Gunners edge spirited Everton to regain third place in table

After Arsenal saw Liverpool continue their remarkable run in the Premier League by beating champions Manchester City just before kick-off to draw them level on points with the north Londoners, they knew they had to defeat Everton.

Both the Gunners and Toffees came into this match after contrasting fortunes in the Champions League and Europa League respectively, with the former losing at home to Monaco, and the latter easily seeing off Young Boys over two legs.

Arsenal in the end came through this fixture with Everton, by beating them 2-0, but only just, as a late goal from sub Tomas Rosicky killed off the game after Olivier Giroud’s first half strike. The win puts them up to third again, while the Toffees slip to 14th.

It was a fairly uneventful opening 15 minutes at the Emirates, but Romelu Lukaku had the first good chance, as he forced his way to get onto a long ball, but Gunners keeper David Ospina palmed away the ball before the striker could shoot.

The Toffees were certainly the more impressive in terms of organisation and closing down Arsenal players at first, and the home crowd were frustrated and quiet early on.

But Giroud nearly gave them something to cheer about just before the half hour mark, as he beat his marker from a cross, only to head wide from close range. While the Frenchman should’ve scored, it seemingly spurred the Gunners on more, and they were very much on the front foot until half time.

Everton still threatened on the counter, though, and Lukaku went on a decent run, before being brilliantly tackled by Brazilian Gabriel, who was making his first Premier League start.

Giroud did finally get his side off the mark, after a cool volleyed finish straight from a corner with his weaker right foot. Replays seemed to show that the ball came off the Frenchman’s shin.

Just before the break, Santo Cazorla had a decent chance from outside of the area, but he couldn’t find the corner of the goal and his effort was tipped over the bar by Tim Howard.