Arsenal FC v Everton - Premier League 2026/27
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Everton manager David Moyes.
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Jake O'Brien in action for Everton.
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David Moyes managing Everton (left) and Mikel Arteta managing Arsenal (right)
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Hull City v Everton - Premier League 2026/27
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David Moyes looks on.
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This 10-touch Everton player can’t keep starting as abysmal Arsenal stats emerge
Tom Procter
Arsenal FC v Everton - Premier League 2026/27
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Everton were comfortably beaten by Arsenal, and there was yet another poor performance from Brennan Johnson.
After losing 2-0 to Chelsea, Everton fans hoped to see their side respond against the Gunners. But it was always going to be difficult, given Everton’s poor record at the Emirates.
And that’s exactly what it proved to be.
Ezri Konsa and Gabriel were on target for Arsenal, and Everton just couldn’t cope with the Gunners’ quality and struggled to fashion good-quality chances. Thierno Barry had a particularly tough time up against Gabriel.
But being the only striker, there is little choice for David Moyes but to persist with the Frenchman.
But one man he does not have to persist with is Brennan Johnson.
Everton lose 2-0 at Arsenal… what did you make of that performance? 😕
Moyes has got to go of efc want to move on.Quite boring to see the same players weeks in and week out in the first eleven line-up.Needs a new manager to take efc to Europe this time.
Absolutely right!
Just do not get it with Johnson at all mate. Dibling had nearly 3x as many touches yesterday after coming on as sub. He even won more duels. I fear you might be right
Brennan Johnson cannot keep starting for Everton after again lacking influence vs Arsenal
Johnson arrived at Everton in the summer as part of a swap deal, and plenty of people were pleased about that deal. Even though he’d not scored for Crystal Palace, the general feeling was that he would be an upgrade on McNeil.
But so far, Johnson has been really poor, scoring just one goal for the club in the Carabao Cup.
And against Arsenal, Johnson produced a dreadful display, with Sofascore data indicating he only had 10 touches in the whole time he was on. He also completed just six passes.
Moyes took him off in the 72nd minute, which was frankly astonishing. Given how little he touched the ball, he should have been off much sooner.
Perhaps Johnson was chosen today because of his pace. Arsenal were always going to dominate the ball and force Everton to defend on the edge of their own box. So the counter-attack was a viable tactic and Johnson is suited to that style.
But he was totally out of the game. He had six touches in the first-half, and some will question why Moyes didn’t take him off at half-time.
Brennan Johnson vs Arsenal
Minutes played – 72
Touches – 10
Passes completed – 6/6 (100%)
Dribbles completed – 0/0 (0%)
Duels won – 2/7 (29%)
Defensive actions -1
Fouls committed – 4
What is frustrating is that Tyler Dibling had been looking really promising a few weeks ago, but Moyes did not really let him build on his performances against Wolves in the cup and Ipswich Town, with Johnson starting against Hull City.
Of Everton’s eight games so far, Johnson has started five. With zero goal contributions across those five appearances and little else to speak of, there is simply no way Moyes should be starting him regularly at the moment over the likes of George and Dibling.