Everton analysis - Paul Clement fumes at persistent Everton problem as away end left baffled one final time

Well, as it turns out, Everton didn't even need to win on Thursday night to confirm their Premier League safety. Burnley's final day defeat to Newcastle United would have condemned them to the Championship even if the Blues had failed to complete the most dramatic of comebacks.

Of course, they managed to make Sunday's trip to London a much more jovial experience for those who travelled - and that's what it really should have been all about. For too many matches on the road this season, those Evertonians have been left hugely disappointed and maybe even wondering why they had bothered making the journeys.

On the face of things, you might have looked at this defeat to Arsenal and thought the same. But, the extenuating circumstances meant that this match had the feel of something closer to a pre-season friendly than anything else for those of a royal blue persuasion.

This is a one-off, however. Evertonians can accept their players being somewhat on the beach after what had been such a physically and emotionally draining end to the campaign - capped off in the most dramatic of fashions thanks to those tremendous scenes at Goodison on Thursday.

But make no mistake, this can't be allowed to happen again in the future. The party atmosphere among the travelling supporters, celebrating even the goals their side conceded with smoke bombs from the stands, won't be the case for results like this in the future.

Everton have started on the road to something better for themselves, but they were in such a low place that this is going to take time to really show its full benefits. There will still be disappointing matches next season, no doubt, but those who travel home and away to watch their team want to see something tangible that