After hammering Monaco 3-0, Arsenal fans may have been expecting a goal glut. If so, they were sadly disappointed.
The Gooners huffed and puffed, but didn't ever really look like they would blow Everton's house down.
Pickford was in imperious form between the sticks, saving with his feet when he had to and punching like a volleyball player when he wanted to.
In front of him, Tarkowski remained as composed as you'd expect someone with a name like that, orchestrated Everton's back line.
There was no way through. Blue bodies blocked everything that the Gunners threw at them.
Bear in mind, this wasn't vintage Arsenal; their approach was laboured, giving Everton time to get back into position.
Saka managed to break free of his markers in this bruising encounter, but most of his crosses failed to reach a team-mate, so congested was the box.
Indeed, Arsenal's Plan B seems to be to try more of Plan A, which involves attacking down the right. Statistics show that the Gunners mount more than half their attacks down that side. For a dogged and determined side like Everton, that must relatively easy to nullify: just triple up on Saka and it's game over.
Arsenal didn't panic, but there could have been more urgency in their game. Something wasn't quite right from the very start.
To make matters worse, Arteta's substitutions were strange. I very rarely question the Spanish maestro, as I think he's the best manager in the game, but taking off Rice and Odegaard must have precautionary, as it made no sense at all, unless the pair are carrying injuries.
Bringing on Jorginho, when you're trying to nick a goal, seemed to border on insanity. The former Chelsea midfielder can help protect a lead, but when you need a goal, he certainly wouldn't be my first option.
Nwanieri came on at the same time, but could not really get into the game. I had high hopes that he would conjure up something, but it wasn't to be.
I thought Jesus should have got longer on the pitch, but he was largely ineffectual, as was Trossard.
Maybe the players were tired. It is hard to account for their lack of incision.
On the other hand, there were some excellent performances. Lewis-Skelly was accomplished at left back, so much so that Tierney is unlikely to play again for Arsenal. Of course, there are rumours that the injury-prone (told you when he signed) will return north of the border in January. It's a shame because the ex-Celtic man is a class act.
The returning Gabriel was probably man-of-the-match for Arsenal, but all the defenders performed well.
Further up the pitch, I was disappointed with Merino: he's solid and a physical presence, but adds no cutting edge.
Havertz works tirelessly, but someone needs to be running from deep, feeding off him. That man is not Merino, unfortunately.
Martinelli is not at his best this season, so Arsenal have to rely on Saka and Odegaard to magic up a win.
It's time for an actual Plan B, rather than switching from double A, to triple A (sticking Timber on the right), as Arsenal battery is running flat!
At this rate, the title is an impossibility, but a cup or two remains within the realms of possibility.
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