Everton and Arsenal show Ancelotti and Arteta challenges ahead
The best that could be said of this anticlimactic affair is that Everton and Arsenal have to be happy with a point apiece after playing so poorly. Duncan Ferguson claimed he wanted to be tucking into Christmas dinner with another three points in the bag, but as Everton games under their colourful caretaker-manager go, this was quiet. As openings of new eras go, with Carlo Ancelotti and Mikel Arteta watching from the stands, it was worryingly underwhelming.
Everton saved one of their most insipid performances of a below average season for their freshly arrived new manager, while Arsenal gave an adequate account of themselves but no more, Freddie Ljungberg’s challenging selection giving Arteta plenty to think about.