IRELAND INTERNATIONAL SEAMUS Coleman was on target as Everton earned an impressive 2-1 victory over Arsenal in the Premier League tonight.
A deflected Alexis Sanchez effort gave the Gunners the lead, but two headers — from Coleman and Ashley Williams — earned Ronald Koeman’s side a big win.
Arsenal remain second following the loss, but Chelsea could go six points clear at the top if they win at Sunderland tomorrow.
Ireland assistant boss Roy Keane was in attendance this evening, and he will have been impressed by both Coleman and James McCarthy, who also started for the Toffees.
Wales defender Williams rose unmarked to head home Ross Barkley’s corner in a major disappointment for the visitors, who had taken the lead through Sanchez’s 12th Premier League goal of the season.
After Coleman’s headed equaliser, tempers flared at half-time when players from both sides had to be separated as they exchanged angry words and pushes on their way down the Goodison Park tunnel.
In a frantic finale, Everton defender Phil Jagielka was sent off for a second bookable offence and, with goalkeeper Petr Cech attacking in the home area, Arsenal saw two shots heroically cleared off the line.
Arsenal would have taken over from Chelsea on goals scored if they had won, but they remain second, while Ronald Koeman’s Everton climb to seventh after only their second win in 11 league outings.
Everton made a poor start to the contest and fell behind after 20 minutes when a catalogue of errors involving Williams gifted Sanchez the opening goal.
After Barkley lost the ball on the edge of his own area, Williams accidentally injured team-mate Idrissa Gueye with a lunging tackle that forced Jagielka to trip Francis Coquelin inches outside the box.
Sanchez took the set-piece, a powerful shot that deflected wickedly off Williams’s left calf and wrong-footed goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, who could only help the ball into his own goal.
But a minute before the interval Everton were rewarded for their response when Coleman headed home the equaliser.
Fellow full-back Leighton Baines swung over a deep cross from the left wing and Coleman, inexplicably unmarked six yards from goal, glanced a superb header past Cech for his third goal of the season.
- Ozil off target -
Arsenal, aiming for a 15th unbeaten league outing, which would have represented manager Arsene Wenger’s best run since 2011, had looked content to hit their hosts on the break during a strong opening.
After just six minutes, an overlapping sprint by Nacho Monreal saw the full-back pull the ball into the Everton area, but fractionally behind Mesut Ozil, who could only sky his shot high over the goal.
But after falling behind, Everton showed resilience, with Aaron Lennon, starting just his third game of the season, particularly threatening.
A good run and shot was well blocked by Gabriel, Romelu Lukaku blasted over from Barkley’s through ball and then Lennon, again, shot over from close range after a free-kick was deflected to him at high speed.
Ozil appeared to be at the centre of the scuffle that broke out at the interval and was quickly in action again after the restart, feeding Sanchez, who chipped into the box for Theo Walcott to head wide.
Ozil should have restored his team’s lead in the 54th minute when he latched onto a pass from Sanchez, but curled a shot well over from just inside the area.
Ozil was then almost played clean through on goal by Hector Bellerin, but Stekelenburg was sharp to the danger and raced from his goal to smother the ball, earning a kick for his troubles.
But Everton were not lacking in confidence after their strong end to the first half and, just before the hour, Lukaku chested down Jagielka’s long ball for Barkley to drill a shot narrowly wide.
A cross from Enner Valencia also caused momentary problems in the visiting defence, the ball taking a deflection off Gabriel and forcing Cech into action.
Lukaku was becoming more of a factor and a strong run, shaking off Gabriel down the left wing, ended with a shot into the side-netting.
Additional reporting by AFP
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Out with the old, in with the new. Great chance for Conor. Pretty much guarantees him the Munster no 9 shirt too.
O gara shud be out half for his territorial kicking alone
Where’s Leo??
Savin’ him for the Aussies
Eh…Leo? You can’t seriously be insinuating that he should start ahead of the mighty duo from Munster?
well at the very least he’s head and shoulders above Ryan on the bench!
Ryan can play both lock and blindside flank, where as Leo is exclusively a lock. Not to prejudice Leo, his record peaks for itself, but Ryan is a rising talent and the utility element is hard to ignore for any coach.
I don’t know what a blindside flank is! I’ve just leapt onto the rugby bandwagon! Come on you boys in green come on you boys in green come on you boys come on you boys in green! What’s a scrum half?
Ryan can cover both back row and lock, that’s why he’s there.
dont worry about the yanks………italy will be after our scalp big time, they owe us one from the six nations!!!
I would expect that once the Italy game comes around both teams will be probably Won 2 lost 1 with progression hanging on the outcome of it. don’t expect it to be pretty!
I’ve heard several pundits/experts say that Ferris should play in 2nd row with O Connell against Aussies, with Jennings,Heaslip & O Brien in the back row. Think it would be a good move which would add extra dynamism to the pack.
This looks very much like the team with one or two possible exceptions (Healy for Court) and maybe some tinkering with the backrow that is going to be used for the 1st two games at least.