Everton vs Arsenal live: Gunners eke out win to return to top Premier League tree for Christmas

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The Independent

·20 December 2025

Everton vs Arsenal live: Gunners eke out win to return to top Premier League tree for Christmas

16-year-old defender Salmon could handle the Premier League - Arteta

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Arsenal took advantage of Everton’s missing creative spine to beat the Toffees and ensure their place at the top of the tree for Christmas.

After being frustrated for the first 20 minutes, the Gunners were given a golden opportunity to break the deadlock at the Hill Dickinson Stadium after Jake O’Brien, with both arms raised, bewilderingly handled a corner delivery, with a penalty being awarded after a VAR check.

Viktor Gyokeres stepped up and converted, putting the Gunners in control of an Everton side without its key creators, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall injured and Iliman Ndiaye on Africa Cup of Nations duty.

Mikel Arteta‘s side spurned a couple of opportunities to extend their lead after the break, hitting the post twice, but they were able to quell any Everton comeback to respond effectively to Manchester City win over West Ham earlier in the day, taking back top spot ahead of Christmas Day.

Pinned

Viktor Gyokeres gets early Christmas present as Arsenal overcome depleted Everton

A happy Christmas and a happy anniversary for Mikel Arteta? In part, anyway. The Arsenal manager can testify from bitter experience that being the Christmas No 1 is no guarantee he will occupy top spot in May. But, six years to the day since his appointment, Arteta overcame a club he represented for six years.

The importance of a largely forgettable affair may be measured in points, or in Arsenal’s immediate response to being demoted to second, or in the identity of the scorer. Arsenal’s spell off the summit only spanned five hours before they leapfrogged Manchester City. After failing to win any of their previous three away league games, this represented a three-point turn in their fortunes on the road. However, it felt more a test in theory than practice, with Everton both depleted and complicit in their own downfall.

For Viktor Gyokeres, the presents came from opponents and colleagues alike. A striker who required a goal got a first in six games and just a second in 11 after two acts of generosity: from Jake O’Brien to concede a penalty and his teammates to let him take it. While Bukayo Saka has scored two spot-kicks this season, one with the summer signing on the pitch, Arsenal can alternate between takers. Gyokeres nevertheless has the track record to be the regular. Since joining Sporting CP, he has taken 19 penalties in league matches, whether in Portugal or England, and scored 19.

Richard Jolly reports from the Hill Dickinson Stadium:

Gyokeres gets early Christmas present as Arsenal overcome depleted Everton

Everton 0-1 Arsenal: Mikel Arteta ushered his side back to the top of the Premier League tree on the six-year anniversary of his Arsenal appointment

Will Castle20 December 2025 22:40

David Moyes fumes over refereeing in Arsenal clash: ‘I’d probably be fined’

David Moyes was forced to contain his fury at the officiating after Everton succumbed to a drab 1-0 loss at home to Arsenal.

Moyes was engaged in discussions with referee Sam Barrott at full-time and when asked by Sky Sports what they spoke about, he replied: "I’d like to [repeat it], but I’d probably be fined in some ways. You need to find ways at Sky to talk to referees or don’t bother asking me.

"It was a day where just a lot of things didn’t quite suit and go our way. There was quite a few people going down injured. The referee was blowing up for them. It’s a different football club here. We play tough. We expect our referees to do the same.”

On the penalty decision that involved William Saliba and Thierno Barry, he added: "I think they’re saying it’s insignificant contact, and it might have been. May well have been. They come up with new words for every decision don’t they."

David Moyes fumes over refereeing in Arsenal clash: ‘I’d probably be fined’

William Saliba was fortunate not to concede a penalty for kicking the foot of Everton striker Thierno Barry in the box

Will Castle21 December 2025 00:00

Jordan Pickford gives Arsenal their flowers

"We didn’t give away many chances and we defended really well,” he told Sky Sports. “We had to suffer at times.

“We weren’t clinical and didn’t hurt them as much. I don’t think David Raya really had a save to make. Small margins and that’s why they are top of the league.

“They have been resilient at the back and hard to break down. They got a penalty and scored, the effort and application we put in was quality.

"You’ll have games where you create loads of chances and games where you have one or two and have to be clinical but Arsenal don’t give many opportunities away. Look at their record, eight or nine clean sheets."

Bukayo Saka insists Arsenal aren't paying attention to other results

"There's not really any emotions in it,” Saka told Sky Sports when asked how the players felt seeing Man City take top spot.

“We take the emotions out. We just know we focus on our job this week, after last week we focus on coming here and winning. We did that today.

“We're back on top of the table but we're not watching City too much, or the other teams. We're in control now. We know if we win every week we'll stay there.”

Will Castle20 December 2025 23:00