Gunners Grind Out Gritty Win Over Stubborn Everton at the Emirates
Viktor Gyokeres’s emphatic second-half penalty proved decisive as Arsenal reclaimed top spot in the Premier League with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Everton on Saturday, ending a run of three consecutive draws between the sides.
The Gunners endured a nervy start at the Emirates. A worrying early collision between defenders Piero Hincapié and Riccardo Calafiori unsettled the backline, and only a timely intervention from Jurriën Timber prevented Everton’s Thierno Barry from capitalizing on a defensive lapse.
Arsenal grew into the game, with Martín Zubimendi firing their first effort over the bar. The breakthrough arrived in the 27th minute when Everton’s Jake O’Brien was penalized for handball from a Declan Rice corner. Stepping up, Gyokeres blasted the spot-kick home, marking a triumphant return to the scoresheet after his recent injury layoff.
Despite taking the lead, Arsenal struggled to translate their patient possession into clear chances, with Rice and Bukayo Saka sending efforts off target. Everton emerged with renewed vigor after the break, with Carlos Alcaraz seeing a shot blocked and James Tarkowski making a crucial goalline clearance to deny Saka following a slick exchange with Timber.
The visitors pressed for an equalizer as Alcaraz fired just wide and Barry remained a persistent threat. Arsenal responded by striking the woodwork twice in quick succession, first through Leandro Trossard and then Zubimendi, as the tension mounted.
Everton defender Michael Keane made two vital challenges to halt Saka late on, but Arsenal managed the final stages professionally to secure a third straight win in all competitions and leapfrog Manchester City at the league’s summit.
For Everton, back-to-back defeats—both against top-four opposition—leave them in the top half of the table over the festive period, but with work to do to reignite their campaign. Arsenal, meanwhile, will savor a return to the top, even if the performance highlighted the need for greater fluency in front of goal.
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