Welton Toffee
Player Valuation: £40m
Everton 1-0 Arsenal
A last minute Andy Johnson strike saw Everton take all three points off Arsenal at Goodison yesterday. The win means Everton reclaimed their place in the crucial top six.
The match started brightly on what was a blustery day on Merseyside. After just eight minutes Everton broke through the Arsenal back line for the first time. Andy Johnson raced onto a looping ball past Lehmann. It looked for a moment like Johnson would get there to pass the ball into an empty net. However, Arsenal’s German keeper recovered well to punch the ball away in the nick of time. Everton fans appealed for a penalty but referee Mark Clattenburg waved play on.
One minute later it was Arsenal who were on the attack. In a rare defensive lapse, Jeremie Aliadiere was through on goal. However, Everton’s American goalkeeper, Tim Howard, raced out to tip the ball away from Aliadiere’s feet.
Lee Carsley provided the best effort of the half on twenty five minutes. The ball sat up nicely for Everton’s defensive midfielder, and he struck a ferocious shot. The ball swerved away from Lehmann before crashing out off the post.
Arsenal then began to put pressure on the Everton defence. However, some good saves from Howard and last ditch blocks from the likes of Stubbs kept them at bay. An entertaining first half finished goalless.
The second half started scrappily thanks to the battering wind. Everton created another chance nine minutes after the restart. Lee Carsley looped a header into the Arsenal area. Yobo managed to beat the offside trap but his flicked header went just over.
Arsenal started attacking Everton again. This time a mixture of good defence and awful finishing from Arsenal kept Everton in the game.
With around twenty minutes to go, Leon Osman went agonisingly close to scoring. The ball bounced around in the Arsenal area before Osman threw his right leg at it. Lehmann stood watching as the ball hit the Arsenal woodwork for the second time.
Snow started to lash down on the Goodison pitch in the latter stages of the match. Arsenal’s glove wearing players didn’t seem impressed with the conditions. In the second minute of injury time, Everton won a corner. Arsenal failed to clear the initial delivery and the ball fell to Johnson. He grasped the opportunity by smashing the ball between Lehmann and Hoyte with his left foot. The Evertonians in the Gwladys Street End went wild as Johnson and his team mates celebrated.
This was a vital win in Everton’s quest for European football next season.
By David Robson
A last minute Andy Johnson strike saw Everton take all three points off Arsenal at Goodison yesterday. The win means Everton reclaimed their place in the crucial top six.
The match started brightly on what was a blustery day on Merseyside. After just eight minutes Everton broke through the Arsenal back line for the first time. Andy Johnson raced onto a looping ball past Lehmann. It looked for a moment like Johnson would get there to pass the ball into an empty net. However, Arsenal’s German keeper recovered well to punch the ball away in the nick of time. Everton fans appealed for a penalty but referee Mark Clattenburg waved play on.
One minute later it was Arsenal who were on the attack. In a rare defensive lapse, Jeremie Aliadiere was through on goal. However, Everton’s American goalkeeper, Tim Howard, raced out to tip the ball away from Aliadiere’s feet.
Lee Carsley provided the best effort of the half on twenty five minutes. The ball sat up nicely for Everton’s defensive midfielder, and he struck a ferocious shot. The ball swerved away from Lehmann before crashing out off the post.
Arsenal then began to put pressure on the Everton defence. However, some good saves from Howard and last ditch blocks from the likes of Stubbs kept them at bay. An entertaining first half finished goalless.
The second half started scrappily thanks to the battering wind. Everton created another chance nine minutes after the restart. Lee Carsley looped a header into the Arsenal area. Yobo managed to beat the offside trap but his flicked header went just over.
Arsenal started attacking Everton again. This time a mixture of good defence and awful finishing from Arsenal kept Everton in the game.
With around twenty minutes to go, Leon Osman went agonisingly close to scoring. The ball bounced around in the Arsenal area before Osman threw his right leg at it. Lehmann stood watching as the ball hit the Arsenal woodwork for the second time.
Snow started to lash down on the Goodison pitch in the latter stages of the match. Arsenal’s glove wearing players didn’t seem impressed with the conditions. In the second minute of injury time, Everton won a corner. Arsenal failed to clear the initial delivery and the ball fell to Johnson. He grasped the opportunity by smashing the ball between Lehmann and Hoyte with his left foot. The Evertonians in the Gwladys Street End went wild as Johnson and his team mates celebrated.
This was a vital win in Everton’s quest for European football next season.
By David Robson
