Gary Lineker cannot believe the criticism he has seen from Arsenal supporters after the 0-0 draw against Everton.
The Blues battled to a hard-fought point against Arsenal on Saturday [14 December] as Sean Dyche’s men became the first to keep a clean sheet at the Emirates this season.
However, Lineker referenced the reaction to the result from the home supporters on The Rest is Football [16 December, 32m 43s] and was left in shock at the “horrible” outrage from the Arsenal faithful.
He said: “Goodness me, some of the fans were laying into their players, and you think ‘Crikey’. Honestly, viciously [criticising], it was horrible.
“I don’t know how they think that’s going to help if you slaughter your own players to that degree when, obviously, they give everything week in [and] week out.”
Everton send the Arsenal supporters into turmoil
The Blues supporters have been through the wringer with Everton this season, but the point earned in North London feels like a real turning point.
Pickford performed his role flawlessly with an “outstanding” display at the Emirates as the visitors frustrated Arsenal all afternoon.
Considering the Toffees have only conceded four goals in their last five Premier League outings, and all those came in the 4-0 loss against Manchester United, the pieces are finally starting to fall into place for Dyche.
Although Everton never threatened the opposition goal on the day, that was never the plan and the game plan to absorb the pressure from the hosts and nullify their famous set-piece threat was executed to perfection.
However, the Blues supporters know all too well how it feels to let emotions take over after fans berated the players in London on the back of the 4-0 loss against Tottenham, but for a change, it is Everton who are sending the opposition supporters into chaos.
It is slightly bittersweet, however, as Arsenal and Chelsea remain the only real threat to Liverpool’s Premier League title charge this season, and to take points off one of their main rivals is a small price to pay for a monumental result for Dyche.
