Arsenal edge Everton on Gyokeres penalty as Arteta marks six-year anniversary

Arsenal moved to the top of the Premier League at Christmas for the third time in four years after a 1-0 win at Everton, a victory that coincided with six years since Mikel Arteta sat in the Goodison Park directors’ box awaiting the moment he would take charge. Viktor Gyokeres converted a first-half penalty after Jake O’Brien was adjudged to have handled a Declan Rice corner, giving Arsenal the lead they would defend through a measured, if sometimes methodical, display.

Declan Rice was the catalyst in midfield, a tireless presence who pressed relentlessly and linked defense with attack with a level of energy that kept Everton at bay. Arteta hailed Rice’s all-round contribution, saying it was unbelievable how much ground he covered and how well he read the game. Moyes, Rice’s former manager at West Ham, offered a stark compliment, describing him as probably the best midfielder in the world. The night also underscored the six-year milestone in Arteta’s tenure, a reminder of the task and the progress as both clubs navigate a period of transition and ambition.

Arsenal’s finishing was sharp enough to secure the win but not always clinical in a contest that demanded precision. A Martin Odegaard snapshot narrowly missed, while Bukayo Saka found space in the channel for a low ball into the six-yard box that Jurrien Timber could not convert, and Saka himself later struck from ten yards only for James Tarkowski to block. Leandro Trossard struck the post after a sweeping passing move, and Gabriel Jesus was prepared to come on to bolster the attack. Gyokeres’s penalty was the decisive moment, dispatched with confidence high into Jordan Pickford’s left and leaving Everton scrambling to respond.

The result reinforced Arsenal’s status as title contenders, even as questions about finishing and consistency lingered. Arsenal’s away-supporters chanted “We are top of the league” as they left the ground, a buoyant counterpoint to Everton’sEffort to build pressure in patches and test a defense that has been dependable at times but exposed at others. The club’s supporters also watched the big screen, where Everton highlighted Fans Supporting Foodbanks, a nod to a community initiative that has accompanied the Sky Blues’ matchday atmosphere this season.

Arteta’s leadership, and the six-year arc that has defined his tenure, remains under close scrutiny as the calendar moves toward a new year. After the match, Arteta urged patience and process: enjoy the win, but know there will be difficult venues ahead, and the team must stay hungry and relentless in pursuit of improvement. Moyes, reflecting on the shift at Everton, emphasized the realities of a rebuild and the long arc of progress alongside a rival chasing longevity at the pinnacle of English football. City’s hold on the title race looms large, with Erling Haaland continuing to pile up goals and Manchester City maintaining the lead in depth and consistency.

Arsenal sit atop the table at Christmas for the third time in four seasons, but the path to a first league title in two decades still demands resilience, tactical discipline, and a sharper edge in attack. Arteta’s reflection after the game emphasized the need to keep improving and to embrace the challenge of testing themselves in tough places, a creed that his supporters say has redefined the club’s expectations in this era. The calendar turns, but the questions persist: can Arsenal sustain momentum against a City machine bent on reclaiming supremacy, and can Gyokeres’s growing confidence translate into a broader scoring threat that Arsenal have long sought? For now, the focus is on the next game, the next scoreline, and the next step in a season that remains deeply consequential for both clubs.