Arsenal edge Everton 1-0 to stay top as Gyokeres penalty seals win on Arteta's six-year anniversary

Arsenal moved to the top of the Premier League at Christmas with a 1-0 win away to Everton, Viktor Gyokeres converting a first-half penalty to seal the victory at Goodison Park. The result came during a week in which Mikel Arteta marked six years since his appointment as Arsenal manager, a milestone observers say underlines the big-picture task of transforming a club still chasing its first league title in more than two decades.

Declan Rice was central to Arsenal’s performance, snuffing out Everton’s attacks and supplying the tempo that kept the visitors in control. After the game, Arteta praised Rice’s all-around contribution, calling him “unbelievable” for the way he recovers balls and operates across the pitch. David Moyes, Rice’s former manager at West Ham, described the midfielder as “probably the best in the world” in the role he plays for Arsenal, underscoring the tactical balance Arteta is trying to build in the middle of the park.

The match told a familiar story: Arsenal created chances but struggled to convert in bursts, while Everton defended with discipline and financial backing from their home crowd. Arsenal’s only goal came from the spot after Jake O’Brien appeared to handle a Declan Rice corner, a decision that allowed Gyokeres to step up and beat Jordan Pickford with a firm strike to his left. It was a moment that illustrated Arsenal’s need for clinical finishing as the league’s leaders attempted to press home their advantage against a resilient Everton side.

Arsenal pushed to add a second after the break. A Martin Zubimendi snapshot flew over the bar, and Bukayo Saka drilled a ball into the channel that Jurrien Timber hacked into the six-yard area, only for Everton to scramble clear. Saka himself fired from close range around the hour mark, but James Tarkowski blocked the attempt, preserving Everton’s hope of a point. Leandro Trossard then delivered a testing cross that cannoned off the upright as Arsenal sought a decisive second, a move that underscored their ongoing need for a sharper cutting edge in the final third.

The game unfolded amid broader context: City, chasing their own title resurgence, had moved more than 10 goals ahead of Arsenal before kick-off, reminding everyone that even a win at Goodison does not erase the uphill climb to lifting the league trophy. Haaland’s prolific form was on display elsewhere, reinforcing the scale of the challenge for Arteta’s side as they battle to maintain momentum through a demanding schedule.

Amid the on-field action, Moyes’s Everton team showed the defensive resilience that has become a hallmark of his rebuild on Merseyside. Tim Iroegbunam contributed a measured display in midfield, offering neater ball circulation and a steady presence in front of a back line that often faced sustained pressure from Arsenal’s attacking lines. There were moments of controversy, including protests from Everton when a second potential handball appeal went unheeded in the visitors’ box, a nod to the stubborn debates that can punctuate late-night Premier League fixtures.

Calvert-Lewin, Everton’s striker during earlier seasons of contention, was mentioned in passing as a reminder of what could have been if a player had remained settled in the club’s city. The match served as a reminder that both clubs are undergoing periods of transition: Arteta’s project in north London pressing forward while Moyes attempts to stabilize a squad in a state of rebuilding after years of upheaval.

As the final whistle neared, Arteta celebrated with his players, and Arsenal’s away-following sang their club’s current refrain: they were top of the league at Christmas. Yet Arteta avoided projecting beyond the immediate future, choosing instead to emphasize the importance of enjoying the process of winning and continuing to work toward improvement. “Enjoy the process of winning,” he said, underscoring the belief that the team is capable of staying competitive while navigating the season’s tougher fixtures.

Looking ahead, Arsenal will confront a schedule that will demand sustained intensity and sharper finishing if they are to translate Christmas leadership into a sustained title challenge. The six-year anniversary story line will continue to loom, but the mood around the team is one of cautious optimism rather than exuberant certainty. The path to a first Premier League title since 2004 remains arduous, and the wider Premier League landscape — with City and Haaland in particular — promises that every point will be hard earned as the calendar-year turns.