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Mikel Arteta produced a head-stratcher in Everton v Arsenal.
Jonathan Burnett
Sat 14 December 2024 17:30, UK
Mikel Arteta taking off Martin Odegaard was “handy” for Everton in their 0-0 draw with Arsenal on Saturday, Tim Sherwood said.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday (14 December, 4:21pm), Sherwood reacted as Arteta withdrew his captain 62 minutes into their Premier League stalemate with the Toffees at the Emirates.
Odegaard and Arsenal had knocked at the door several times against Dyche’s men, but Jordan Pickford helped to keep them at bay despite some of his defenders being given the run-around.
Sherwood said: “Surprising changes from Mikel Arteta.
“If I’m Sean Dyche and I see Martin Odegaard coming off, I’m thinking that’s handy.”
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While Everton came into the game fresher than most following a 10-day break since their last match – due to Storm Darragh postponing the Merseyside Derby – Dyche’s setup was still one of containment.
Facing an Arsenal side who made light work of AS Monaco in a 3-0 Champions League win in midweek, that approach is understandable, even though the Blues were 4-0 winners against Wolves last time out.
Everton Tim Sherwood
Tim Sherwood reacted to Everton’s 0-0 draw with Arsenal at the Emirates
Taking Odegaard off almost half an hour before the full-time whistle – and for a youngster in the form of Ethan Nwaneri – suggests that the setup of Dyche’s side was indeed too much for Arteta to break down.
Dyche will indeed have seen Odegaard being withdrawn as a positive for the final half-hour of the match, as his Toffees continued to keep Arsenal at arm’s length to win a well-earned point in North London.
Although it was far from the prettiest performance, it’s a result Dyche will take all day, and the surprising substitutions made by Arteta suggest that it’s the Blues boss who won the battle on the touchline.
In other Everton news, one Toffees player could be given an ultimatum over his future at Goodison Park as contract talks stall.
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