Arsenal’s biggest side since the ‘Invincibles’ ready to smash Goodison Park hoodoo
Since the “Invincibles” dominated English football, the tunnel space at Goodison Park is notoriously small. Tomorrow, when Arsenal travels to Merseyside with their most physically dominant team, it will feel especially small for the two sets of players.
Arsenal? physical dominance? The north Londonders, who in recent years have intentionally and specifically sought out players who can make them tough again, now face this new reality.
Arsenal’s anticipated lineup at Goodison Park will have an average height of 1.84 meters as a result of the beefing-up process, which accelerated rapidly this summer with the signings of Declan Rice and Kai Havertz. Since the 2003–04 season, when players like Sol Campbell, Patrick Vieira, and Thierry Henry absolutely crushed their opponents, Arsenal has not had a roster with such size for a trip to Everton.
This bigger, stronger Arsenal appears to be well-equipped for the physical task Sean Dyche’s team will present, at least on paper. Not every Premier League game can be won with elegant passing plays, and based on recent matches between these two sides, Arsenal could need to win this one in an unpleasant manner.
Goodison Park has consistently put Arsenal’s physical toughness to the test since Arteta’s hiring in 2019. While Arsenal as a team hasn’t triumphed there since 2017, the Spaniard has never won there as a manager. Arteta’s players were intimidated in midfield and defeated by a headed goal from a set-piece in Dyche’s debut game as coach last year. It had the impression that old flaws had come to light.
Seven months later, Arsenal now seems more equipped than they have in years to face those difficulties. The recent victory over Manchester United, in which their outfielders’ average height was over six feet as opposed to United’s average of barely 5 feet 9 inches, served as more proof of the power and strength present throughout Arteta’s team.
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