Sean Dyche believes that Arsenal lost their composure and veered from their game plan during their 0-0 draw with Everton on Saturday. The result marked a second consecutive draw for the Gunners, who missed a chance to capitalize on Liverpool’s slip-up, as the Reds were also held to a draw. Although Arsenal dominated possession and created numerous opportunities, they were unable to break down Everton’s steadfast defense and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who made a series of key saves.
As the game wore on, Dyche observed that Arsenal’s frustration led them to start “forcing” crosses into the box, a departure from their usual fluid style of play. He explained, “You need to know how to adapt when you don’t have the ball. At grounds like this, it’s challenging to expect to dominate possession, so you have to do the basics well.” Dyche was quick to praise his team’s discipline, particularly their pressing, recovery, and ability to stay organized for the full 90 minutes. “Arsenal are a quality team,” he acknowledged. “They create chances, but I don’t think we allowed them many. Jordan made an important save to his left.”
Pickford was the standout performer of the match, earning man of the match honors after making five vital saves to keep the Gunners at bay. Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard came closest for Arsenal, but both were denied by the Everton keeper.
Despite the draw, Mikel Arteta remained upbeat about his team’s performance, though he expressed disappointment at not securing a win. “We’re very frustrated not to win, as I think we were the team that deserved it,” Arteta said. “We controlled the game, we defended well, and didn’t allow them to counter. We created several big chances but couldn’t convert. It’s tough, especially when you’ve worked so hard to limit the opposition and still don’t come away with the result you wanted.”
Arteta emphasized that his players showed excellent effort in pressing high, tracking back, and dominating many aspects of the game, but the inability to finish chances and a lack of composure in key moments ultimately cost them all three points.
