Scoregrid Game of the Week: Everton v Arsenal

Here is Scoregrid’s ‘Game of the Week’, a statistical analysis of the pattern of play in a major fixture. This week they chose Everton v Arsenal. Read on – and let us know what you think…

Game Roundup:

Arsenal won in the October encounter between these two stalwarts of the English game. On that occasion it was Everton who scored first and led at the half time whistle. It was a different Arsenal side who emerged from the dressing room and dominated the play putting 3 goals in the back of the net. This time around with both sides looking to squeeze into a European place next season there was everything to play for in the return leg.

First Half

The run of play shifted from end to end during the first half with each team battling for ascendancy. Arsenal started the half well and established early on the left wing as their preferred mode of attack. Everton showed some resolve and responded strongly to Arsenal’s early charge and settled in nicely to a holding pattern at one point having 60% of the possession.

Arsenal tried to regain their early hold on the game stepped up the pace and aggression towards the end of the half clawing back possession and regaining some attacking shape down the left flank again but the half ended without either team really looking like scoring. Arsenal spent most of the half running the same pattern and although they were able to find their way upfield on the left flank via Clichy and Nasri the combination was all support and no finish with neither player managing to produce a cross that caused the Everton defense much trouble.

Second Half

Both teams started the second half with a noticeable tactical change Everton sacrificing some of the midfield control they had in the first hald for a wider, more attacking formation and Arsenal moving the ball both sides of the pitch trying to spread the attack and create some room to strike. Everton’s tactical change proved superior as Tim Cahill’s exceptional header in the 61st minute put them ahead.

After the goal Arsenal settled into the midfield but never seemed to find their way forward into a threatening attack, even after bringing on Nicklas Bendtner for Alexandre Song Billong and Emmanuel Eboue for Bacary Sagna . Everton by contrast continued to attack from wide on both sides of the pitch putting in dangerous looking crosses on more than one occasion. When 3 minutes of added time were announced Everton seemed poised to take the game. Some nervous passing as Everton began to play for time and watch the clock saw a late opportunity snatched by Van Persie and Arsenal come away with a point.

The Heat Maps clearly show the stamp Everton put on the game in the seconds half the game was theres for the taking until they began to show some nervousness in added time.

Within the last three minutes they continued to drive the ball up the flanks but let go of it aimlessly forward in a weak attempt at playing for time, this lapse was all Arsenal needed to pull back to level in the dying seconds.

The above commentary, heat maps, and Football Statistics are Provided by ScoreGrid.com in Partnership with Nandos