Ronald Koeman was asked if there were any positives to be taken from Everton's capitulation to the kings of capitulation.

He groped into the darkness of dismal defeat and came up with nothing remotely believable.

They were okay in the warm-up and that was about it.

Forget Wayne Rooney’s throwback goal, the deceptive curler from distance, that gave Everton a thoroughly unlikely lead.

That was slightly surreal. The reality was an Everton devoid of creativity having to look to a labouring, long-past-his-best Rooney for inspiration.

Forget the irresponsibility of Idrissa Gueye’s second yellow card when Arsenal had the slenderest of leads.

Koeman is looking for answers with his job on tenterhooks (
Image:
REX/Shutterstock)
Sanchez and Jack Wilshere celebrate as Arsenal batter their hosts (
Image:
Arsenal FC)

Eleven versus ten merely turned a mismatch into a formality.

Arsenal did not need cojones to win this game, they just needed to turn up.

And as they applauded their team from the field, moments after Alexis Sanchez had insulted a dysfunctional Everton defence for a final time with a knife-twisting solo effort, that is what should concern Farhad Moshiri and Bill Kenwright most.

Don’t forget, it was only two months ago, when a point was taken from the Etihad, that confidence amongst Everton fans and players was relatively high, if not bubbling, that faith in Koeman was strong.

Wayne Rooney got the Toffees off to a perfect start by rolling back the clock (
Image:
AFP)

In two months, that confidence and faith has evaporated, turning the Goodison air silent with resignation and gloom.

It was so eerily silent in the second half, you could hear Mesut Ozil whispering to the ball.

Ozil’s dreamy contribution, the electric elusiveness of Sanchez, the inventive industry of Aaron Ramsey and as refined a team display seen from Arsene Wenger’s team this season should not be debased.

Mesut Ozil goes wild after heading the Gunners' second (
Image:
Arsenal FC/Getty)

After Nacho Monreal pounced on a Jordan Pickord parry to level with a nicely-struck left-footer, there was only going to be one winner.

That was confirmed when a Sanchez cross was so good, Ozil only had to give it a knowing look and when Gueye’s umpteenth foul of the afternoon ended his involvement.

There was to be no brave rallying from the ten, no raucous encouragement from the muffled support, just an air of resignation as Alexandre Lacazette gave an Ozil assist a thumping, right-footed welcome and Ramsey casually clipped a fourth over a keeper who didn’t have this much to do at Sunderland.

Everton players after Alexis Sanchez scored Arsenal's fifth goal (
Image:
PA)

Arsenal had 30 shots to the home side’s eight.

One of the eight was when Oumar Niasse walked in a consolation after a mix-up between Monreal and Petr Cech but there was still time for the Sanchez mickey-taker.

At the end, there was no toxic protest from the smattering of Evertonians who had not already turned tail.

Koeman tries to rally his troops during a break in play (
Image:
REX/Shutterstock)

Maybe they are as bewildered by the sheer depth of this trough as most observers.

Yes, the recruitment has turned out to be merely prolific rather than remotely productive, good in numbers, poor in number-scoring.

But this Everton squad should not be this clueless, should not look like it actually does not know what system it is meant to be operating or what formation it is playing from one half to next, should not have had a collective plummet from confidence’s cliff.

Koeman was curt post-capitulation, his parting shot … write what you like.

No-one likes to write it but, right now, Koeman does not seem to have a clue.