Arsene Wenger believed that referee Mark Clattenburg played an influential role in Arsenal's defeat this evening, as has every referee who has ever presided over an Arsenal defeat in Arsene Wenger's time.
This time, Wenger was annoyed that Clattenburg awarded Everton a corner in the run-up to Ashley Williams's winner five minutes from the end.
This was the decisive factor tonight. It wasn't the only bugbear either. Pictures revealed that Wenger spent the first minute of half-time berating the stony-faced referee.
In Ronald Koeman's managerial career, he's amassed three home wins over Arsenal, two with Southampton and now one with Everton. Unsurprisingly, he was deemed by his managerial opponent to owe a major debt of gratitude to the referee for each of those victories.
Now, Koeman is in the mood to simply embrace it.
Yes, we won because of the referee. Sorry.
Brilliant from @RonaldKoeman ??????? pic.twitter.com/O6hddL10Ew
— ⚽️Greg E? (@paddockpk3) December 13, 2016
Otherwise, Koeman, who has often passed up the opportunity to compliment James McCarthy, singled him out for praise following tonight's display.
"I think James McCarthy played fantastically tonight. He was one of the first to start to press and be aggressive. And that was a good message tonight."
? | RonaldKoeman was a happy man after today's superb win. Hear from him now... pic.twitter.com/IUdHjczyHK
— Don Ewell (@glasgowtoffee) December 13, 2016
