Frank Lampard singled out his Everton young guns for praise following a pre-season meeting with Arsenal in Baltimore.

Everton lost the game after conceding twice in the opening half. And Lampard confessed the second 45 minutes was his “favourite half” after sound contributions from the homegrown trio of Lewis Warrington, Stanley Mills and Reece Welch.

Manager Lampard, who appointed Jordan Pickford captain in the absence of Seamus Coleman, was additionally encouraged by the first sight in an Everton shirt of the redoubtable James Tarkowski.

Billy Crellin played the second half in goal after Lampard changed his entire XI at half-time, with Asmir Begovic nursing an ankle injury sustained in training on Friday.

Lampard is waiting for the results of a scan on Begovic but tentatively optimistic the keeper will miss “weeks rather than months”.

Returning to the clash with Arsenal, settled by goals in quick succession from Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka, Lampard insisted it was inevitable Everton would trail their opponents in fitness terms after Mikel Arteta’s side played two friendlies prior to their USA visit.

The back-three system employed for the match, meanwhile, isn’t necessarily Lampard’s long-term ploy.

“We have to play three at the back because of the group we have on the trip,” Lampard told evertontv.

“I like to be more flexible and to maybe play three in midfield, like Arsenal did tonight.

“I was relatively happy overall, we lost but Arsenal had already played two games.

“We are a bit behind in our fitness and there are a couple of things we can improve.

“The second half was my favourite half and there were some nice positives in it.

“The young players’ attitude is great, Stanley Mills is on the trip because he trained so well last season and in the first week of pre-season at Finch Farm. He is here because he deserves to be and he showed that in his game.

"The confidence of Lewis Warrington to accept the ball in midfield and play and move it [was pleasing], it’s simple stuff but something we’ve not done so well since I’ve been here.

“Reece looked really comfortable and Billy got a clean sheet for his half.”

Defender Tarkowski, who completed a free transfer move from Burnley at the beginning of this month, produced a number of blocks and tackles, and evidently relished the combat in a game that grew fractious towards the final whistle.

“I am a big fan of James, I have been since before I was Everton manager,” said Lampard.

“I thought he was a player of a really high level in everything and he’s not disappointed me, with his personality and leadership skills and strength and quality on the ball.

“He is a defender who can do both sides of the game and I am delighted with his debut and expecting really good things from him.

“I wasn’t so worried about he result, you always want to win but we were competitive, there was nothing I didn’t like about the players in terms of their application.

“It was a set-piece and not a nice goal to concede [Jesus’ opener].

“But Arsenal put out pretty much a full-strength team and are in a different phase from us at the moment. That will level out.

“The process is important, there was a lot for me to see and think about going forward.”

On one keeper who did play in Pickford, and the one forced to sit out in Begovic, Lampard added: “We all know what a good season Jordan had last year… for me it is a godsend to have a keeper at that level and playing so well, he is critical to results.

“And he is a leader in the group, maturing all the time, so [the captaincy was] absolutely deserved.

“Asmir twisted his ankle in training making a save.

“He’ gone for scan and we’ll know the results tomorrow [Sunday].

“Hopefully it is a minor one that is weeks not months [out of action].”