MX23RW : Saturday, November 23 04:51:37| >> :120:18729:18729:
[monks data]
Attendance: 39,336
Everton logo
Premier League | Gameweek 18
Dec 21, 2019 at 12.30pm UK
 
Arsenal logo

0-0

FT

5 things Mikel Arteta will have learned from Arsenal's draw at Everton

New Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has plenty of work ahead of him if his side's goalless draw at Everton is any indicator.

New Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta watched from the Goodison Park stands as the Gunners ground out a goalless draw with Everton in Freddie Ljungberg's final game as caretaker boss.

It was clear Arteta, appointed on Friday on a three-and-a-half-year contract, has plenty of work ahead of him if Arsenal are again to become a team to be revered in the Premier League.

Ahead of his first match in charge at Bournemouth on Boxing Day, the PA news agency looks at five things Arteta will have learned from the clash with the Toffees.

A real leader is required

The Gunners have been crying out all season for someone to take the team by the scruff of the neck during a match, to cajole and to inspire. Throughout 90 insipid minutes against the Toffees, there was again no one who came to the fore to grab hold of a game that was there for the taking. Arteta needs to find someone who can guide with guile and steel.

The spark has gone from the attack

Everton v Arsenal – Premier League – Goodison Park
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (right) had little impact against Everton. (Anthony Devlin/PA)

Arsenal have scored just 24 goals from 18 games this season, one of their lowest returns at this stage in the Premier League. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has 11 of those, cut a forlorn figure at times against Everton as he was starved of service playing as a lone striker before being subbed late on for Alexandre Lacazette. Behind him in midfield there was little cut and thrust. Invention is again needed.

There is hope defensively

Arsenal went into the game without a clean sheet in 14 matches, in which they had conceded 28 goals. Arteta needed to see his defence not concede and he at least got that, albeit against a toothless Everton side that failed to record a shot on target. The Gunners' back four can claim they managed to keep their hosts contained. It is something to build on.

Youth is not the answer – yet

Arsenal v Manchester City – Premier League – Emirates Stadium
Emile Smith-Rowe made his first Premier League start against Everton, aged 18. (John Walton/PA)

The line-up was Arsenal's youngest since May 2011 and included the likes of 18-year-olds Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith-Rowe, the latter making his first Premier League start. For the most part, the youngsters acquitted themselves well, but if the club is to have any hope of pushing for a Champions League place then Arteta has to get the best out of his experienced players, while allowing youth to develop over time.

Fresh blood is needed in January

Arsenal v Aston Villa – Premier League – Emirates Stadium
Nicolas Pepe cost Arsenal a club record £72million in the summer. (Steve Paston/PA)

Former manager Unai Emery spent £138million in the summer, although one of those players – £27million defender William Saliba – was immediately loaned back to St Etienne. Despite what appears to be a strong squad on paper, including £72million club record signing Nicolas Pepe who was sat on the bench at Goodison Park, Arteta will likely want to bring in his own players who will react to his demand for energy and passion, both of which have been lacking of late.

ID:383651: cacheID:383651:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:10051:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Manchester City assistant coach Mikel Arteta before the match on November 30, 2019
Read Next:
'Ruthless' Arteta ready to create winning mentality at Arsenal
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!