Arsenal Grind Out Gritty Win at Everton to Go Top for Christmas
So, this one wasn’t flashy, and it definitely wasn’t one for the highlight reels, but Arsenal will not care one bit. On a tense Premier League night at Everton, the Gunners did just enough to walk away with a 1–0 victory, and in the process, they climbed to the top of the table heading into Christmas.
From the opening whistle, it was clear this was going to be a hard-fought contest. Everton made life uncomfortable, pressing aggressively and refusing to let Arsenal settle into any kind of rhythm. The home crowd was right behind them, and the game felt edgy from early on. Arsenal, meanwhile, were patient. A lot of possession was enjoyed by the visitors, but clear chances were hard to come by, and everything felt tight in the final third.
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The decisive moment arrived in the first half, and it came from the penalty spot. After a spell of sustained pressure, a foul was judged to have been committed inside the area, and Viktor Gyokeres stepped up. With no hesitation, the striker blasted the ball home, sending Jordan Pickford the wrong way. It wasn’t pretty, but it was clinical, and that single strike ended up being the difference.
From there on, it became a test of Arsenal’s discipline and control. The ball was moved around endlessly, with over 600 passes being attempted, which underlined how much the visitors tried to slow the game down and manage the situation. Everton had moments where belief surged, especially late on, but their attacks kept breaking down at crucial moments. Whenever the ball was won back, it often ended up being lost again just as quickly.
There were nervous moments, no doubt about it. A mis-hit from Martin Zubimendi briefly caused panic before being safely gathered by David Raya, and set-pieces had Arsenal fans holding their breath. Time-wasting bookings, late substitutions, and six long minutes of added time only added to the tension.
In the end, the final whistle was met with relief more than celebration from the Arsenal players. This was one of those wins that champions are often judged by. It wasn’t smooth, it wasn’t dominant in front of goal, but it was effective. Everton were kept at bay, the clean sheet was secured, and the three points were safely banked.
As the dust settles, the bigger picture becomes clear. Arsenal sit top of the Premier League at Christmas, built not just on attacking flair, but on resilience and composure in difficult away games like this. Nights like these may not steal headlines, but they often define title races.
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