'Moyes is going to catapult me in my career' - Armstrongpublished at 11:49 BST
11:49 BST
Image source, Getty Images
David Moyes has made it clear to his Everton squad that there "won't be any excuses at the end of the season" if they do not meet expectations despite their small squad, says midfielder Harrison Armstrong.
After a difficult summer in which the Toffees missed out on several targets and lost star attacker Iliman Ndiaye to Manchester City, as well as Armstrong himself coming close to an exit before fan protests forced a U-turn, Moyes accepted he has "to live with disappointments" after admitting he wanted to do more business on transfer deadline day.
"I've been at Everton all my life so I know what this club entails," 19-year-old Armstrong told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"One thing we won't be doing is making excuses for why we're not performing on the pitch.
"As long as we can field 11 players on the pitch there is no excuse why we can't be working hard and why we can't be competing with some of the best teams.
"It's been made clear to us that there won't be any excuses at the end of the season. Ultimately, we have to take it game by game and we could be in a better position, but we're going to do everything we can to finish in those European places."
On the impact Moyes has had on his young career, Armstrong added: "He has a good balance. He's someone I can learn off so much and when he does speak highly of me it is so nice. But, I know he wants to improve me and push me on and sometimes the best way to do that is to be honest and that is what he is.
"All I can take is positives from him. He has so much experience and he's going to catapult me in my career."
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Arsenal v Everton: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 19:31 BST 23 October
19:31 BST 23 October
Sophie Brown BBC Sport journalist
Finishing was a problem last weekend for Arsenal, who had 74% possession but only one shot on target against Nottingham Forest. It was one of their "finishers", as manager Mikel Arteta likes to call substitutes, who yet again saved the day.
That shot from Noni Madueke, which deflected into the Forest net 10 minutes from time, meant that it was their third Premier League victory in a row in which a player from the bench had scored the winner.
It may not have been pretty but it was enough for three points, and is further proof of Arteta's ability to make game-changing substitutions.
Since the Spaniard's appointment in December 2019, Arsenal have scored more winning goals from substitutes than any other team, and their tally of three this season is already halfway towards the record of six, also set by Arteta's team in 2024-25.
It was Arsenal's 32nd 1-0 win in the Premier League of Arteta's tenure, the joint-highest figure in that time frame, along with Everton. So, there might not be goals galore on Saturday - not least because Everton also struggled in attack last weekend against Chelsea, failing to score in a Premier League home game for the first time since February.
They had just six shots, their fewest in a Premier League game in nearly a year.
They could have their work cut out to improve on that at the Emirates. This season, Arsenal have conceded just five league goals, facing fewer shots on target (21) and having a lower xG against (5.6) than any other side.
The Toffees have won just one of their past 30 away Premier League matches against the Gunners, losing 24 of those. Under David Moyes, Everton have never won away at Arsenal in the league in 13 attempts, losing 10 times in that run.
But Everton had gone undefeated in the league this season until last weekend, so Moyes will have hope of breaking his Arsenal duck, which would also end his side's eight-game winless run on the road, and could propel the Toffees up into the top five in the Premier League.
Moyes on Norgaard's fitness, contract talks and young players' game timepublished at 14:45 BST 23 October
14:45 BST 23 October
Josh Lobley BBC Sport journalist
Media caption,
Everton boss David Moyes has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium (kick-off 15:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
On injuries, Moyes said Everton have "our fair share of bits and pieces", but didn't give any more detail than that. When asked specifically about Jarrad Branthwaite, he again refused to comment.
He said Christian Norgaard is "a little bit further away than we'd hoped" after coming off the bench for the final moments against Chelsea, adding: "He has trained and he's had about three weeks [with us]. We were thinking we could give him the final 15, 20 minutes. We didn't think he was going to be back fully firing until after the next international break."
On contract talks: "Stability at a club is really important, and under the Friedkins I've felt a real sense of stability. Being a manager, I think they are a big part of stability - but we're also in a world where managers change very quickly. There's always been developments and talks [over a contract] have taken place. Things are a bit quiet at the moment and I'm guessing that's to do with the situation we're in."
On the game time of Tyler Dibling, Hayden Hackey and Tyrique George: "My history would suggest that Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka, Joleon Lescott and Tim Cahill might have had to wait a bit of time to become first-team regulars. I'm not saying these boys have to do that but hopefully they develop as well as those boys did."
When asked about resting Thierno Barry, who is the only recognised striker at the club: "It's difficult because he gives us a focal point. If we didn't play him people would [question it], but we will [rest him] if we think there's opportunities to. Finding someone might not be easy, but we're looking at the squad and what we can do."
Moyes says there is a "big consideration" of moving Jack Grealish to a more inside role.
On Saturday's opponents: "I thought we did really well against them down at the Emirates [last season]. I look back at the team we had and we were pretty threadbare. I hope we can do the same again."
Forest made a bid of £40m plus a potential sell-on clause for the England Under-19 international but the news enraged Toffees fans, who sang Armstrong's name throughout their draw at Bournemouth and said there would be a "riot" if he was sold.
The 19-year-old was named player of the match in the 1-1 draw.
"It was a weird day for me," Armstrong told BBC Radio 5 Live Sport.
"Not many people get to experience that and get that ticked off so early. It is something I'll be better for.
"Out of an awkward situation I felt so much love from the fans, the staff, and from my team-mates who showed me so much support that morning before the game. It really helped me clear my head and gave me a good foundation where I felt I could perform in the game."
Armstrong is seen as a beacon of light from Everton's academy set up and is so highly regarded that he has been touted as a future club captain.
In the game against Bournemouth, the away support was so loud, and their opposition to the potential deal so strong, it was heard by Everton's delegation at the Vitality stadium and relayed back to the ownership group in the United States.
"It was surreal to be honest," Armstrong added.
"I don't think I'll ever experience something like that [again]. I'm so grateful for it. I was trying to balance being starstruck by all the fans singing and showing how much passion they have, but obviously the game was still going on and I was up against some really high level players so I couldn't let my concentration go too much.
"It's the club I've been at all my life and I've always been in an Everton shirt, so for me to have that moment, the appreciation for the fans was massive for me. It's only motivated me more to kick on with the club."
'Moyes chooses experience over potential'published at 19:05 BST 22 October
19:05 BST 22 October
Image source, Getty Images
Charlotte Northover from Toffee TV believes Everton are "eventually going to run out of steam" if manager David Moyes continues to select the same players with little rotation.
"He's got a small squad, but he's still not using all the subs," Northover told BBC Radio Merseyside. "We have so much potential on the bench and we're not using them.
"Moyes chooses experience over potential, but every time the younger players have come on they have impressed.
"I would love to see Tyler Dibling start, but he's not going to if Jack Grealish is starting because they both hold play up.
"Every time he has come on he has impressed me. I don't know what these young players have to do to earn a spot. It's a bit frustrating."
'I might like right-back more than midfield' - Rohlpublished at 14:27 BST 22 October
14:27 BST 22 October
Image source, Getty Images
Merlin Rohl, speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside about playing as a right-back for Everton this season: "I just enjoy playing for this club, in every position. I love the opportunity to get minutes.
"I love the position and I would never say that I enjoy one more than the other. Maybe I like right-back even more!
"Leighton [Baines] is big part of my development. In this position, we do a lot of sessions where we look and talk about stuff. He helps me a lot."
On adapting to the Premier League after moving from the Bundesliga: "The demands [are high] on the players to physically and technically be on the level in every game. It's different to the league I experienced before. It's much faster and the players are so much stronger.
"The rhythm of the game is different as well. You have many more sprints and you're going in to both sides most of the game. It's a huge difference to the Bundesliga."
Gossip: Toffees consider Dinamo Zagreb's Beljo published at 07:58 BST 22 October
07:58 BST 22 October
Everton are monitoring Dinamo Zagreb's 24-year-old Croatia striker Dion Beljo as one of several options in the January window. (Football Insider), external
Evertonians should beware...published at 15:55 BST 20 October
15:55 BST 20 October
Pat Nevin Former Everton winger
Image source, Getty Images
The bitter Merseyside v Manchester rivalry never really goes away, even if City and United are grabbing the headlines right now.
I was at Hill Dickinson Stadium to see Everton lose their unbeaten record at the weekend.
Beforehand, an understandably biased Toffees fan asked me if I thought they could win and even manage a top-six finish this season. I picked my jaw up from the floor and answered: "It has been a good start, but avoiding relegation should still be the real focus."
I love both my old clubs, but using head and no heart, Chelsea are miles ahead.
The frontline of Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer is worth north of £350m. By comparison, Everton's strike force consists of Thierno Barry, valued at just 10% of that figure.
Evertonians should beware: due to underinvestment, dark clouds are gathering.
Pat Nevin writes weekly in the Football Extra newsletter. If you're outside the UK and would like to receive it, sign up here.
Was a booking for Armstrong harsh?published at 12:10 BST 20 October
12:10 BST 20 October
Media caption,
The team on BBC Radio Merseyside's Toffees Unwrapped have been discussing Harrison Armstrong's challenge on Morgan Rogers in Everton's defeat by Chelsea.
Was Armstrong in the wrong? Was a yellow card for the midfielder harsh?
Take in a clip of Giulia Bould and Phil Munns discussing the moment above.
🎧 Toffees Unwrapped - Everton's unbeaten start endedpublished at 15:29 BST 19 October
15:29 BST 19 October
Another edition of BBC Radio Merseyside's Toffees Unwrapped is available now on BBC Sounds, as journalists covering Everton dissect the talking points.
David Moyes' side were beaten for the first time this season, by Chelsea at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday.
Giulia Bould, Phil Munns and Mike Hughes discuss potential mistakes made by Moyes as well as players on the pitch and also look at some of the controversial yellow cards in the game.
Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.
Everton 0-2 Chelsea - the fans' verdictpublished at 09:43 BST 19 October
09:43 BST 19 October
Media caption,
We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Everton and Chelsea.
Here are some of your comments:
Everton fans
Robert: Another disappointing performance. It's clear we need a top forward and have done for some time, but whoever is in charge never seems to rectify this glaring issues.
Paul: When top teams play well, like Chelsea did in the second half, we are going to struggle. That's just where we are. But if we took our chances in the first half, then it's a different game. We desperately need to try something different upfront. Charly Alcaraz, Brennan Johnson, Tyrique George or the young lad Braiden Graham must be worth a go. It isn't all bad, we are still in a good place, and have been picking up points, so there is plenty of optimism still.
Alex: That was not a good team performance, especially at home. Merlin Rohl and Harrison Armstrong were the standout players. Mykolenko and Tarkowski were pretty solid, too. It was on off day for both Dewsbury-Hall and Garner who made very little impression on the game. The usual issues with Thierno Barry will come back to haunt us. The fact that we still haven't sorted out the issues up front since Lukaku left is embarrassing.
Chelsea fans
George: It's this type of performance that signals the new era for Chelsea - solid, mature and resolute. Xabi Alonso has galvanised a group and created a structure for the team to express themselves as a collective. Clean sheet, chances and becoming difficult to beat. Alonso seems to have a plan which is well-thought-out, methodical, and progressive. I'm now excited and not nervous.
Tristan: Stunning. Finally getting a clean sheet and what a place to get it. That was the best game I have seen Pedro Neto play. I feel a bit anxious because we're getting injuries like Reece James and Emiliano Martinez but that win for me keeps Chelsea's title hopes alive.
Chris: Chelsea need to ditch Cole Palmer. The world thinks he is a dream, six shots on goal, and he missed every one of them. He was simply not reliable enough. Always starts the season with a whoosh and a bang, but returns to the inconsistencies that lost him his England place.
Everton 0-2 Chelsea: What Moyes saidpublished at 16:23 BST 17 October
16:23 BST 17 October
Media caption,
Everton boss David Moyes, speaking to TNT Sports about his side's performance: "Not as good as we wanted. We got a little bit unlucky with the goals. One came right after half-time was a blow to us. It wasn't good defending, but it takes a couple deflections before it gets to [Pedro] Neto, and it makes it a relatively easy finish for him. I thought there were parts of the game we did OK, but mainly we didn't offer enough to create enough and didn't make enough chances."
On it being a feisty game: "I thought Harrison [Armstrong] had a great tackle on the far side. I thought it was the best part of the first half and I think people who watch football appreciate it. A big part of our game in our country - I've not seen it back - my feeling was it was not in any way a free-kick. I think it's a part of what we do. I think their player got up straight away and got on with it.
"I think the Morgan Rogers tackle with Jimmy [James Garner] could've been questioned, but we're not saying we want everything to be a free-kick or stopped. We want them to be refereed correctly, and I don't think the tackle Harrison was making was refereed correctly. I thought it was unfair."
On Emi Martinez being taken off on a stretcher: "I have to say I haven't seen it back. At the time from where I was sitting in the dugout, I thought it was two people going for the ball. I've not seen where the collision was or how the collision happened but I hope he's OK."
Did you know?
Everton failed to score in a Premier League home game for the first time since February (1-0 against Manchester United).
Everton had just six shots against Chelsea, their fewest in a Premier League game since last December against Arsenal (5).
Listen to more from Moyes on BBC Sounds and you can also listen to James Garner's reaction below or on BBC Sounds
Everton unbeaten start endspublished at 16:15 BST 17 October
16:15 BST 17 October
Emlyn Begley BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
The Toffees, at kick-off, were one of three unbeaten teams in the Premier League, along with Manchester City and Brentford, although four of those six games were draws.
But they could not equal their longest undefeated start to a Premier League season - when they managed three wins and four draws in their opening seven games of 2006-07.
They did have chances with the game goalless, most notably Thierno Barry's close-range header which was straight at Emiliano Martinez.
Everton's only senior striker has attempted more shots than anybody else this season in the Premier League - 25 - but has only scored three times.
There were several flashpoints in the first half, with five bookings – and Everton felt Morgan Rogers should have been given a second yellow for a 50-50 with James Garner.
But once Chelsea scored, David Moyes' home side never looked like coming back, and they only had two shots in the second half.