Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League table at Christmas with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday, courtesy of a penalty from Viktor Gyökeres.

The Gunners knew a win was essential after Manchester City had earlier secured a routine victory over West Ham. Everton, under David Moyes, have proven a tough opponent, but Arsenal had been unbeaten in their last five league meetings with the Toffees. However, visiting Goodison Park has often been challenging for the North London side, who had won just one of their previous seven trips.

Leandro Trossard, who replaced Gabriel Martinelli in Arteta’s starting XI, had contributed to three of Arsenal’s last six league goals against Everton, either scoring or assisting. Everton, meanwhile, were aiming for their first league win over Arsenal since February 2023 and had lost just three of their last 17 home league games, though two of those defeats came in their last four fixtures.

Cagey Start and Key Penalty
The match began cautiously, with little action in the opening 15 minutes. That changed when Jake O’Brien was penalized for handball, allowing Gyökeres to step up and convert the spot-kick. The goal marked the Swedish striker’s first in the Premier League since November and his fifth overall this season, making him Arsenal’s top scorer.

Despite scoring, Gyökeres had limited involvement overall, registering just 18 touches and three passes—the fewest of any player on the pitch.

Arsenal Dominate Possession
The visitors controlled the match through precise passing and superior possession. Between the 15th and 30th minutes, Arsenal held 70% possession and fired three shots on goal before Everton managed a single attempt. By halftime, Everton had yet to register an effort on target—a rare occurrence at Goodison Park, only the second since 2003/04.

The second half saw Everton improve slightly, with Charly Alcaraz testing Arsenal’s defence and a blocked effort from Trossard hitting the woodwork. Yet Arsenal’s passing accuracy and midfield dominance, led by Declan Rice, Piero Hincapié, and William Saliba, allowed them to control the game, with most of Everton’s attacking attempts coming from isolated efforts.

Defensive Resilience and Key Stats
Arsenal’s defensive solidity was crucial, with the Gunners recording their ninth clean sheet in 17 league games—the highest in the top flight this season. Everton struggled to convert their opportunities, failing to score in six of their 17 games, one of the league’s worst records.

With Arsenal attempting a season-high 654 passes, their 1-0 win reflected both patience and dominance. The familiar refrain of “1-0 to the Arsenal” held true once again, as this marked the Gunners’ fourth narrow victory of the campaign, more than any other team in the Premier League.