6 games. It has been helped by the return to form of Leon Osman and Tim Cahill as well as James Beattie continuing to show why he was such a handful at Southampton. It was a tremendous performance and a tremendous result, the team just have to make sure they dont let it slip as they did just one month ago.
Bookmark or share this story with:
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
StumbleuponSPORTNETWORK SPECIALS
More Everton headlines
Everton latest threads
Everton Poll
