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Everton player set to miss Arsenal match as David Moyes reveals apology
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- Everton player set to miss Arsenal match as David Moyes reveals apology
David Moyes will not make the same mistake twice when Everton travel to Arsenal on Saturday.
The Toffees fell to their first defeat of the campaign last time out as Chelsea earned a 2-0 win at Hill Dickinson Stadium
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Results have been steady for Everton so far this campaign, with Moyes' men still positioned inside the top half.
However, there was a slight sense of disappointment last week as Everton failed to really test Chelsea.
Moyes came in for criticism for his decision to start Merlin Rohl on the right wing, while an in-game decision also backfired.
That was the introduction of Christian Norgaard in the second half at a point Everton were chasing an equaliser.
Christian Norgaard holds up hands after Chelsea horror show
Norgaard was dreadful against Chelsea in his 15 minutes or so on the field.
That is understandable in a way, as it was the first competitive appearance he has made in half a year.
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It was clear the Dane was way off the pace, though, and it cost Everton as they lost control in midfield and went on to concede a second.
Moyes accepts it was an error to throw on Norgaard at that stage, while also revealing the midfielder himself also said sorry.
"It actually wasn't a difficult decision to bring him on, because he's trained," Moyes said at Friday's pre-Arsenal press conference.
"I was trying to see if I could get him the final 15-20 minutes of the game because it would have been another little bit of game time for him.
"But I think when we brought him on we realised he's a little bit further away than we hoped.
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"But we also expected that. We didn't think he was going to be back fully firing until probably after the next international break, because he's had no real pre-season with us.
"Christian was the first one to come to me and say he was sorry about it and he's realised he's probably a bit further away."
Reacting to those frank comments, reporter Alan Myers - who was at Moyes' presser - told Sky Sports News: "It's fair to assume we won't see Christian Norgaard at the Emirates this weekend."
David Moyes responds to Jarrad Branthwaite fitness concern in Everton team news vs Arsenal What will plan be for Christian Norgaard?
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It is a bit of a vicious cycle for Norgaard, as he cannot build proper fitness unless he plays, but he won't play unless he is fit.
The obvious solution is to play the 32-year-old in Under-23 matches for now.
There is an international break coming up, at which point he could potentially play in a behind-closed-doors match if Everton again decide to arrange one.
Otherwise, Moyes will have to be smart and select Norgaard here and there, but not when a game is hanging in the balance like it was against Chelsea.
There is every hope Norgaard will be a success story at Everton, but it is going to take time.
