Singing the Blues' praises

Everton 3-0 BoltonSoccer Saturday analysis It has certainly been a good week if you live in the blue half of Merseyside.After their extra-time victory over Liverpool in the FA Cup in midweek, Everton put in another masterful display to beat Bolton 3-0 in the Premier League on Saturday.New signing Jo bagged a brace, while Mikel Arteta marked a fine display with a goal from the penalty spot - and Paul Merson was extremely impressed after watching the game on Soccer Saturday. "I thought they were a different class," he said."That's as good a performance as I've seen in a first half from any Premier League club this season, they were that good."It was important to start the game well because of what happened in the week and to keep the feelgood factor up, but I thought they were outstanding."Jo was outstanding and Mark Hughes will be pulling his hair out because he looked like a top-drawer player today, a different class. His touch and turn was Bergkamp-like for the goal."Arteta was just absolutely outstanding as well. Just class, class."RaceBut while Merson was full of praise for David Moyes' men, he remains unsure if they can overtake Arsenal in the race for European qualification."I still fancy Arsenal to be catching Liverpool and Chelsea," he continued."I think Arsenal are capable of going on a run. But you've got to hold your hands up because nobody ever says anything about Everton and they are playing very well."They were outstanding because Bolton are not a bad team and they really ripped them apart."Merson added that he was disappointed by Bolton and the way they failed to take advantage of the tired legs in the Everton camp."Given that Everton had played extra time and a big game against Liverpool in midweek, they were going to be tired."You'd think Bolton would come out and try to steamroller Everton but it was the other way round. They got the fans going and they were always on their side."I was disappointed in Bolton. There was a 10-minute spell in the game where they were good and a chance of getting back in it."Apart from that, Everton were absolutely outstanding."

Source: SKY_Sports