Everton’s season ended in underwhelming fashion with a 3-1 defeat at Arsenal.

Mesut Ozil carved open the visitors inside the first 10 minutes at the Emirates Stadium before squaring an easy ball for Hector Bellerin to finish.

The Gunners were forced to play three-quarters of the game with ten men as Laurent Koscielny was sent off for a foul on Enner Valencia just minutes later.

But Alexis Sanchez doubled the hosts’ advantage as the Blues’ players stood static and watched Danny Welbeck dribble round Joel Robles to tee up the Chilean.

Ronald Koeman’s side ended the first half the strong of the sides and carried their momentum on after the interval as they took the game to a subdued Arsenal.

A handball allowed them a lifeline back into the game as Romelu Lukaku duly converted but Aaron Ramsey’s curling shot killed the game off in stoppage time.

Here were the key talking points at the Emirates:

Barkley saga reaching its endgame

 

This will not be how Ross Barkley wanted to see out his Everton career.

Dropped to the bench for what could prove to be his final appearance for the club, the midfielder’s introduction in place of Tom Davies was far from a classic.

But it did coincide with an upturn in his side’s performance as they grew into the game and acquitted themselves respectably in the last 10 minutes of the first half.

By that point the Blues were two goals down and looked to be out of the game – even after Laurent Koscielny’s straight red card challenge on Enner Valencia.

Ronald Koeman insisted the decision had nothing to do with Barkley’s contractual stand-off and based more on Kevin Mirallas’ current good form.

But with an announcement expected on Monday, it will do nothing to increase the rumours of the England international’s exit from Goodison Park.

Lukaku’s present poses a headache

 

Evertonians in some quarters may have failed to be convinced by Romelu Lukaku but there is little doubt of his value over the course of a four-season stay.

A 25th goal of the season may have come from the penalty spot but his haul since 2013 will ensure that he goes down as a bona fide Goodison Park legend.

If, as expected, the Belgian striker departs in the summer, it will be a huge challenge for Koeman to plug the goals deficit that he will leave.

For a player who supposedly lacks work ethic, he held the ball up well in the first half, dropping deep to help out a midfield that struggled against Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey.

Only in Lukaku’s absence will fans perhaps finally just realise what they had.

Blues’ defence sums up the season

 

Far more was at stake in this game for Arsenal, who came out of the blocks with a greater intensity than Everton.

Slow-witted and flat-footed, the visitors were caught out as Ozil and Hector Bellerin caused constant problems throughout the first half.

The second goal typified those lapses at the back, as Danny Welbeck beat the offside by pouncing on a back pass that allowed Alexis Sanchez to finish.

In truth it was not only the back four who were at fault; Joel Robles should also be enduring sleepless nights this summer when he relives the goal.

With Robles’ weaknesses and Maarten Stekelenburg’s injury problem, Koeman could be forgiven for considering upgrading his current goalkeeping options.

Restocking for Europa rigours is vital

 

Amid this underwhelming result, Everton can at least claim a respectable seven-placed finish in Koeman’s debut season as something of a success.

But it might seem like a missed opportunity on English football’s ailing elite with Manchester United largely disinterested and Arsenal beset by their own problems.

Nevertheless, qualification for the Europa League was a target that has been achieved and will help to recruit more quality to consolidate for next season.

A qualifying round will need to be overcome even before entering the gruelling group stages, and this is bound to have an effect on Everton’s league form.

As it currently stands, the Everton squad looks far too thin to deal with the challenge of the regular three-day match scheduling.

Greater investment will be needed if the next campaign is to become far more than just another unwanted distraction.