Goodison’s Greatest Games: Everton 2-1 Arsenal | OneFootball

Goodison’s Greatest Games: Everton 2-1 Arsenal

Saturday, 19th October 2002

Before Arsenal created their place in history as “The Invincibles”, during the 2003/04 Premier League campaign, Arsene Wenger’s men had already shown a sign of things to come when they headed to Goodison Park in October 2002 amid a 30-game unbeaten run.

However, on this crisp Autumn afternoon, it was Everton and a certain Wayne Rooney who created Premier League history, as the 16-year-old stole the show with the most dramatic of late cameos.

David Moyes’s men began the game as the underdogs, but that never materialised on the pitch as the Toffees battled hard for every ball, refusing to let the Gunners dominate as they had done in so many of their league games so far that season. Everton created the better of the chances during the opening 45 minutes, but it was Arsenal that took the lead through a scrappy goal from Swedish international Freddie Ljungberg.

The Toffees refused to let their heads drop; in fact, that was never an option with “Mad Dog” Thomas Gravesen, commanding from the heart of the midfield. As so often seen, Everton’s great Dane played like a man possessed, dropping deep to start attacks, spraying long, accurate cross-field passes, driving forward with the ball, and harrying the Arsenal defence when out of possession.

Gravesen, a constant thorn in the side of the Gunners, played his part in Everton’s 22-minute equalising goal as he set off on yet another mazy run right at the heart of the Arsenal defence before setting up his midfield partner in crime, Lee Carsley, whose shot rebounded off the post right into the feet of the Canadian whippet, Tomasz Radzinski.

Radzinski, brought in as Francis Jeffers’ replacement, seized Carsley’s rebound outside the box. Gliding past Gilberto Silva, he unleashed a fierce strike that beat England’s No.1, David Seaman, and sent the Everton faithful into rapturous celebration.

Everton enjoyed the better of their first half despite another poor performance from the man in the middle, Uriah Rennie, who was greeted with a chorus of boos at the half-time whistle. The Gunners came out in the second half with more purpose, looking much more like being the next team to score, striking the very same post Carsley had rattled in the first forty-five.

The match became a struggle of wills. Arsenal pressed, their artistry glinting in flashes, but Everton stayed strong and resolute. Kevin Campbell was clearly fouled in the box, but Rennie refused to award the penalty. Hibbert threw himself into every tackle, defending manfully throughout the 90 minutes. Still, the game waited for its inevitable turning point.

The atmosphere was raging like an out-of-control fire, and Arsenal only added more fuel to the blaze in the 71st minute with the introduction of Jeffers. Once a crowd favourite but now donning red and white, Jeffers’ name being announced over the Tannoy system was met with boos and jeers from the voices that had once sung his name.

Another Hibbert challenge, judged to have been a foul, paused the game in the 80th minute, and with it came Moyes’ decisive change. Radzinski, exhausted from his relentless running, made way for Rooney, the latest great hope of the Everton academy.

Neither side showed a hint of surrender in a frantic final ten minutes. Each time Rooney touched the ball, Goodison rose to its feet. Gravesen lifted the ball forward. It fell from the sky and was controlled with a deft touch by Rooney, who, with a glance at goal and a touch to get the ball out of his feet, unleashed a curling shot from 30 yards out. The crossbar shuddered, the net rippled, and Goodison went wild.

Everton had triumphed. Arsenal’s unbeaten run ended. A boy became a man. Rooney, with one strike, had claimed his first league goal for the club and sealed his name in the folklore of Goodison Park.

Starting Lineups

Everton: Wright, Hibbert, Yobo, Weir, Unsworth, Carsley, Gravesen, Tie Li, Pembridge, Radzinski, Campbell.

Bookings