Everton 2-5 Arsenal
It was just like old times, sports betting fans.
Indeed, I can remember the moment 15 years ago this very weekend when a young Wayne Rooney burst onto the Premier League scene with THAT goal.
On that occasion, I even remember the radio commentator struggling to be overheard amidst the cacophony of noise inside Goodison Park after his last-minute wonder strike.
For not many teams won football games against the then reigning champions, even fewer with such a moment of brilliance.
Now, aged 31, Rooney showed he can still produce moments of class with shades of the finish from October 2002.
He created an instinctive finish from 25 yards which rolled back the years and gave Everton the lead.
Sadly, for Toffees fans, this is where the positive outlook ends in this report.
For, despite the moment of magic, this afternoon could be as decisive for the future of Ronald Koeman as the 2002 game was in announcing Rooney to the world.
Long before the full-time whistle this seemed a game and result that, however harshly, could signal the end of the Dutchman’s reign as Everton manager.
Nacho Monreal cancelled the feel-good factor emanating around the ground six minutes before the break when he knocked in the rebound after Jordan Pickford parried Granit Xhaka’s shot.
A Mesut Ozil header eight minutes after the restart gave Pickford no chance and quickly prompted Arsenal fans to direct a chant of ‘sacked in the morning’ at Koeman.
His predicament became greater 17 minutes later when Idrissa Gueye was shown a second yellow card.
Ozil rolled in Alexandre Lacazette five minutes later to sink the now demoralised hosts and ensure they slipped into the drop zone.
Aaron Ramsey and Alexis Sanchez rubbed their noses in it in the final moments to seal a comprehensive victory – Oumar Niasse pulled one back in between – and move Arsenal up to fifth.
The loud boos which could be heard at full-time were as deafening as the cheers which greeted Rooney’s goals (both today and in 2002).
Koeman deserves more time to work with his new players.
Whether he gets it, in this climate of trigger-happy hire and fire, is looking increasingly unlikely.
Football games and results like this often prove decisive.
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