Mikel Arteta admitted that David Moyes has built a “very good side” at Everton, praising how well organised the team looked during his post-match press conference.
Despite the defeat, Everton could still take some positives from the performance, with both Tim Iroegbunam and James Garner delivering encouraging displays.
However, there were also a few negatives to reflect on. One key moment came when Vitalii Mykolenko lost his marker late in the match, allowing Viktor Gyokeres to open the scoring in the 89th minute.
Another takeaway from the game actually came from Arteta himself, as the Spaniard appeared to highlight a possible flaw in Moyes’ approach this season — his reluctance to trust younger players.
Arteta’s approach highlights Everton’s youth dilemma
Moyes has been cautious about handing opportunities to younger talents throughout the campaign. For instance, Tyler Dibling has started only four Premier League matches since arriving from Southampton F.C. in a £40 million move.
Similarly, Adam Aznou is still waiting for his first full debut, while Tyrique George has managed just four minutes of action this month. George joined on deadline day and was expected to feature prominently following an injury to Jack Grealish, yet Moyes has used the 20-year-old sparingly as he continues to rely on more experienced players during the run-in.
In contrast, Arteta demonstrated the value of trusting youth. His 16-year-old substitute Max Dowman had a decisive impact on the match.
The teenager delivered an excellent cross that led to the opening goal before scoring himself deep into stoppage time to seal the victory. Dowman’s impressive cameo even earned him the Man of the Match award, and he also became the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history.
It is difficult to imagine Moyes offering a similar opportunity to a player of that age at Everton, where such a prospect might still be waiting for a debut.
After the clash with Arsenal, the Toffees boss may need to rethink his cautious approach. Young talents such as under-21 top scorer Braiden Graham could perhaps be given an opportunity from the bench in the coming matches.