How 'Dycheball' undid Arsenal and can save Everton's season

From a team devoid of ideas to deservedly beating the league leaders, Sean Dyche has made an instant impact at Everton.

The blueprint for how Everton will play under Dyche was clear to see. Here is how they shocked Arsenal:

Putting the bark back into the dogs of the war

Dyche vowed to take Everton back to the glories of the 1980s. His glorious first day in charge was more reminiscent of Joe Royle’s bloodhounds of the mid-90, his players scampering at Arsenal’s heels to secure the shock result of this Premier League season.

In 1994, Everton were bottom of the Premier League and Royle’s rescue operation began with a towering Duncan Ferguson header against Liverpool from Andy Hinchcliffe’s corner in front of the rejuvenated Gwladys Street stand.

When James Tarkowski met Dwight McNeil’s delivery it was the perfect imitation, only this time the winner was handcrafted in Burnley. Set-piece prowess will be a huge weapon under Dyche. Every delivery was received like a hand grenade by Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale. By the final stages, every corner won was greeted by the home team like a penalty.

Asked before the game where Everton most needed improvement, Dyche pointed at both ends of the pitch, but there are fundamentals he relies upon, thus Everton ran harder, made more tackles and were far more direct in their willingness to hit the forward man Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The first challenge after two minutes, Vitalii Mykolenko putting Bukayo Saka on the turf to a rapturous ovation, set the tone.

Unleashing Amadou Onana

The young Belgian is among those Arsenal considered for their midfield reinforcement. Everton were more concerned about bids materialising for him than Anthony Gordon. This tour de force performance explains why.

Onana won more tackles than anyone else, and nobody made more interceptions as Mikel Arteta’s side continuously passed into a cul-de-sac. Demonstrating the freedom he was granted by Dyche, Onana also won possession most in the final third. He also had the most touches of any Everton player.

Dyche revealed he has instructed Onana to watch and learn from the ex-Belgium and Burnley midfielder Steven Defour as he looks to fine-tune his skills.

“He is a talent but he still has a lot to learn in terms of the ugly side of the game,” said Dyche. “He is a young man with a lot of talent but a lot to go to be a complete player. Steven will help me potentially educate him.

In the 4-5-1 set-up, Onana was the player able to lead the transition from defence into attack, one run in the second half when he dashed down the left wing to win a throw-in near the corner flag bringing the crowd to its feet. At full-time, Onana led the celebrations, initially dropping to his floor in exhaustion before whipping up the supporters. On this evidence, Onana will be the next player Everton will be fighting to keep when the transfer window opens.

Welcoming Abdoulaye Doucoure from the wilderness

In the final days of Frank Lampard’s reign, Doucoure was sent to train with the U21s having rarely featured. Dyche promised a clean slate and it was no surprise when he was recalled. Working in tandem with Onana and Gueye, he made Everton’s midfield unrecognisable, often pressing from the front to ensure Arsenal could not pass through the zones.

“I’m not questioning anyone else, but you have a feel of players and what they can give the team,” said Dyche, who has been eager not to sound disrespectful to his predecessor throughout his first week.

“He (Doucoure) is someone I always liked. He trained well this week and had a smile on his face. That is hard when things are not going great. I thought he was very good.”

To a lesser extent, Dyche also brought the best from McNeil, who has often seemed a lost soul in first few months at Everton.

“Different players have different ways, different formats, different styles,” said Dyche.

“Maybe there is a bit more familiarity for him. He certainly knows us as people. I believe there is real quality here and they can affect games.”

Galvanising the fans

Like Lampard last season, Dyche knows if he can weaponise Goodison Park, everyone can be beaten.

There is a beauty in the raw aggression of this style of football, and in Dyche the supporters might have found a kindred spirit.

The afternoon began with a peaceful march of around 1,000 supporters towards the stadium, demonstrating against the board members still absent on the instruction of safety officers.

Unlike in previous home games, such rancour did not penetrate the 90 minutes.

“The fans were terrific, they have given us an immediate start point, creating it and then us joining in with it,” said Dyche.

“I have been here with Burnley when there were a few murmurings and been here when it was really rocking. I thought it was rocking today.

“The performance was built on that base - the belief in each other, the teamship, the tactics. You can still provide quality, I think we can have more quality. The minimum requirement is maximum effort.”