Everton - Just Magic

Article by e-Everton Correspondent Kenneth Jarvis

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Magic. Many words could describe what happened at Goodison Park on Sunday afternoon and magic is just one of them. A banner was unfurled from the Upper Bullens which read “Everton expects that every man will do his duty – Horatio Martinez” A humorous twist on Lord Nelson's famous quote before the Battle of Trafalgar. In the end though it's meaning turned out to be so apt as on the day, you could make a case for any of the 11 main players to be man of the match such was the level of performance that was delivered from Martinez' 'perfect' Everton.

Martinez made mistakes at the Emirates just a few weeks before, but it shows his great flexibility that he was able to come up with a new game plan and one that worked so effectively. One of the main things that annoyed Evertonians that day was that Everton were too nice and too respectful. From the moment Naismith upended Arteta, you knew that Arsenal weren't going to be in for such an easy ride this time out. When Naismith first came to the club it was without much hope or expectation. A free signing from the Scottish league is about as underwhelming as it gets. From the start it didn't seem like there was much there that was going to change minds. I was always worth noting however that this was a player who was coming off the back of long-term injuries, trying to adapt to a new league. He has been magnificent this year coming off the bench and providing a different dimension when we have been struggling in games. In this match however, he was played from the start and not many fans would have disagreed with that call. Played right up top he found his pockets of space, made his runs, scored a goal and helped make another. His two standing ovations were well deserved. His first for when he put Arteta to the floor and the second when he was brought off with a few minutes to spare.

The best full-backs in the league were in fine form as well. Martinez suggested in mid week that Baines could follow Philip Lahm and move into a more central position. The pass to find Lukaku for the first goal was exquisite and will only give Martinez further belief that his is a possibility upon Oviedo's return. Coleman will most likely win Everton's player of the season and it'll be richly deserved. His defensive work was as solid as always but his keepy uppys and when he turned Carzorla inside out were a joy to behold.

This was Evertons biggest league match in a long time and the kind of match in the past that you feared Everton would bottle and retreat into their shell. Right from the first minute to the last Everton were exceptional as were the Goodison crowd. I mentioned previously that the crowd is at it's loudest when Everton need them to be and the roar coming from the stands set the tone for the rest of the match. The noise after Arteta's own goal was just incredible with the whole of the stadium joining in rapturous song.

It would be remiss of me not to mention all the other players. Distin and Stones were solid with the latter seemingly growing in stature from game to game. Mirallas was very good which was wonderful to see after a period out of the team and Barkley was brilliant all the time that we was on the pitch rather than just showing his brilliance in spells. McCarthy is probably still running around the pitch as we speak, closing down everything that moves.

A lot will be read into Lukaku's embrace of Martinez, regardless of whatever it meant or the reason behind it. It was fantastic to see a team so unified and the team spirit that has been at the heart of the club for over a decade is still as strong as ever. One thing for certain is that Lukaku is happy here, but he is hungry and ambitious. If getting into the Champions League means that he'd be happy to sign, then it is another incentive to do so. Lukaku hasn't been without his critics, there was a point that his control seemed on par with Rooney vs Algeria, but no matter how raw he is, a 20 year old getting over a goal every other game in the Premier League is pretty special. And he's only going to get better, a lot better.

Football is a funny old game and it could all go badly wrong again next weekend, but we have been saying that for the last few weekends. We have Sunderland away and a win there would be sweet revenge for the frustrating defeat at Goodison earlier in the season. Arsenal don't have a fixture due to the FA Cup so Everton could be sitting pretty in 4th place with only a handful of games left. What was most satisfying out this result though was that we didn't catch them on the break, we didn't get lucky and we didn't kick them all over the park. The fact that Wenger conceded Everton were the better team tells you all you needed to know. We outplayed a team that have regularly beat us in the past. The School of Science, is on it's way back.

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