Why plucky Everton can shock United and Arsenal

Why plucky Everton can shock United and Arsenal

Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring his side’s fourth goal against Stoke City (Picture: PA Wire)

Everton’s 4-0 thrashing of Stoke City on Saturday was the perfect prelude to what could be one of their most decisive weeks of the season.

The Toffees travel to Old Trafford on Wednesday before heading south to the Emirates on Sunday in what represents an early litmus test of Roberto Martinez’s tenure on Merseyside.

After the dust settled following last weekend’s pulsating Merseyside derby the reality was, for all the entertainment, Everton had drawn their third match in a row and were beginning to lose ground on the Premier League pace-setters.

That made the next game against Stoke a must win, even if it was always going to be overshadowed by the looming presence of United and Arsenal on the fixture list.

The Potters were only slightly less rugged and uncompromising than they were under Tony Pulis, but they were still as unambitious, seemingly content to sit back and cling onto the draw.

That meant Everton had to be patient in the first half, but once the first goal went in from the excellent Gerard Deulofeu, the result was never in doubt.

But what made the victory so satisfying was the style in which it was achieved. The Toffees were outstanding in the second half, launching attack after attack with both full-backs bombing forward and the midfielders roving into the penalty area from deep.

Goals from Bryan Oviedo and Seamus Coleman meant it was the first time both full backs scored in the same game in Everton’s entire history – symbolic of the bold approach employed by Martinez this season.

Gerard Deulofeu scores the opening past goalkeeper Asmir Begovic against Stoke (Picture: Getty Images)

Everton fans are all too aware that the team could be dragged down to earth with a bump in the coming days but they arguably have the best chance of beating United and Arsenal on their own patch in years.

Martinez’s predecessor, David Moyes, was often criticised for his negative approach to games at the Premier league’s leading lights that seemingly reflected a lack of belief in his players’ ability of causing an upset.

But Moyes’ pragmatism has been replaced by Martinez’s optimism and he insists Everton will head to Manchester with no fear and intend to attack.

That, of course, will leave the side open to being caught out at the back, as Martinez’s Wigan side was on many occasions.

But if this topsy-turvy season has taught us one thing it’s that no side is truly unbeatable, even United, whose veneer of invincibility at Old Trafford has been lost for the first time in a generation.

That same generation has never seen Everton take all three points from home of the champions (1992 stat fans) but Wednesday perhaps represents their best ever chance to do so.

Source: Metro