Source: Daily_Mail
Everton 1 Arsenal 6: Fabulous Fabregas stars as Gunners go goal crazy
Just three minutes into the second half, Cesc Fabregas ended this match as a meaningful contest and left Everton to count the cost of the Joleon Lescott soap opera.[LNB] When Arsenal captain Fabregas accepted Robin van Persie's invitation to heap further humiliation on a club in turmoil, you could feel the sense of dismay in Goodison Park. [LNB]For the record, Lescott played last night, despite his transfer request, and Everton supporters openly backed the decision from the start. Whether there was any point in Lescott's appearance, or that of any other Everton defender by the end of this calm annihilation, is another question entirely.[LNB] Top Gunner: Thomas Vermaelen (second right) is congratulated by team-mates after scoring Arsenal's second goal[LNB]Everton manager David Moyes was adamant last night that Lescott isnot for sale, despite Manchester City boss Mark Hughes's insistencethat a possible deal is still alive. [LNB]'Our interest is not over,' said Hughes after Moyes had calledCity's behaviour 'disgusting and disruptive'. Hughes was even moreprovocative when he added: 'I can understand why David Moyes isaggrieved, you always are when a big club comes in for one of yourbetter players.' [LNB]When told of his counterpart's remarks, Moyes simply glared andreplied, unquestioningly: 'There is no deal, is there?' Yet, Hughes hadearlier hinted that City might be negotiating with Everton at a higherlevel when he claimed: 'There is no point in calling David Moyes justso that he can say "no" and put the phone down.' [LNB]Happy days: Denilson celebrates his strike with Andrey Arshavin[LNB]When asked last night if he would consider his own position shouldEverton sell Lescott without his blessing, Moyes simply glared againand said: 'I think I've already said that Everton are not selling.' [LNB]As for Arsenal, you wonder what the bookies could have been thinkingwhen they made Arsene Wenger's men 8-1 outsiders for the PremierLeague. They were casually devastating, a joy to watch. [LNB]When Barcelona target Fabregas was allowed to stroll from halfwaywith 21 minutes left, before drilling a simple fifth past Tim Howardand a back-pedalling Lescott, it prompted a mass walk-out. [LNB]At least those fans were spared witnessing Arsenal's sixth, fromsubstitute Eduardo. 'Boring, boring Arsenal', chanted the travellingfans. Lescott had looked a little sheepish as he stepped out with histeammates before the start. [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] I don't believe it: Joleon Lescott, a target for Manchester City, shows the strain[LNB]He was the only one not to applaud the Goodison positives out ofthis performance at all, it was so disappointing.' It became much worsefor Moyes as Arsenal made a mockery of the long odds on their titlechallenge. [LNB]Three minutes after the restart, Van Persie gifted Fabregas thechance to end the match as a contest, and he made no mistake. Arsenal'sfifth looked more like the waving of the Merseyside white flag, asFabregas was allowed to stroll from the halfway line. [LNB]A backpedalling Lescott was fully exposed as the Spaniard thrustanother mortal blow into the wounded animal that is Everton FootballClub. Indeed, it is hard to imagine a club in more turmoil due to theattempts of another to sign one of their players. [LNB]Defensive quartets rely on unity and determination, and if eachmember knows that one of its number would rather not be there, it caneffect the entire unit psychologically.[LNB] The many thousands of Everton fans who no longer wished to be theretook their leave at this point, as Arsenal supporters sang 'Lescott forTottenham'. They would, therefore, have missed Arsenal's sixth, evenmore casual than the fifth. [LNB] William the conqueror: Scorer Gallas celebrates with Robin van Persie [LNB]Andrey Arshavin toyed with the Everton defence yet again beforepoking a shot against Howard's post. The rebound landed at the feet ofa wonderfully alert Eduardo, who tapped home to announce his return tothe Premier League stage after an 18-month spell which began with hishorrific leg-break at Birmingham. [LNB]Louis Saha's late reply merely brought ironic cheers from his ownsupporters. The most honest indicator of Arsenal's brilliance was thatapplause from Everton fans as the visitors left the pitch. [LNB] Shooting star: Cesc Fabregas makes it 4-0 for the Gunners[LNB] [LNB]Arsene Wenger smiled: 'From noncompetitors to superheroes, twoextremes! This will give us confidence for the Celtic match in theChampions League on Tuesday. It also shows that we do have a squad.' [LNB]It is only one game. But what a performance. And events here mightjust persuade the stubborn Moyes that it would be better to sellLescott after all. [LNB] Chelsea 2 Hull 1Aston Villa 0 Wigan 2Blackburn 0 Man City 2Bolton 0 Sunderland 1Portsmouth 0 Fulham 1Stoke 2 Burnley 0Wolves 0 West Ham 2EVERTON
