Sean Dyche’s reign as Everton boss got off to the perfect start today after his side secured a brilliant 1-0 home win over league leaders Arsenal.
Right from the off the Toffees looked a completely different outfit to the one that struggled so badly under Frank Lampard, with the home team the better of the sides for the majority of the first half.
Dyche would have been left frustrated though that Everton were unable to take advantage of their positive display, with both Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Abdoulaye Doucoure missing glorious chances to take the lead.
Arsenal did go close to opening the scoring just before half-time, but Conor Coady did well to clear Bukayo Saka’s volley off the line.
Everton fans will have been worried that their side would struggle to match the intensity of their first-half display, although on the hour mark, the Toffees got the goal they deserved and it was a goal full of connections to Dyche’s former club Burnley. Summer signing from Burnley Dwight McNeil’s inswinging corner was met at the back stick by another former Claret, James Tarkowski, who headed back across goal and into the bottom corner.
Arsenal pushed on in search of an equaliser late on but it was a testament to Dyche’s side’s defensive organisation that Jordan Pickford barely had a save to make all afternoon and Everton held on for a first Premier League win since October 22nd.
Speaking afterwards Dyche was delighted with the performance of his players and the atmosphere within Goodison Park.
“I like these 1-0 wins. A lot of work has been done this week and the players’ honesty has been invaluable to us,” Dyche told BBC’s MOTD.
”There had to be a base to work from. Our plan? Stop it going in our net, put it in their net.
“We tried to plan five weeks of pre-season into a week. We gave the players a lot of information and they have accepted that. It’s a starting point – that is all it is.
“The fans are going to be massive for us. I have been here [Goodison Park] when it has been rocking. It was rocking today. But we have to give the fans something.
“Of course I’m going to drive home and think what a great start but I’m not naive. We have to keep working and improving.”
