Everton news: Ronald Koeman takes full responsibility for awful start

The Toffees were forced to react to a UEFA charge following the brawl which marred their Europa League clash against Lyon by banning the fan who aimed a punch at the visitor’s goalkeeper.

But in a season which seems to be going from bad to worse, Koeman remained defiant that he remains the right man to turn things around, starting with a must-win match against Arsene Wenger’s Gunners.

“If the team is not doing well and not getting wins, then it [criticism] always comes in the direction of the manager. If you don’t like it then take another job,” said Koeman.

“I hate to lose but I am still the man and we fight. Yes the pressure is on the manager. I watch television and I am on social media so I know what is going on.

“But I don’t a step back, I go forward and let’s hope for three points and after Sunday everybody will be more happy than they are today.” 

Everton are steeling themselves for a fine after being notified yesterday by UEFA that they failed to control their supporters as tensions boiled over in the second half with the fan who was holding a child attempting to punch Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes.

And Koeman was swift to give his backing to the ban insisting it was the “right decision”.

But now he is looking for the backing of both fans and his senior players against Arsenal with the manager set to welcome back the rested Phil Jagielka, Leighton Baines and Wayne Rooney.

“Everyone likes to be part of Europe but maybe now, in our situation, it is not really an advantage. There are more and more possibilities to have injuries,” he said. 

“That was the reason I changed several positions and I gave rests to several players because of the situation in the Premier League.

“If we were more up in the Premier League, maybe there was a different game plan. But if you look back to last season we had some great games against big teams in the Premier League,” he said.

“Arsenal are not unbeatable and they are also not the strongest away from home.

“We know we have to play better but if we bring aggression and fight we have a good chance. There is enough quality in this squad [to get out of trouble] yes.”

Koeman will be reminded of his struggle to fill the hole left by the sale of Romelu Lukaku when the man who he tried to sign in his place, Olivier Giroud, arrives at Goodison Park tomorrow.

“That is in the past now and it is over,” he said. “We know that we don’t have that striker in what we expected and that makes it more difficult. We had someone who scored 25 goals last season and that is a big miss.”