He who laughs last, laughs longest and Jordan Pickford was all smiles following the final whistle as you could see all over his beaming face that he enjoyed this one.
Everton’s goalkeeper had been the victim of some rather cheeky barbs from sections of the home fanbase early on but as the man in bright green played ‘The Grinch’ to steal Christmas wishes of three points from Arsenal supporters, they were forced to eat a big slice of humble (mince) pie following his heroics between the sticks.
When Pickford shanked a goal kick into touch for an Arsenal throw in, a section of the home crowd launched into a naughty rendition of “You’re just a s*** Aaron Ramsdale,” referencing their former goalkeeper who has been a long-time understudy of the Blues ace with the national team.
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They might have thought it was a funny way to simultaneously stick up for their ex-player, now with Southampton, but along with losing his place at the Gunners to David Raya, prompting his switch to the Saints in search of first team football, Ramsdale has never looked close to usurping Pickford as England’s number one with the 30-year-old having now smashed the Everton record for the number of Three Lions appearances while at the club and currently on 73 caps.
Pickford, who endured a nightmare on his previous trip to north London in Everton’s first away game of the season, was back to top form here as he made a couple of terrific stops either side of the break to deny Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka and keep Arsenal at bay.
On an afternoon in which he and all those in front of him had to remain alert for over 94 minutes, he dealt with everything that came his way, including an under-hit back pass from Jarrad Branthwaite, to secure a most welcome of clean sheets on the road.