Armstrong’s impressive midfield showing proved crucial as Everton secured a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace in their opening game of the campaign at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
During the second period, Armstrong received the ball under pressure from Daichi Kamada but managed to sidestep the challenge, creating space for Everton to counter. Earlier, Armstrong had tracked back to dispossess Kamada after the Japan international had found room, forcing him to turn towards his own goal and pass back to Dean Henderson.
The opening goal arrived when Armstrong pounced on Daniel Munoz’s misplaced control and set up Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who finished clinically. While supporters appealed for a spot kick, Armstrong stayed alert to the opportunity.
The 18-year-old demonstrated his considerable ability throughout an afternoon when the side required his contributions. With Christian Norgaard sidelined, James Garner only deemed fit enough for a substitute role and Hayden Hackney lacking any Premier League experience, questions existed about where leadership would emerge from. It arrived through their youngest squad member.
Armstrong’s endurance in completing the full 90 minutes spoke volumes, despite likely facing competition for his position in upcoming fixtures. David Moyes enjoyed the luxury of rotating his squad following Thierno Barry’s goal shortly after the interval, maintaining confidence in Armstrong throughout.
This represented a welcome three points after a difficult period for the club. Silence from Finch Farm and the board throughout the summer was replaced by conflicting signals from Moyes and chief executive Angus Kinnear. A new right back, clearly necessary, has yet to materialise.
Ten days remain in the transfer window, yet this success drew from the encouraging elements of pre-season preparation. Jarrad Branthwaite experienced several falls but completed the match unscathed, with Everton benefiting accordingly.
Tyrique George received enthusiastic recognition for a performance full of potential, troubling Crystal Palace’s Munoz throughout. Significant relief exists that Barry, another player who thrived during the summer and whose search for clinical edge represents so much of Everton’s ambitions, netted immediately by converting Iliman Ndiaye’s threatening delivery early in the second half. That strike enabled Everton to establish dominance and manage the remainder comfortably.
Circumstances could have unfolded very differently without the excellence of two senior professionals, Jordan Pickford and Dewsbury-Hall.
During the opening half hour, Adam Wharton and Kamada exposed Everton’s backline, beginning when Eddie Nketiah’s delivery was flicked over by Jean-Philippe Mateta at the near post. That marked the first of several narrow escapes.
Pickford was called upon to deny Munoz at the back post before producing a remarkable stop to frustrate Nketiah. Played through by Kamada, Nketiah controlled and attempted to place the ball beyond Pickford, only for the goalkeeper to somehow divert the effort onto the woodwork.
The same post then aided Everton when Mateta met another Nketiah cross, though the forward should have performed better.
While the hosts benefited from escapes, they also carried threat. George, who made only one start during his second-half loan spell last season, carried his summer form into this encounter and troubled Munoz throughout. George initiated the move producing Everton’s clearest opportunity early on, one that saw the ball worked to Merlin Rohl, who pulled back for Ndiaye, only for the Senegal international to shoot too close to Henderson.
The offside flag spared Palace when Branthwaite was fouled in the area by Jaydee Canvot, and again after George shot narrowly wide. Then, late in the opening period, Dewsbury-Hall came alive.
Initially, he navigated challenges to set Barry through on goal, only for the forward to lose possession. He survived another tackle and saw his effort blocked by what appeared to be Chadi Riad’s arm, but as 50,000 home fans demanded a penalty, Armstrong stole possession from Munoz and found Dewsbury-Hall, whose powerful strike curled past Henderson from a narrow angle.
It proved fitting that the contest turned on a moment combining Everton’s youngest and most experienced midfielders to such devastating effect. From that point, Everton controlled proceedings to claim a vital and fully merited three points.