The Premier League Manager of the Month in March 2018 and February 2020, Sean Dyche, had a debut win in the Goodison dugout against Premier League leaders Arsenal last Saturday afternoon.
Sean Dyche’s tenure as Everton manager got off to a winning start when two of his former players combined for the game-winning goal against Premier League leaders Arsenal.
After an hour, fellow Burnley old boy Dwight McNeil headed into a corner to lift Goodison and his team out of the relegation zone.
Everton made the most of their new manager’s bounce after a season of doom and gloom, knocking Arsenal off their stride.
Dyche’s starting lineup made a statement, with midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure making his first start since August after training alone following a squabble with previous manager Frank Lampard.
Even though there had been anti-board protests outside Goodison Park and an aeroplane carrying the banner “League’s worst-run club,” Evertonians rallied behind their team once the game began.
When Dyche walked to the dugout, he received a standing ovation, and the players responded with Amadou Onana and Doucoure, who asked to support Dominic Calvert-Lewin in a 4-1-4-1 formation.
As Dyche stood by the touchline barking orders, his opposite number, Mikel Arteta, a former Goodison Park player, gestured for his players to be more proactive, but with little effect.
In first-half injury time, Everton produced their best football, with skipper Seamus Coleman turning back the clock by beating Martinelli and crossing for Calvert-Lewin’s twisting header to drift narrowly wide.
Everton played their best football in first-half stoppage time, with captain Seamus Coleman turning back the clock by outmuscling Martinelli and crossing for Calvert-Lewin’s twisted header to drift just wide.
Everton stepped up their game in the 59th minute, and their goal from a set-piece will have pleased Dyche. James Tarkowski outmuscled Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard at the back post to head in a corner.
The head coach told Sky Sports after his first win, “The win against the league leaders gives us a platform to move forward. We have crammed a lot into this week. To get a win against the top of the league, we managed to calm the game down. I want them to understand the basics of the game.”
