Marco Silva expressed frustration and bemusement at the Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang goal that sank Everton and gave Arsenal a 2-0 win at Emirates Stadium.
Aubameyang was a full yard offside when he converted from Aaron Ramsey’s flick to build on the lead that Alexandre Lacazette had just given Arsenal on 56 minutes and there would be no way back for Everton.
“It’s really frustrating and I’ll tell you why,” said Silva, Everton’s manager. “We had in that moment just one defender in our box – Jonjoe Kenny – and so it’s too clear for the assistant referee. It was a counterattack and, after one pass, it’s two against one or three against one.
“It’s clear where Kenny is in that moment and it’s clear on the second touch [by Ramsey] where the player who finishes is as well. He’s clearly offside. For me, it’s a little bit strange but it’s OK. I make mistakes; my players as well. The assistant referees can make them.
“The goal was not a clear kill [of the game] because we kept trying but, of course, it was really hard for us. We were in control of the game in that moment. They’d scored a great goal [through Lacazette] but we’d try to fight for 1-1, for sure.”
Everton had created a fistful of good chances in the first half only to run into Petr Cech in inspired form. Even at 2-0, he continued to deny Silva’s men. “Clearly, we didn’t deserve this result,” Silva said. “It didn’t reflect the performance of both teams. We were creating problems – we had many chances – and then, in one detail, a great moment for Lacazette, the game changed.
“In the past, Arsenal have won this fixture too easily but we came here to challenge them, to play in our play. We just have to be more effective [in front of goal]. That’s something we’re working to achieve.
“Today, there was a great finish by Lacazette and one offside goal but, as well, we have to be more effective because we created three, four, five chances and we must score.”