EPL: Koeman admits Everton future uncertain

Ronald Koeman accepted he faced an uncertain future as Everton manager after a 5-2 loss at home to Arsenal on Sunday sent the Merseyside club into the bottom three of the Premier League.

A fifth defeat in nine league matches added to the growing pressure on the Dutch boss, with Everton’s position made worse by the fact the Goodison Park side spent £150 million ($198 million, 168 million euros) on new players in pre-season.

Asked whether Sunday’s loss, which left Everton in the relegation zone on goal difference, would spell the end of his time with the Liverpool club, Koeman told Sky Sports: “I don’t know.”

He added: “I told the players I believe in them, the commitment of the players. But if you are negative thinking — and everybody is doing that in this moment — all these kinds of decisions are not in my hands.

“That is normal because that is football. We have played nine Premier League games, against the first five of the Premier League last season, but this is not the position that is good for Everton.

“I understand that. I have worked a long time in football. First of all, I don’t think it is too late (to improve Everton’s position).”

Everton took the lead against the run of play through Wayne Rooney’s 12th-minute goal but Nacho Monreal and Mesut Ozil hit back for Arsenal either side of the break.

Everton’s Idrissa Gueye was sent off for two bookable offences before Alexandre Lacazette and Aaron Ramsey extended Arsenal’s lead.

Oumar Niasse pulled a goal back for Everton in stoppage time after a defensive mix-up between Monreal and Petr Cech but there was still time for Alexis Sanchez to score a fifth goal for Arsenal.

Koeman said Everton going down to 10 men when Gueye received his second yellow card in the 68th minuter had been a key moment in the match.

“The final result is really disappointing,” said Koeman. “Until 1-2 we stayed in the game. I need to say that Arsenal were the better team with the better chances but still at 1-2 you can get one point out of it. The sending-off of Gueye made it really difficult.”

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