Source: Team_Talk
Gunners are six-shooters at Everton
The Gunners exposed Everton's frailties in defence and the hosts' lack of depth.[LNB]The last time Everton lost 6-1 at home was back in 1958, and Arsenal did the damage that time as well.[LNB]Their passing, movement and finishing left Everton in shreds, and the north Londoners were three up at the break through Denilson, debut defender Thomas Vermaelen and his centre-back colleague William Gallas.[LNB]Everton boss David Moyes had suggested beforehand the Joleon Lescott saga had destabilised his team, but few would have predicted to this extent.[LNB]After the interval Cesc Fabregas struck with two fine goals, the result maybe suggesting Moyes should sell Lescott with Manchester City still interested, and spend the money on re-vamping his squad.[LNB]Everton included Lescott despite the ongoing saga of Manchester City's attempts to sign him, which prompted Moyes' angry outburst yesterday at the Eastlands club's tactics.[LNB]Brazilian striker Jo had recovered from an ankle problem, while Steven Pienaar was passed fit after knee trouble.[LNB]Arsenal gave their new Belgian defender Vermaelen his league debut, but were without Theo Walcott (back), Abou Diaby (groin), Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) and Johan Djourou (knee).[LNB]But their absences did not seem to matter as they systematically took Everton apart at the back.[LNB]Moyes got a heroes' reception from the Goodison Park faithful, and Lescott's name was greeted with far more cheers than jeers from a sell-out crowd.[LNB]But Moyes then had to sit and watch as his usually reliable rearguard, admittedly missing the excellent Phil Jagielka, fell apart before his eyes.[LNB]Arsenal were sharp from the start and their passing game was quickly on song. And when Phil Neville misplaced a ball in midfield, the Gunners flowed forward before Nicklas Bendtner drove a shot over the bar.[LNB]Then Bendtner headed down for Robin van Persie to see his shot on the turn deflected wide by Lescott.[LNB]Everton were having to work tremendously hard in midfield to contain the tempo of Arsenal's game and the Toffees barely created a chance in the opening half.[LNB]The goal Arsenal had been threatening arrived after 26 minutes. Bendtner surged in from the left before flicking a pass to Cesc Fabregas, who instantly turned the ball into Denilson's path.[LNB]The pace of the move left Everton floundering, and the fine strike from the Brazilian from just outside the area dipped and curled into the top corner.[LNB]Everton's response was predictably furious and they had Arsenal hemmed into their box for a spell.[LNB]Only a goal-line clearance from Denilson following Marouane Fellaini's header from a Leighton Baines corner stopped an equaliser.[LNB]Arsenal, though, were cutting through Everton with movement and accurate passing, and after 37 minutes they were two ahead.[LNB]Van Persie's free-kick from the right found Vermaelen beyond the far post, and the defender headed back into the bottom corner for a fine debut goal.[LNB]Everton's marking for that was dreadful, with Fellaini and Joseph Yobo seemingly at fault. But four minutes later when Gallas headed home another free-kick, this time from Fabregas, the defending was even worse.[LNB]The Frenchman had a free run into the six-yard box to guide his header home completely unmarked. Goalkeeper Tim Howard appealed for cover as colleagues stood motionless.[LNB]Everton were shell-shocked, and it got worse three minutes after the interval.[LNB]Everton were caught by a pitch-length move from Arsenal that ended with Fabregas cruising into the box to send his shot past Howard.[LNB]Denilson had started the surge deep on the left and found Van Persie before a neat pass left the Arsenal skipper to do the rest.[LNB]Moyes then made a triple substitution. Saha replaced Leon Osman, Dan Gosling came on for Tony Hibbert while Jack Rodwell took over from Jo.[LNB]The reshuffle included Neville reverting to full-back from midfield, where he had struggled. Rodwell, Fellaini and Pienaar both had chances as Everton struggled to get some pride back.[LNB]Arsenal sent on Emmanuel Eboue for Bendtner after 63 minutes, the game long won.[LNB]But Fabregas was not finished. After 69 minutes he collected a throw from Manuel Almunia and ran from inside his own half without facing a tackle to drive home the fifth.[LNB]Their jobs done, Arsenal took off Fabregas and Van Persie, sending on Aaron Ramsey and Eduardo.[LNB]With the ground emptying fast, and the Gunners' fans in full song, Everton just wanted this embarrassment to end as quickly as possible.[LNB]But Eduardo still had time to score the sixth, netting from close in after Andrey Arshavin's shot had come back off a post with two minutes to go.[LNB]Everton finally got onto the score-sheet in injury time when Saha netted after Pienaar's shot had been blocked.[LNB][LNB]
