Arsenal reclaim top spot with narrow win over Everton

Arsenal moved to the top of the Premier League at Christmas after a 1-0 win away to Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday. Viktor Gyökeres struck the decisive goal in the 27th minute, pouncing on a loose ball after a miscue from the Everton defense to lift the visitors above the pack as the festive schedule gathers pace.

Everton created opportunities of their own in a physical, open second half, but Arsenal’s rearguard and goalkeeper preserved the shutout to seal a narrow victory in a tense afternoon of football at the seaside ground. The result keeps Arsenal’s hold on first place at Christmas for the third consecutive season, a run that has produced title pressure in the past but not always the final outcome in May. The mood around the stadium reflected the urgency of the moment, with both sets of supporters aware of the stakes as the month drew to a close.

A contentious moment in the first half drew particular attention from Everton boss David Moyes, who felt several decisions did not go his side’s way. After the match he noted: We were competitive and we showed great spirit for long periods in the game. We didn’t quite have the quality to get a goal but overall I thought we did a good job against Arsenal. We tried to make it a tough game and I think it was for them. I didn’t think Arsenal gave us too many problems before the penalty. A lot of things didn’t quite suit and go our way. They come up with new words for every decision, don’t they? Moyes also touched on the challenge of discussing refereeing decisions publicly, suggesting there should be a mechanism to talk to referees without penalties.

Bukayo Saka was the standout for the Gunners, as he often is in big moments, though the line between sharp, clinical football and moments of lethargy was a tight one for Arteta’s side. After the game Saka spoke of Arsenal’s resolve and focus: They made it really tough. Credit to them, it’s tough coming here but we’re happy we got the win in the end. They have a good structure. We had our chances, we could’ve killed the game earlier. Asked about the influence of Manchester City’s results, Saka added: We’re not watching City too much. We know if we win every week we will stay there.

Mikel Arteta, for his part, praised the atmosphere and the challenge of the venue. He highlighted the beauty of the Hill Dickinson Stadium and stressed the need for more clinical finishing to create bigger margins: It’s a difficult place to come and very organised. We had some moments in the first half where we were dominant without really creating much. We scored the goal and in the second half we had three big chances that, if we want to be more relaxed at the end, we have to take. This league is unforgiving, and every day we must enjoy the challenge, do our best, and see where that takes us.

The day’s results elsewhere underlined how compressed the race remains. Leeds United’s remarkable revival continued with a 4-1 rout of Crystal Palace, a performance Daniel Farke described as a demonstration of a club’s character and momentum. The Whites’ run has left them unbeaten in four and have raised the bar for their ambitions in the second half of the season. [IMAGE: 104911107-0-image-a-29_1766272282321.jpg]

In contrast, the mood in Merseyside shifted slightly toward cautious optimism for Arsenal, with Everton left to reflect on what might have been. Moyes’s side remain in 10th place at Christmas, but are just five points off sixth-placed Liverpool, suggesting a competitive middle tier with plenty still to play for as 2025 draws to a close. The Toffees will hope to parlay positives from the performance into a run of results that can close the gap on the European places.

Arsenal will now reassess as they prepare for the next round of fixtures, with Arteta’s squad carrying the momentum of a Christmas lead but facing the brutal realities of a title-chasing schedule. Saka’s performance will fuel belief that the Gunners can sustain their position, but the overarching narrative remains the same: consistency across the league’s long campaign will decide whether Christmas No. 1 becomes final May glory or a stepping stone to a different outcome. [IMAGE: 104911107-0-image-a-16_1766263275358.jpg]

Everton’s season, while not ending in disaster, is inching toward a plateau that belies their early-season optimism. The club’s blend of resilience and frustration will be tested again in the run-in as Moyes looks to navigate a fixture list that will demand both grit and precision. The league’s calendar remains unforgiving, but the current standings at Christmas continue to suggest a season of close-run battles, with little room for error as teams chase the top spots.

[IMAGE: 1766272128582_wide_galleryImage_LIVERPOOL_ENGLAND_DECEMBE.JPG] [IMAGE: 1766272161465_wide_galleryImage_LEEDS_ENGLAND_DECEMBER_20.JPG] [IMAGE: 104911107-0-image-a-29_1766272282321.jpg] [IMAGE: 104911107-0-image-a-16_1766263275358.jpg]