Everton’s Squad Depth Concerns Grow After Routine Arsenal Defeat as David Moyes Faces Fresh Injury Worries
Everton’s disappointing defeat to Arsenal has once again exposed the weaknesses in David Moyes’ squad, with growing concerns that the team lacks the depth required to cope with the demands of a full Premier League campaign.
With the clocks only just turning back, the Toffees already appear to be facing a difficult battle to maintain their competitiveness throughout the season. Their latest setback came at the Emirates Stadium, where the reigning champions secured a comfortable victory without needing to produce anything particularly spectacular.
Everton arrived in north London knowing they faced one of their most challenging away fixtures of the campaign. However, the defeat highlighted problems that have been developing since the club’s disappointing end to the summer transfer window, when their failure to strengthen several key positions left Moyes with limited alternatives.
The absence of Jack Grealish through illness only made matters worse, exposing the lack of attacking depth available to the Everton manager.
The situation is becoming increasingly concerning for a team that had previously enjoyed an encouraging start to the season, going eight matches unbeaten across all competitions.
Branthwaite’s versatility could become a necessity for Everton
Everton’s defensive problems have forced Moyes to consider unconventional solutions, with Jarrad Branthwaite previously deployed at left-back during the club’s trip to Hull City.
That decision raised eyebrows, given the England international’s importance as a central defender and his history of injury problems.
Branthwaite managed only 10 appearances last season after suffering a series of hamstring injuries. Although he recovered from a knock sustained against Hull to return for the match against Chelsea, he was unavailable against Arsenal because he was following concussion protocols.
His absence was particularly unfortunate because Everton desperately needed defensive stability against the reigning champions.
With the club’s options limited, there is a growing possibility that Branthwaite could once again be asked to operate at left-back if the situation does not improve.
Vitalii Mykolenko, Everton’s recognised specialist in that position, endured a difficult afternoon against Arsenal before being forced off with an injury.
His departure left Moyes with little choice but to move James Garner into the role.
Garner has previously filled in at left-back when Mykolenko was unavailable, including during the previous campaign. However, the repeated need to reposition players highlights the lack of natural alternatives in the squad.
The concern is that Everton may have to continue relying on makeshift solutions as injuries begin to take their toll.
Transfer window decisions are beginning to haunt Moyes
Everton’s current difficulties are particularly frustrating because the team had shown encouraging signs earlier in the campaign.
Their eight-game unbeaten run suggested that Moyes was beginning to establish a competitive side capable of challenging stronger opponents.
However, the club’s failure to adequately address its weaknesses during the closing stages of the transfer window has left the squad looking unbalanced.
The Friedkin Group’s handling of the final stages of the window has come under scrutiny, with the club appearing to fall short of providing Moyes with the reinforcements required for a demanding nine-month season.
The consequences are now becoming increasingly visible.
Everton’s manager has limited options in several positions, meaning injuries and suspensions could have a significant impact on the team’s performances over the coming weeks.
Moyes would undoubtedly welcome the opportunity to revisit the transfer window and strengthen the areas that were neglected.
Instead, he must find a way to navigate the challenges ahead with the players currently available to him.
The shortage of left-back options has become particularly noticeable, with the possibility of first-team coach Leighton Baines being considered in jest as a reminder of how desperate the situation appears.
Baines, a former Everton favourite, still reportedly displays flashes of his quality during training. Nevertheless, the idea of relying on a retired player rather than having adequate cover in the squad underlines the frustration surrounding Everton’s recruitment.
Maitland-Niles faces fresh questions after defensive struggles
Everton’s problems are not restricted to the left side of their defence.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles has also come under scrutiny following a difficult spell that has raised questions about his position in Moyes’ plans.
The former Arsenal player spent two decades associated with the north London club before eventually leaving for Lyon in 2023 after several loan spells elsewhere.
His return to the Emirates Stadium could have provided an emotional moment, but he was not selected to start after being criticised for his involvement in Hull City’s two goals against Everton and Chelsea’s opening goal the previous weekend.
Merlin Röhl replaced him against Arsenal, while Jake O’Brien has also been used at right-back after previously spending an extended period in the position under Moyes.
Consequently, Maitland-Niles faces uncertainty about where he stands in the competition for a starting place.
His situation was made more uncomfortable by comments from former Arsenal striker Alan Smith, who questioned whether the 29-year-old should even be regarded as a natural defender.
For Moyes, the challenge is finding a reliable solution on both sides of the defence while ensuring that his limited resources are used effectively.
Arsenal punish Everton after a costly defensive mistake
Everton’s defensive shortcomings were immediately exposed when Arsenal took the lead just seven minutes into the contest.
The opening goal was particularly disappointing because it came from a situation that should have been relatively straightforward to defend.
Arsenal have established themselves as one of the Premier League’s most dangerous teams from set-pieces, using their physical presence and carefully rehearsed routines to trouble opponents.
However, Everton’s defending made their task considerably easier.
Jordan Pickford and Harrison Armstrong both attempted to deal with the same ball as it dropped inside the penalty area. Their lack of coordination created confusion, while Mykolenko failed to make proper contact with his attempted clearance.
Ezri Konsa took advantage of the chaos to score from close range, giving Arsenal an early advantage.
It was a goal Everton could have prevented, but their defensive confusion allowed the home side to take control of the match.
The early setback also placed additional pressure on Moyes’ players, who were already struggling to find a way through Arsenal’s organised defence.
Tyrique George offers a rare attacking threat
Despite Everton’s difficulties, there were occasional signs of attacking promise.
With Grealish unavailable, Tyrique George appeared to be one of the visitors’ most dangerous attacking outlets.
The winger had impressed during pre-season and had shown enough quality to suggest that he could make a meaningful contribution to the team.
However, he has recently found opportunities to start more difficult to secure.
Against Arsenal, George attempted to inject energy into Everton’s attack and combined effectively with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall on several occasions.
One of his efforts flashed across the face of goal before taking a deflection off Ben White.
Unfortunately for the visitors, that moment did not develop into a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Everton struggled to create consistent attacking pressure, with Arsenal largely comfortable in managing the contest.
The absence of Grealish was undoubtedly a setback, but the lack of alternative attacking options meant Moyes had limited opportunities to change the game’s direction.
Gabriel seals Arsenal’s victory after another defensive lapse
Any remaining hope of an Everton comeback disappeared in the 68th minute when Gabriel Magalhães scored Arsenal’s second goal.
Once again, the visitors’ defending left much to be desired.
White found space down the right before delivering a lofted cross towards the far post.
Mykolenko, who was already struggling during his afternoon, failed to prevent the delivery before being substituted shortly afterwards.
Gabriel had also managed to escape the attention of O’Brien, allowing the Arsenal defender to connect with the cross and guide the ball into the net off his face.
It was an awkward finish, but Arsenal would have cared little about its appearance.
The goal reflected the broader pattern of the match, with Everton struggling to contain their opponents and making the kind of mistakes that top Premier League sides are capable of punishing.
At 2-0, Arsenal had effectively settled the contest, leaving Everton with little realistic prospect of recovering.
For Moyes, the performance offered another reminder that his team must become more organised defensively if they are to compete consistently against the division’s leading sides.
Everton face a crucial week after Arsenal defeat
Although the result against Arsenal was disappointing, it is unlikely to determine the overall direction of Everton’s season on its own.
However, the timing of the defeat is concerning, particularly because the team now faces another demanding run of fixtures.
Everton are scheduled to play three matches within seven days when they return to action, leaving Moyes with little time to recover injured players or make significant adjustments.
That schedule could prove particularly challenging given the squad’s current lack of depth.
The manager must balance the need to remain competitive with the risk of placing additional physical demands on players who have already been heavily relied upon.
Injuries to key defenders, limited alternatives at full-back and the absence of important attacking players could all become significant factors during the coming week.
Everton’s encouraging unbeaten run had offered reasons for optimism, but their recent performances have exposed weaknesses that cannot be ignored.
Moyes now faces a major test of his managerial ability as he attempts to keep Everton competitive with a squad that appears short of the depth needed to withstand the relentless demands of the Premier League.
The coming fixtures could provide a clearer indication of whether the Toffees can recover their early momentum or whether their recruitment shortcomings will continue to undermine their progress.