David Moyes took the chance to heap praise on Riccardo Calafiori for an ‘unbelievable’ block, following Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Everton on Saturday.
Though Arsenal ended up winning Saturday’s game against Everton 2-0, there were a few key moments earlier in the contest that could have swung the momentum one way or another.
From Arsenal’s side, there was a clear missed penalty and potential red-card offence as Michael Keane brought down Kai Havertz in a shooting position.
But on the other side, Dwight McNeil had two great chances for Everton, hitting the post with one and seeing the other blocked impressively by Riccardo Calafiori’s outstretched leg.
Speaking after the game, Everton boss David Moyes suggested Calafiori’s block was an impressive sign of Arsenal’s desire to get the three points.
“The block from Dwight McNeil from Calafiori is unbelievable,” Moyes said. “It tells you a little bit about maybe the way Arsenal are. They’re fighting for it, they’re defending their goal with their lives.
“Probably, in the end, Raya made more saves than Jordan Pickford in the game. But the block from Calafiori was amazing.”
Fortunately, Arsenal ultimately managed to capitalise on keeping a clean sheet by going up the other end and scoring two late goals.
Viktor Gyokeres converted the first from close range, after Piero Hincapie diverted a Max Dowman cross into the striker’s path. Then Dowman himself made a lung-bursting run the length of the field to score his first Arsenal goal for 2-0.
Perhaps neither of those moments would have been possible if not for Calafiori’s acrobatic block in the first half.