What Everton players did after Bukayo Saka brilliance summed up major change

What Everton players did after brilliant Bukayo Saka moment summed up major change at Arsenal

In his latest ECHO column, former Everton player Michael Ball praises the Blues for the communication and leadership that was evident during a battling draw at Arsenal

Bookmark

This season has been a disappointing one and I have not been shy in pointing that out in this column. That makes it important to offer credit when I believe it is due and I think it is deserved after that valuable point in north London.

I fully understand that in an ideal world we, as supporters of Everton Football Club, should not be celebrating draws - of course we want better. But this is not an ideal world and given all the challenges faced by Sean Dyche and his players I thought they did really well at Arsenal.

For a long time I have been calling for more from those on the frontline and on Saturday I thought they responded, producing a solid team performance that was built around several good individual displays.

Leadership and communication are two important attributes that have gone missing at times this season but they were there throughout at the Emirates. It really stood out to me how much encouragement the players gave to each other - I saw it on the few occasions Vitalii Mykolenko was undone on the inside, for instance. Mykolenko had a difficult summer as he fought through injuries and has been playing catch up as a result but he showed confidence in dealing with Bukayo Saka.

As a winger, Saka does a lot of the things that a full back tasked with dealing with him does not want to do - particularly the ease in which he can come inside, which leaves you in two minds about what he is going to do. In games like that it is difficult to keep going because for 90 minutes you will be tested physically and psychologically - believe me, I have been there.

But Mykolenko did well and was a big part of his team coming away with a clean sheet. When he did get undone there was no finger pointing and no accusatory glances, I saw James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite and Jordan Pickford all work hard to pick him up, and that helps. When Arsenal did break through they then came up against Pickford, who was excellent again.

All of that will have provided a boost as this tough run of games continues. Against Chelsea and Manchester City and then also against the opponents who follow, Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth, Everton will have to maintain similar levels of bravery and discipline so this was a good initial sign of what the players are capable of under pressure and on such a significant stage.

There were still frustrating elements of the display - too many unforced errors and Everton turned the ball over too many times. That just makes it more reassuring to have seen that desire and determination against Arsenal because we know Everton will need to fight for everything.

The unexpected point is even better because it comes off back of the win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. That was an emphatic victory and Everton should have had more than the four they ended up with. With the postponement of the Merseyside derby it means Everton went to London with a good 10 days or so behind them and that sustained positivity has been welcome.

We all knew December would be a challenging month given the fixture list but we are now more than halfway through and the pressure has eased with the last two results. I was not expecting much but football is a funny game and this group rose to the occasion during a difficult spell in April and they appear to be doing so again right now.

Story Saved
You can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.