Marco Silva: Everton Desire And Spirit Key To Recent Success

8th April 2019 - by Everton FC

Sunday’s victory over Arsenal added to a win against Chelsea three weeks ago and last month’s Merseyside derby draw

SUMMARY

Marco Silva says Everton’s authoritative victory over Arsenal represented full reward for his players' “desire and fantastic team spirit”
Phil Jagielka scored the only goal of the game on 10 minutes but Everton fashioned a succession of openings against opponents who struggled to get to grips with the hosts' slick and forceful football
Silva’s side rained 23 shots on Arsenal’s goal – but one strike was sufficient to earn their third straight Premier League victory, with Everton recording a fifth clean sheet in six matches

LIVERPOOL, United Kingdom- Marco Silva says Everton’s authoritative victory over Arsenal represented full reward for his players' “desire and fantastic team spirit”.

Phil Jagielka scored the only goal of the game on 10 minutes but Everton fashioned a succession of openings against opponents who struggled to get to grips with the hosts' slick and forceful football.

Centre-back Jagielka – a late replacement for the stricken Michael Keane – converted from close range after a long throw from Lucas Digne sparked panic in the visitors’ box.

Silva’s side rained 23 shots on Arsenal’s goal – but one strike was sufficient to earn their third straight Premier League victory, with Everton recording a fifth clean sheet in six matches.

“I was delighted with everything we did from the first minute of the game,” said manager Silva, who confirmed England defender Keane was laid low by a suspected virus.

“We showed desire and fantastic team spirit and deserved the three points.

“We were the best team on the pitch and if we had scored more goals it would have been a fairer reflection of the match.

“With the chances we created, we should have scored more… but we were really solid as a team and controlled most of the game.

“It was a very good afternoon for us, congratulations to our players and fans – the atmosphere in the stadium was fantastic again.

“And the clean sheet was the key for us. We are showing the solidity I really like, even when we are playing as the offensive team I want to see.”

Everton have claimed seven points from their past three Goodison encounters – all against teams in the Premier League’s top six.

Sunday’s victory over Arsenal added to a win against Chelsea three weeks ago and last month’s Merseyside derby draw.

Everton have also won convincingly at Cardiff City and West Ham United of late, the Blues’ only defeat in the past six coming against Newcastle United.

It is a run which has eased Silva’s team back into the division’s top-half and within touching distance of seventh-placed Leicester City.

Unai Emery tried to halt Everton’s momentum with the half-time introduction of gun pair Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Aaron Ramsey.

But, a couple of Ramsey efforts struck off target aside, it was the home side who created the vast majority of chances after the restart.

Bernard and Gylfi Sigurdsson both produced sharp stops from Bernd Leno, while defender Sokratis Papastathopulos made a succession of blocks in his own penalty area.

And it was Jagielka, starting only his third Premier League game this term, who would emerge as the matchwinner.

The 36-year-old’s strike was his first since April 15, 2017, when he was on target in a 3-1 win over Burnley.

“Jags showed how he is prepared to give everything the coach and his teammates need from him,” added Silva.

“He deserves all the credit and it was great for him to get the winning goal.

"Arsenal reacted in the first 15 minutes after half-time and created some problems for us – but they had no big chances.

“We responded well and created more problems for them and chances to score.

“We are in a fantastic run now… the first three months of the season we had a good run and produced some fantastic moments of football.

"In two months [December and January] the details were making the difference against us. But the long break [Everton had 17 days without a match before facing Cardiff] enabled us to work hard on the training ground and turn the details in our favour.

“Our goalkeeper had calm afternoons against West Ham and Arsenal – that is a fantastic sign for us as a team.”