Roberto Martinez’s Everton had an almost great game against Arsenal, dominated the entire first half, and were a couple of minutes away from obtaining a home victory. Although Martinez set a great and creative tactic to face the gunners, with Lukaku playing a role on the right wing, and Naismith as the only striker, but with a clearly determined defensive function, the Magpies failed to hold the result, and in both Arsenal goals Magpies committed clear tactical mistakes.
The first Arsenal goal came from a simple passing play made between Ozil and Cazorla, with absolutely no pressure from any Everton defender. In front of them, McCarthy and Coleman were passively waiting attackers to break in, and let them think too much. But there wasn't McCarthy neither Coleman the ones that should have pressure the attackers, if so, a gap in the centre of the midfield, or the extreme right of the defence would have being made. It was the right midfielder’s function to have being covering that position, and McGeady, who had come in instead of Lukaku, was in the right top, waiting for a long ball to counter attack.
The second goal came from a similar situation, where Arsenal’s wing back Monreal came face to face with Everton’s full back Coleman, missing again one player to double the mark in that key part of the field.
Roberto Martinez took some risks in his strategy for beating Arsenal, and also, paid his price.
Source: DSG
