Former Everton director of football Marcel Brands Photo: IC

To say it has not been easy being an Everton fan is an understatement. The recent derby defeat to Liverpool acted as a reminder that they did not need, showing them how far they are behind their city rivals and that came in a run of eight games without a win.  

On Monday night they stopped that becoming nine - and matching a record dating back to 1994 when Mike Walker was in charge and the club flirted with relegation from the English Premier League - with a dramatic late win over Arsenal at Goodison Park. 

"Today is proof that, if we are together, we are stronger," Everton manager Rafa Benitez said after the win. "The frustration of the fans is because they want to see their team winning but you cannot complain about the effort, the desire and the commitment of these players." 

The ground was no longer full when the winner came in the 92nd minute from summer signing Demarai Gray, much to the delight of those who had stayed the course. 

Several supporters had left in protest in the 27th minute, the time picked to mark Everton's 27-year wait for a trophy, though what was billed as a "mass walkout" failed to materialize. 

Benitez is the seventh full-time manager to work under the new owner and more than 500 million pounds has been invested under those bosses.  

Marcel Brands, the much vaunted director of football who joined the club three and a half years ago, worked with five of those bosses but he left the club in the lead-up to the Arsenal game, handing what some see as more control to Benitez. 

"You can say it in this way," the Spaniard said when asked if he would now have more control over the club's transfers, in the aftermath of the Arsenal win. 

"I was working for years with a director of football. It is not an issue. Now we have to think about the future and we have a situation where we must take responsibility. 

"The club has changed managers in the past and now they want to do something long term with a clear idea of what we want to achieve. With my experience and the people we have in the club I think we can guide things in the direction that will hopefully be the right one." 

Benitez explained his view on Brands leaving. 

"The reality is that the club was not progressing at the pace that maybe everybody was expecting and now it's just really important to be positive about the future." 

There was meant to be a brighter future for the Blues when Farhad Moshiri took over in 2016 but it is fair to say that such a future is yet to appear. 

The immediate future is brighter after the three points picked up against Arsenal and the end of the run of poor form. There are also questions surrounding what is going on behind the scenes in the boardroom now Brands, who was also a member of the board since 2019, has left. 

Richarlison of Everton celebrates after victory in the Premier League match against Arsenal on December 6, 2021 in Liverpool, England. Photo: VCG

He announced his departure in a statement over the weekend before the Arsenal win.  

"On Friday, following a personal conversation with the chairman and my fellow board members, we agreed that I would step down from my post as director of football and as a member of the Everton Football Club board. 

"This decision has taken some time and some consideration and was one of the most difficult I have faced in my career. 

"The board and I agreed that there is a clear difference in the vision and direction for this beautiful club and, with that in mind, the decision was taken. 

"I want to thank everyone in the club who I have worked closely with over the last three and a half years. There are a lot of talented people at Everton with huge passion and commitment to move the club forward, both on and off the pitch." 

The club also released a statement, announcing that "a strategic review of the football structure will now take place which will inform the best model for the club to proceed with in the long term" as well as thanking Brands. 

Not everyone has wished him well. 

Former Everton striker Andy Gray spoke on Brands' departure during a BeIN Sports broadcast. 

"After the torrent of abuse he took after the Liverpool game... and he did, more than anybody," Gray said. 

"More than Moshiri, more than Bill Kenwright, more than Benitez. This guy took the vast brunt of it and he's culpable for a lot. A lot. 

"He's spent millions and he has brought in players that, so far, the majority of them have proven not to be good enough." 

Brands' success has been the subject of much debate, with the club spending 300 million on signings during his time as director of football. 

In all there were 26 signings - loan and permanent - under Brands and none have been more impressive than the first, Richarlison. The Brazilian scored the equalizing goal for Everton against Arsenal before Gray grabbed the winner.  

That Gray was the only player signed for money this summer - at just 1.7 million from Bayer Leverkusen - shows what constraints Benitez is working under after the signings that followed Richarlison into Goodison Park. 

There have been some great flops including James Rodriguez, who has since left, and Alex Iwobi, who many Everton fans would like to see follow the Colombian out of the exit door. 

The Brands era may be best remembered for the argument that he had with a fan over the disappointing performance of the players in the derby, or it may be for some of his signings coming good.  

Time will tell but Everton fans will hope it is not another 27 years to a trophy.