VIKTOR Gyokeres' penalty kick was the key as Arsenal beat Everton 1-0, helping them take the top spot in the Premier League table. This was the first of the next three head-to-head matches between these teams that didn't end in a draw.
Image/Arsenal IG
The game started tough for Arsenal, especially after Piero Hincapié and Riccardo Calafiori collided.
Jurriën Timber blocked a shot from Thierno Barry after William Saliba failed to properly hit the ball from a long throw.
Martín Zubimendi had Arsenal's first shot in the 19th minute when Michael Keane passed the ball to him, but he shot over the crossbar.
Gyokeres then headed wide as Arsenal began to take control.
Everton got a big chance when Jake O'Brien handled the ball while trying to clear a Declan Rice corner.
Gyokeres confidently converted the penalty to put Arsenal ahead in the 27th minute, scoring his first goal since coming back from injury. After taking the lead, Arsenal controlled the game well, but didn't really test Jordan Pickford with Rice's effort missing and Bukayo Saka heading wide.
Everton came out strong after the break, but Carlos Alcaraz's shot hit Barry, and a great clearance from James Tarkowski stopped Saka after some good play with Timber.
Alcaraz then missed a shot after the ball bounced around the edge of the box, and Barry kept making things difficult for Arsenal.
As the second half went on, Arsenal created more chances, but Leandro Trossard and Zubimendi both hit the post.
David Moyes' team still had hope of scoring an equalizer.
Keane stopped Saka from getting a shot twice, and Pickford saved a corner, but Arsenal managed the game well and won their third match in a row across all competitions.
They moved back to the top of the Premier League table.
Everton, on the other hand, have now lost two games in a row, both against teams in the top four.
They remain in the top 10 ahead of Christmas.