Forget Odegaard – One Arsenal figure is to blame for Everton draw, he’s not even at the club

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Mikel Arteta was sent multiple warnings after Arsenal’s 0-0 draw with Everton at the Emirates Stadium.

For the third consecutive Premier League game, Arsenal failed to score from open play, resulting in another draw.

The Gunners drew 0–0 with Everton in an incredibly frustrating 90 minutes at the Emirates, seeing Arteta’s side once again fail to capitalise on Liverpool dropping points.

Plenty of Arsenal players struggled against Everton, particularly in attack as the North Londoners’ open-play woes continued.

• READ MORE: Three things you may have missed in Arsenal 0-0 Everton draw including Mikel Arteta’s rollicking

Edu Gaspar failed Arsenal in the summer transfer window

Arsenal fans were shocked by Martin Odegaard’s disasterclass, as the midfielder was arguably the worst player on the pitch at the Emirates.

Subsequently, Arteta substituted Odegaard after just an hour for tactical reasons however, the captain wasn’t the root of Arsenal’s issues against the Toffees.

The theme of the draw and the theme of the Gunners’ season so far has been the lack of room for a plan B, with a lot of this down to the squad available to Arteta.

Edu Gaspar and Arteta failed to bolster essential areas in the summer transfer window, not signing competition in attack, leaving Arsenal with limited and exhausted resources. 

Gabriel Martinelli was poor again against Everton, as were Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, positions that had to be addressed in the summer. 

Instead, Edu welcomed Mikel Merino, a player struggling to adapt, Riccardo Calafiori, a player battling with fitness and Raheem Sterling, a forward past his sell-by date.

Neto and David Raya signed contracts to bolster between the sticks, concluding a summer transfer window that failed to replenish crucial frailties.

Such was on show in all its ugliness against Everton, as Bukayo Saka shone alone in the final third, making it clear where Arsenal failed before the season even started. 

• READ MORE: High-profile flop, Edu blunder – Grading Arsenal’s summer transfer window as problems become clear

Arsenal’s attackers struggled against Everton

16 games into the season and Arsenal have a win rate of just 50% in the Premier League, contrasting to league leaders Liverpoo’s 73%.

Teams are starting to suss the Gunners out and unfortunately, Arteta is stalling his answer when it comes to denying the opposition a chance.

The attack is a prominent concern for Arsenal, with players struggling for form yet showing no signs of emerging from the rough – it’s not sustainable in a title race.

Arsenal aren’t improving and the draws against Everton and Fulham showed just that, emphasising where Edu went wrong in the summer before he left his post as sporting director.