Ashley Williams notched his first goal for Everton as they overcame Arsenal.

The Blues defender was originally involved in opening the scoring as his deflection turned Alexis Sanchez’s free kick into the Gwladys Street end’s net.

But Ronald Koeman’s side fought back and their dominance was rewarded on the stroke of half time as Seamus Coleman nodded home a Leighton Baines cross.

Williams redeemed his earlier blunder in the final minutes as he headed home a Ross Barkley corner and end Everton’s poor form of one win in 10 games.

However the night ended on a bittersweet note as Phil Jagielka’s sending off ruled him out of next week’s Merseyside derby clash with Liverpool.

Here were the key talking points from Goodison Park…

Welcome back, Blues

 

Ronald Koeman had claimed that Everton’s players were inadequate to cope with the rough and tumble that the Premier League will demand of them.

He brazenly accused his inherited squad of lacking in a myriad of key areas; from balance to aggression and physicality.

The Dutchman will be gladly gorging on humble pie tonight.

It will not go down as the most memorable of victories in the annals of Goodison Park history despite ending Arsenal’s unbeaten record for the season to date.

But this was the type of gutsy performance associated with a home scalping of the league’s higher-achieving sides that became a regularity under David Moyes.

Those with further reaching memories will cite Joe Royle’s Dogs of War, not least as successive shots were cleared off the line in the dying minutes of added time.

Replicating the feat is easier said than done, especially with a Merseyside derby encounter up next, but a return for the Everton of old remains a welcome sight.

Goodison roar must be used in the derby

 

Never is the Grand Old Lady more resplendent than when tested patience turns to frustration. The atmosphere is white hot.

Repeating the hair-raising atmosphere which greeted Ashley Williams’ winner and beyond is imperative if Everton are to take something from next Monday’s derby.

The underdog tag very much remains with the Blues – in truth it has never left since the turn of the millennium – but Liverpool’s shaken confidence can be exploited.

A baying Goodison crowd drove on Koeman’s side to overcome the Gunners’ early lead and it can do so again against the old enemy.

Defence still more Keystone than Z-Cars

 

Collectively, Williams, Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines attempted to summon the spirit of Z-Cars within Everton’s defence.

The problem was that they only achieved it at one end of the Goodison pitch.

Keystone Cops seemed a more appropriate comparison with the back line’s exploits within their own domain after Sanchez was allowed to break the deadlock.

Not for the first time, Phil Jagielka was culpable as he conceded a clumsy foul which saw the Chilean score from a free kick with the help of Williams’ deflection.

The Everton captain’s suspension for the clash with Liverpool may prove a small mercy given his rapid albeit not unexpeced fall from grace since last season.

Calvert-Lewin proves he’s good enough

 

Given his scathing comments on Everton’s young guns, Koeman’s decision to call up Dominic Calvert-Lewin for a second match day inclusion was a bold move.

Introducing the 19-year-old to the pressure cooker situation was a gamble given that he had only been an unused substitute at senior level in one prior game.

The summer signing from Sheffield United was withdrawn from the under-23 side’s win over Leicester City on Tuesday in anticipation of such a moment.

He did not disappoint in a debut which saw him support Romelu Lukaku tirelessly and, vitally of all, win the corner which culminated in Williams’ winner.

Clearly one swallow does not make a summer but Calvert-Lewin’s first impression on the Goodison crowd befits the time-honoured adage about age and ability.