It was all in the script really. Sean Dyche's Premier League return, a rowdy Goodison Park and a new manager bounce to pile on the expectation that top of the table Arsenal would sweep the floor with Everton. As soon as Frank Lampard was sacked fans knew it wouldn't be that simple.
Such was the way in which the Gunners fell to just their second defeat of the season there may have been cause for a serious inquest in previous years. The late defeat to the same opposition in December 2021 was the defining moment for Mikel Arteta's turnaround last season.
It proved to be the end of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang whilst a push for the top four was mounted in the months that followed. Here, the defeat was different. On paper it should be a minor blip for a side that are showing week on week to be by far the best in the country.
