Everton 0-1 Arsenal: Gyokeres penalty sends Gunners back on top

Match report – Participant scores – Arteta response – Video

After Man Metropolis had comfortably gained earlier within the day to leapfrog us within the desk, Arsenal went again on high of the Premier League due to a 1-0 win over Everton final night time.

The crew was as anticipated, Riccardo Calafiori returning at left again, and Leandro Trossard beginning once more on the left. The primary half was scrappy, with Everton most likely somewhat extra harmful wanting within the opening quarter-hour with out ever actually threatening. We had a sight of aim when Martin Zubimendi fired over along with his left foot, however till Jake O’Brien’s second of insanity, Jordan Pickford didn’t have a save to make.

Viktor Gyokeres wished a penalty for what he felt was a push from O’Brien as he went for a deflected Jurrien Timber cross, however I don’t suppose it was. From the ensuing nook although, the Irishman inexplicably went full High Gun volleyball, with each fingers above his head, and after a VAR test the penalty was awarded. The query was, who would take it? Saka is the common taker, Martin Odegaard usually steps up too, however in want of a confidence boosting aim, the ball was handed to Gyokeres, and you may perceive why.

It was an enormous second for the Swedish worldwide, and he made completely no mistake, thumping the ball with actual energy into the again of the web. Pickford went the appropriate approach however the top and pace of the ball gave him no probability. 1-0 to Arsenal, and simply what the physician ordered from Gyokeres. He had one other sight of aim after a great go from William Saliba however noticed his shot blocked, and late on there was a second when Odegaard’s go ought to have been extra exact, however I don’t suppose the striker’s run was nice both.

Nonetheless, 1-0 away from house on the break isn’t a foul place to be. Not lengthy into the second interval there was a shout for an Everton penalty when Saliba kicked Thierno Barry after the Everton man had performed the ball. It’s a type of the place you can also make a great argument as to why it shouldn’t be a spot kick, however you’ve seen them given loads of occasions, so I used to be fairly apprehensive. VAR checked and cleared, and I feel we obtained away with one a bit there. Perhaps the striker’s histrionics at what was a tame kick made it much less convincing to the video official.

There have been possibilities for Arsenal to attain the second. Saka’s first time shot along with his proper foot was blocked, and I feel he had time to take a contact within the field and discover the end, earlier than a stunning transfer noticed Trossard’s shot come again off the publish. Shut, however a participant of his calibre has obtained to attain from there. Mikel Arteta made a change, placing on Gabriel Jesus for Gyokeres who struggled to become involved normally play. He accomplished simply 3 of his 5 tried passes, and whilst you don’t essentially want your centre-forward to be spraying it round like a playmaker, it does counsel to me that he’s struggling to mix with others and others with him. I additionally fear about his lack of ability to win duels and 50-50s, a side of his efficiency yesterday that did give me pause, as a result of these are moments when a low-touch ahead can actually impose himself on a recreation.

Zubimendi then hit the publish, earlier than the sport took on, what felt prefer to me at the least, an identical sample to Wolves. We sat again, let Everton have the ball, and I didn’t take care of it in any respect. Nevertheless, the place it differed was we shortly swung the pendulum again our approach, and whereas we didn’t actually make any huge possibilities, we took the sting out of the sport fully by simply holding ball with nearly 70% possession within the final quarter-hour or so, and many that was of their half.

That was actually higher than final week, however we have been nonetheless on one thing of a knife-edge. I’ve seen it mentioned that Everton didn’t threaten, didn’t have a shot heading in the right direction, and mustered simply 0.2xG, which is ok, however Wolves didn’t have a shot heading in the right direction till they scored a 93rd minute equaliser. Typically you must scrap out a win, however whenever you exist on the high-quality margins, and also you’ve seen your aspect concede late at Sunderland and Villa Park, and get away with conceding late simply seven days earlier than, I don’t suppose it’s unreasonable as a fan to not really feel significantly comfy.

Talking afterwards, Mikel Arteta referenced the must be extra medical, saying:

We hit the publish twice. With gamers which are usually in these positions, they’re going to place the ball within the web. Within the second half, we had two or three huge open possibilities which, if you wish to be extra relaxed on the finish, you must rating within the Premier League.

One for Leo, one for Zubimendi. Additionally Bukayo is completely free contained in the field, he’s obtained time and he decides to shoot and the ball will get cleared simply on the road. So, these moments, you must be extra medical to have larger margins.

Nonetheless, after three away video games with no win, crucial factor was taking all of the factors again to North London, which is precisely what we did. I feel it’s honest to say it ought to have been extra convincing, however that’s a problem we’ll need to type out with tough video games towards Brighton and Villa to return earlier than the top of 2025. There may even be some essential gamers returning to offer the squad a lift for these video games, and within the meantime there’s an EFL Cup recreation towards Crystal Palace the place I feel I have to see the supervisor give enjoying time to among the lads who want it. And people gamers, as a result of we haven’t been absolutely convincing in assault, can maybe make an actual case for themselves for additional inclusion.

I feel we’ll must be higher than yesterday to win our subsequent two Premier League video games, however within the chilly gentle of day, you possibly can’t argue towards a 1-0 away from house to place you again on high of the desk. That’s the very best place from which to work out the kinks, so to talk.

Proper, I’ll depart it there for now. We’ll have an Arsecast Additional for you tomorrow as ordinary, and within the meantime, have an important Sunday people.