James Tarkowski has shut down talk of Sean Dyche’s training methods being 'old school' and offered an insight into life at Everton under his new boss.
Dyche enjoyed a dream start as his side stunned Premier League leaders Arsenal at a raucous Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon. The 51-year-old was appointed last Monday following the departure of Frank Lampard, who was sacked following a poor run of form.
Despite dominating for long periods in the first-half, the only goal of the game arrived on the hour mark. Tarkowski out-muscled Gunners captain Martin Odegaard at the back post to head home Dwight McNeil’s corner.
READ MORE: Dominic Calvert-Lewin set for injury 'scan' as Everton face anxious Merseyside Derby wait
READ MORE: Sean Dyche has already proved that Gary Neville was right about 'The Everton Way'
Making an impact in his first training session on Monday, some Everton stars were pictured bending over, out of breath, as Dyche worked his players into the ground. Much was made of the images ahead of Saturday’s game, but Tarkowski insists talk of the drills being 'old school' is wrong.
“It's very straightforward with the manager," the centre-back revealed when asked for an insight into training and life under Dyche.
“He gets you to work hard, gets you together as a team, makes you hard to beat but he wants you to show that personality out on the pitch that you are a team and together.
“I think you saw that today but also a lot of quality and we created some good chances.”
Before he added: “He's not that old school that we just stand there with no balls and just run back and forward. That was a short period in the week but we do work hard and I know what he's about.
“You get plenty of time off with your family but when you're in the building you're working hard and that's exactly what it's been like.”
The win was Everton’s first since October and just their fourth in the Premier League this season. But Tarkowski believes his side showed supporters what they are going to be like under their new boss.
“I think the way we played is just exactly what the manager wants,” match-winner Tarkowski said.
“Obviously the in possession stuff is super important but the hard work, the grit, determination, the key aspects of the performance for me. It was there for the full game.
"I think this is a different Arsenal from the one I've played against for the last few years. These are the best team in the league at the minute, they've been flying but today was about us.
"I don't think it was about us doing something particularly to Arsenal. It was all about us, the determination and grit that we showed and the quality was there.
"We had some good chances first half that we could have put away, defended really well, tight as a unit and we got the goal from a set piece.”
The day began with a peaceful protest as thousands of fans marched up Spellow Lane and circled Goodison voicing their displeasure at the way their club is being run. But once inside Goodison, every Evertonian in attendance was right behind Dyche and his side, with the Blues’ home back to its fortress best.
“I think the fans here want to see players that are trying, giving everything they've got and I think the team under the manager that's coming, you'll get that,” Tarkowski replied when asked about the support his side received.
“But we've got to keep providing that for the fans because that's all they want to see and also the quality on the end of it. Hopefully we showed that in abundance today.”
READ NEXT:
Everton find new figureheard to send Goodison soaring back to its fiercest best
Sean Dyche makes promise over Everton protests after perfect Goodison Park start
Everton put fuming Piers Morgan in his place with perfect tweet after Arsenal win
Farhad Moshiri and Everton board given damning reminder as outsider draws terrifying parallel
Sean Dyche turns his own damning words around to spark massive Everton change
