James Tarkowski gave Everton fans and Frank Lampard one moment they desperately needed against Arsenal

Across certain sections of the Everton fanbase, there have been growing concerns over recent years that the club are just a bit too nice.

Of course it's all well and good being as charitable and decent as the Blues are off-the-pitch - and that has no bearing on anything that takes place when a referee first blows his whistle. But, during games, there have been criticisms that there hasn't been a real bite among this squad.

Someone to really get under the skin of their opponent, or even the match officials if the time is right. Players who aren't afraid to get into a real scrap and wind up the other side, perhaps lulling them into making a few mistakes in their frustrations in the process.

It's not the be-all-and-end-all in football, and you never want to see it cross the line of course. But, Evertonians do like their players with a little bit of needle.

There have been a few of those in recent years, but perhaps James Tarkowski has already shown that he can fit straight into that mould for his new club.

Right at the end of his first appearance in royal blue, the centre-back was quick to rush over to Stanley Mills' defence as the youngster was involved in a disagreement with Nicolas Pepe. Standing in-between the pair, the summer signing pushed the Arsenal man in the chest and away from his new teammate, letting his opponent know to deal with him if he had a problem with the young talent.

Clearly the Gunners weren't happy with that, and they were even less so when Tarkowski flew into a challenge a few seconds later which ultimately saw him pick up a yellow card - and brought the match to an abrupt end. He'd got the ball, but he had gone through the back of the opposing man to get there in fairness.

It was a game