Had Mikel Arteta been fit for the whole season, Everton might have more than just a hope of European football next season. The return of the Basque playmaker has directly coincided with an upswing in Everton’s form that has seen them win 10 of their past 11 home games in all competitions and seven in a row in the Premier League. Supporters of Landon Donovan, who has returned to Los Angeles Galaxy after a loan spell that was more successful and which ended less painfully than David Beckham’s at Milan, might also point to the American’s contribution.
This, however, was a hard-fought victory over a Bolton side who have not managed a league goal on Merseyside for five years, but who looked second best only after they were reduced to 10 men with 18 minutes remaining.
As Yakubu broke clear, he seemed to be pushed in the back by Gretar Steinsson who was sent off, although the Bolton manager, Owen Coyle, might have argued the Nigerian was still 20 yards from goal when the incident occurred. It was, however, the third red card Bolton had been shown in their past four games and Arteta doubled the punishment with a beautifully flighted free-kick that curled into a corner of Jussi Jaaskelainen’s net.
Thereafter, Bolton collapsed and in the final few minutes Everton made the game safe. Leon Osman, who had just hammered an almost unmissable chance on to the bar, cut in to the right of the area and laid a beautiful ball back past three white shirts massed at the near post for Steven Pienaar to finish off. The loss of Victor Anichebe, carried off on a stretcher before the game was a quarter of an hour old, was the only drawback for an Everton side whose home form now appears almost irresistible.
Premier LeagueEvertonBolton WanderersTim Richguardian.co.uk
