Match Report

Mikel Arteta’s team found themselves in second place ahead of kick-off at Hill Dickinson Stadium, with Manchester City moving above them after a 3-0 win over West Ham.However, Viktor Gyokeres’ 27th-minute penalty proved decisive against an Everton side missing key attackers Iliman Ndiaye and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.It was ultimately a moment of madness from Jake O’Brien that helped decide the contest, with the Everton defender inexplicably handling while trying to clear a Declan Rice corner.Gyokeres lashed in the penalty, though that was one of just two shots on target that Arsenal managed, with Bukayo Saka seeing a shot cleared off the line in the second half.A much-improved Everton wanted a penalty when Thierno Barry was clipped by William Saliba, but the VAR deemed there not to be enough contact to call referee Samuel Barrott to the screen.The game opened up as Everton pushed for an equaliser, and Arsenal became a threat on the break. Leandro Trossard first hit the post after a sweeping move from the visitors before Martin Zubimendi also struck the woodwork from Saka’s cutback.But with Everton short of attacking threat, one goal did the job for Arsenal.