04 February 2023 , 15:36
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There was no triumphalism, no celebrating on the pitch with the lads, no milking of the fans’ gratitude, none of that chest-beating nonsense in front of the home end.
Just a firm shake of Mikel Arteta’s hand, a brief acknowledgement of the fantastic support and then a brisk, purposeful walk towards the tunnel. No frills, no high-fiving, no hugging, at least not in public.
This is what you get with Sean Dyche. Everything is straightforward. Beat the Premier League leaders? Deservedly beat the Premier League leaders? Great, job done, but the hard work is just starting and there is not a minute to waste, even if it would have been taken up enjoying the best atmosphere of the season at Goodison Park.
And, boy, has there already been some hard work under Dyche. Towards the end of normal time, Amadou Onana pressed high up the pitch, made two tackles and conceded a throw-in. Onana, a quite magnificent performer all afternoon, gave the crowd a double fist-pump and, not for the first or the last time, Goodison erupted.
Moments earlier, a packed Everton defence had cleared its lines and the ball was making its way back to Aaron Ramsdale, isolated midway inside his own half. Dwight McNeil, who had become one of the expensive symbols of Everton’s dismal first half of the campaign, sprinted 50 yards to close down the Arsenal goalkeeper.
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Cue appreciative pandemonium from the people who have spent a fair amount of time giving McNeil pelters over these past few months. To say Dyche had a transformative effect on the team and some individuals would be an understatement.
Will Sean Dyche lead Everton to safety? Have your say in the comments!
Sean Dyche simply gave Mikel Arteta a firm handshake at full-time (Getty Images)And to think Marcelo Bielsa was the first choice of the owner when it came to finding a successor to Frank Lampard. Farhad Moshiri was not at the game and nor were the prominent board members.
If Bill Kenwright and his colleagues genuinely feel scared, genuinely feel physically threatened, then their absence from Goodison Park is understandable. But it also makes their positions particularly difficult.
Moshiri has not been to the grand old ground for an age, so his non-appearance is irrelevant, but those who orchestrate the day-to-day running of the club should be at the games. Even though there was a well-populated street protest ahead of the match - and a fly-by show of anger - it would have been better for the board to front up.
They might have taken some heat but the supporters’ priority was always going to be to get behind the team - and they did that to absolutely splendid effect. Everton fans are not unique; just like fans of any other club, if they see real commitment, they give real commitment back.
And this was bodies-on-the-line stuff, Conor Coady in permanent blocking mode and Abdoulaye Doucoure doing hard yard after hard yard in midfield. It helped that Arsenal swaggered around the joint as though they were already champions.
The contrast in urgency levels, certainly in the first half, was startling. It is harsh to single out one Gunner but Gabriel Martinelli seemed to be under the impression it was some sort of exhibition match. It was the performance of someone who had just signed a lucrative contract extension.
James Tarkowski shrugged off Martin Odegaard before scoring Everton's winner from a corner (AFP via Getty Images)Arsenal’s arrogance invited Everton to physically overwhelm them, and that is exactly what they did. The winner, on the hour mark, was a basic set-piece, a prime example of Dyche-ball.
Plenty of blocking at a corner-kick clearing a space for James Tarkowski to head home McNeil’s delivery. Made in Burnley, sure, but don’t put this victory down solely to the sweat Dyche had promised.
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This was also a composed tactical performance with some quality football producing decent chances and with some high-level defending. It was of a standard high enough to climb out of a relegation fight, but Dyche will not be thinking like that.
For him, the hard work is just starting.