The end of a long hard season

Arsenal 2 - 1 Everton

The Emirates is always a difficult place to go to. It is an impressive stadium. I hope the new Everton Stadium will be equally if not more impressive.

For us, the result didn’t really matter as long as we didn’t embarrass ourselves. We didn’t. We almost got something.

Into London relatively early, surrounded by Arsenal supporters. I don’t know where they appeared from. I’ve been in West London for over 20 years and, apart from my next-door neighbour, I hardly meet any. It’s mainly Chelsea with pockets of QPR and Fulham with the odd Brentford supporter.

I had some food at Euston, and with my previous experience of that away section, I took on some water, as the sun was out and it felt quite warm.

The area around Euston was crawling with football supporters of all flavours. A large contingent of Aston Villa in party mode. Most of them were already hammered, so I hope they got to see the match. Then again, seeing the result, maybe not. But they’ve had a great season and good luck to them, they deserve it. Manchester United supporters on their way to Brighton. A few Bournemouth as well.

I met with Rob in a pub I’ve never been to before, despite knowing the area well. The Lord John Russell. Nice place and out of the way, but close to the tube station to jump on the Piccadilly line to Arsenal.

The usual entertaining and educational discussion with Dave and Steve as well as Alan, who had travelled from Northampton. We talked about a range of subjects: Everton, European trips, Gordon West and Neville Southall and the big man’s best save.

And the "which was the best team?" debate. Some mentioned 1963, others 1969-70 or 1984-85. Can we keep Branthwaite? The Everton-Liverpool supporter divide in the region and much more.

I hope they don’t mind me saying, but it’s great watching Dave and Steve debate!! Excellent company, excellent Evertonians. I confess to forgetting the other bloke’s name; Arthur? He had a great tee-shirt on with the crests of all the South American clubs with Everton in their name. He got it from the Heritage Society in the display upstairs in St Luke's.

On to The Emirates to meet Neil. Thank you for the kind gesture in providing me with a ticket. And the gift; a framed picture of Kevin Sheedy scoring at Rotterdam if I am correct. I was humbled. The stewards wouldn’t let us take it in to our seats but gave us a ticket and looked after it so we could pick it up after the match.

Although we always want to win a football match and no one steps onto a football pitch not wanting to win, the outcome wasn’t important for Everton, but we gave it a go and we were very unlucky not to get something out of it.

We played some neat stuff for periods, with the crowd cheering every pass as we kept the ball for periods against a very good footballing team. It was a good performance with tonnes of effort. Well done, Blues. We held our own and didn’t look out of place against a team with hopes of winning the title, who have had a fantastic season.

They targeted our left side a lot. I don’t know who their right-sided player was, but he was tricky and looked impressive. It might have been interesting to have had Mykolenko available as he may have contained him better. He was a constant threat.

I’ve been shouting all season for Idrissa not to shoot. Suddenly, he’s banging them in. He took the free kick! Who would have thought that? He got a deflection, but it was on target, so it’s his. I had to ask Neil who had scored!!

For their equaliser, we got caught, but in fairness, it was good build up play by Arsenal. As for the winner, it was generated from a stray pass, but there was a handball in the build-up.

I turned to Neil and said it was a hospital pass from Young to Tarkowski that put us in trouble. Why didn’t a player of his experience go down the line or even simply tap it out for a throw in?

However, for VAR to tell the ref it was handball and him walk to look at the screen and ignore it seems odd. Having watched it back, forget what position the arm is in, that is a deliberate hand-assisted move by the player to put them through on goal.

Just about every player put a shift in as we pushed and probed the potential champions. If they were going to win the league, they were going to have to work for it.

Pickford was outstanding, with some great saves, assisted by what I can only describe as an Evertonian crossbar that caused a few deep intakes of breath. There was one scramble when I didn’t know how it stayed out as he saved, one and the ball then ricocheted around the box off blue shirts. I didn’t know where it was going to end up. I don’t think the players did!! Breathless moment.

Jarrad Branthwaite was his usual self. Class. Just pure class. I hope he stays.

Dominic Calvret-Lewin worked his socks off. He hit the post and I was convinced that his follow up to the rebound was in and started celebrating before having to calm down. And that chant in his name to the tune of Bella Ciao is catching on.

Seamus rolled back the years and the "60 Grand" chant was continuously heard.

I don’t know what to say about Onana. One of his better games, but still inconsistent and, as much as he wins the ball, he gives it away. But there is a player in there.

But for me, Man of the Match has to be Idrissa Gana Gueye. He covered every blade of grass on the pitch. A fine example of how, if you look after yourself, you can keep going. I’m made up we’ve got him for another season. His energy levels are something young players should look up to.

The players came over at the end to receive applause from the travelling masses, who stayed behind. And Dyche made a point of coming close to the supporters, the closest I’ve seen him approach. Yes, in his tracksuit!!

Credit to the manager for the way he has dealt with the situation and been the voice of the club in the absence of others. An Arsenal supporter on the train suggested he should be Manager of the Season. We would be on almost 50 points without the deductions.

We made our way out; found the stewards, and I picked up my present from Neil that they had looked after.

As always, well done to the travelling Blues. I don’t know if it was audible on the tele, but from where I was standing, it was noisy, loud and proud. The corrupt chants, reminding the Arsenal supporters of the score at Man City, and singing “You nearly won the league”. All very entertaining. But plenty of Everton songs; Spirit, Forever and Here We Go as well as 60 grand and Bella Ciao!

Keep believing, Blues. It won’t be long until August.

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