Our Everton jury have returned to have their say on the Premier League defeat to Arsenal and the upcoming League Cup tie against Newcastle United
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 24: David Moyes, Manager of Everton, reacts during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Arsenal FC and Everton at Emirates Stadium on October 24, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
David Moyes during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Everton at the Emirates Stadium(Image: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
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Everton suffered their second consecutive 2-0 defeat after Arsenal beat them at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday. Goals in either half from Ezri Konsa and Gabriel Magalhaes secured Mikel Arteta’s side all three points.
The defeat came just a week after Chelsea beat the Blues by the same scoreline at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Next up is a Carabao Cup tie against Newcastle United, before the Blues face Matthias Jaissle’s side again on Monday night.
And ahead of the double header against the Magpies, our Everton jury have returned to have their say.
READ MORE: James Tarkowski shares Everton 'demand' ahead of back-to-back Newcastle clashes
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Paul McParlan
You would have to be an extremely optimistic or deluded Everton fan to want to make the trip to the Emirates on Saturday, a stadium where we have only won once in the Premier League era. Nevertheless, I, along with many other Blues made that journey more in hope than expectation.
The away trips to London are generally an enjoyable day out, with a party atmosphere on the train and some decent new hostelries to visit. The only thing that spoils it is the match itself and this proved to be the case again on Saturday.
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Walking up to the Emirates in the pouring rain, we learnt that Jarrad Branthwaite (we never win without him in the side) would be missing and that Jack Grealish would also be absent. It showed once again the ineptitude of our recent transfer business leaving us with a severely depleted squad that cannot cope with the loss of key players. We were forced to pick two substitute keepers to make up the numbers on the bench, it is such a damning and embarrassing indictment of how our club is run.
It was important that we didn’t concede an early goal but we did after seven minutes after some comical defending allowed Konsa to nudge the ball over the line. In fairness we didn’t collapse and we stayed in the game and could even have equalised when Thierno Barry had a chance which he flicked tamely at Arsenal keeper, David Raya.
Thierno Barry reacts after a missed chance during the match between Arsenal and Everton at Emirates Stadium on October 24, 2026
Thierno Barry reacts after a missed chance during the match between Arsenal and Everton at Emirates Stadium on October 24, 2026(Image: Julian Finney/Getty Images)
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Arsenal’s second goal on 68 minutes killed the game. It was another poor goal to concede with Vitalii Mykolenko allowing Ben White to run past him and cross into the box where Gabriel waited completely unmarked to head home. This is the third game running that we have conceded two goals, the defensive resilience we had last season seems to have evaporated.
With the home side in cruise control, David Moyes brought on Tyler Dibling and Hayden Hackney who looked quite dangerous and created some chances. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall went close with a header in our best move of the match. When the clock shows 85 minutes, you know it is ‘Charly Alcaraz time’ and so it proved again. The Argentinian had his customary 5 minutes to make an impact. Seriously, why not just bring him on earlier?
There was a mood of resigned acceptance amongst our fans at the end, we always knew what the outcome was going to be. We haven’t won an away game since 25 February.
Our League Cup game against Newcastle United on Thursday is a pivotal point in our season. It is a match we simply cannot afford to lose. This is an opportunity to quell the mounting frustration smouldering within our fans and give us some hope.
Win this, and we are three matches away from the final. If we lose there is nothing to look forward to but another winter of discontent.
Dan Friedkin owns Everton and Roma
Dan Friedkin owns Everton and Roma(Massimo Insabato/Archivio Massimo Insabato/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)
James Kellett
Everton’s 2-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium ensured the Toffees recorded back-to-back losses for the first time this season.
It was no shock that the Blues struggled to gain any advantage in their encounter against Arsenal, but the reaction to their defeat was clouded by negativity.
Although Everton were always going to be underdogs, some opted to poke holes in their game plan, with David Moyes being accused of ‘playing it safe’.
This is nothing new amongst Evertonians, as there are a plethora of examples when the Scotsman has been accused of being at the root of some poor defeats in recent months.
While this argument has substance, and his reluctance to shake things up could cost him his job, other factors have simply been forgotten.
Taking their most recent result as an example, Arsenal claimed an early lead after Jordan Pickford failed to deal with a ball from a set piece, which perfectly set Ezri Konsa up for his first Gunners goal.
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 24: Jordan Pickford of Everton reacts during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Arsenal FC and Everton at Emirates Stadium on October 24, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Jordan Pickford's face says it all as Everton go down to a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium(Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
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And the examples do not stop there, the Toffees’ dreadful end to the season was once more characterised by sloppy defending and poor mistakes. Moyes has not been helped by his squad, and a manager can only do so much when his players are not hitting the expected standards.
Yet this is where the 63-year-old must show ruthlessness in his squad selections by using the options he has and trying something new. This is spotlighted through the current debate raging amid the fanbase concerning Tyler Dibling and Brennan Johnson.
Johnson’s afternoon at The Emirates was immensely below par, with the Welshman struggling to assert any authority on the game. His performances in recent weeks have not been of a great standard, so fans are confused by the fact he has managed to retain a starting place.
Everton’s horrendous transfer business in the summer does offer some excuse for Moyes's unwillingness to make bold changes, as he has been left with one of the weakest squads in the league.
However, as of this moment, he has numerous first-team options on his substitutes bench, and he must turn to them if the Scotsman is to inject some hope and enthusiasm into Evertonians.
Everton boss David Moyes
Mark McParlan
Last Saturday at Arsenal was a complete waste of our time and money, and the worst thing is that everyone knew this was going to happen. Conceding a corner in that fashion was absolutely appalling; allowing their centre-back to score from open play was even worse.
The inability to so much as ‘lay a glove on’ Arsenal, which I predicted last week, was just enraging. We played for damage limitation and nothing else. Nobody is saying we should be going there and winning, but let’s at least have some belief, and have a go.
I can’t be the only Evertonian apoplectic to see League Two Fleetwood Town subsequently manage to knock Arsenal out of the League Cup on Tuesday night. That is an utterly damning indictment of our meek surrender.
Merlin Rohl battles for possession with Eberechi Eze during the match between Arsenal and Everton at Emirates Stadium on October 24, 2026
Merlin Rohl battles for possession with Eberechi Eze during the match between Arsenal and Everton at Emirates Stadium on October 24, 2026
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I’m repeating some of the same things. Merlin Rohl is no more positionally competent at right-back than Ainsley Maitland-Niles. Trust me, watch Arsenal’s second goal and tell me where our ‘right-back’ is when the cross comes into that side of our box? He’s not even on the screen.
Something isn’t working. Let’s shake up the midfield; James Garner has proven very effective at right-back so we could try him there and then bring Hackney into the middle.
Ultimately, come Thursday we are very much running the risk already of stumbling into a wasted year. Lose at home to an unspectacular Newcastle side in the League Cup and things could start getting very toxic indeed. We need to see changes, an improved performance, and a victory, because on paper 2 wins from our last 15 Premier League matches is virtually sacking-level.
It’s again important to reiterate that this is all happening under zombie ownership. They need to sell up, fast, because the club will just drift rudderless and directionless in the meantime.