Declan Rice releases short statement to David Moyes after Everton vs Arsenal

Everton put in a resilient performance against Premier League title contenders Arsenal last night but ultimately came up short due to a lack of cutting edge in front of goal.

Jordan Pickford admitted after the match that the Toffees simply weren’t clinical enough, a recurring issue throughout the season.

Up front, Thierno Barry and Beto have struggled to consistently deliver, and that inefficiency has been a key factor in Everton’s difficulties this campaign.

David Moyes, meanwhile, expressed his frustration at the refereeing. He believed that Thierno Barry had been fouled by William Saliba inside the penalty area, a decision that could have changed the outcome.

Former official Mark Clattenburg agreed, suggesting that Everton could easily have been awarded a penalty and noting that in European competitions, such a call would almost certainly have been given.

Despite the disappointing result, Everton can take some positives from their performance. Tim Iroegbunam stood out, particularly in his midfield duel with arguably the best player in that position, Declan Rice.

Iroegbunam impressed by holding his own and showing the kind of composure and energy that Everton have been missing, especially in the absence of Idrissa Gana Gueye.

Speaking of Rice, the midfielder shared a brief but meaningful message for his former mentor, David Moyes, after the game. Moyes had played a key role in developing Rice during their time together at West Ham United, and the two have maintained a strong relationship.

Rice posted a photo with Moyes at the Hill Dickinson Stadium with the caption: “Forever grateful to this man!”

Moyes reciprocated the praise during his post-match press conference. He said: “Declan was always destined to be a top player. Mikel has helped him develop into a really, really top-class footballer.

He’s a great boy, and because of that, he’s been given a real chance to shine. He’s an exceptional player with a lot of top-level attributes.”

On Everton’s end, Moyes was quick to highlight Iroegbunam’s strong showing against Rice. The young midfielder’s performance was crucial in filling the gap left by Gueye, providing stability and drive in the middle of the park.

Looking ahead, Everton will want to bounce back quickly after consecutive defeats to Chelsea and Arsenal.

With just two games left in 2025, both away from the Hill Dickinson Stadium, securing victories will be vital to ending the year on a positive note.

Their next outing comes two days after Christmas against Burnley in Lancashire.

Everton should be confident of taking all three points, as Burnley have struggled this season, remaining winless since October and sitting in the bottom three with just 11 points. The Toffees will head into that fixture as clear favourites.

To finish the year, Everton will travel to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest, where former manager Sean Dyche is now in charge. Forest are also experiencing a difficult period, hovering just above the relegation zone with 18 points. Moyes will hope his side can secure another win there, completing a strong end-of-year run.

If Everton can claim victories in both of these final fixtures, it would provide a much-needed boost for morale and confidence heading into 2026, as they aim to stabilize their season and climb the Premier League table.