Arsenal’s six-year Premier League winless streak against Everton came to an end on Sunday as Leandro Trossard led the title-chasing Gunners to a 1-0 victory.
Mikel Arteta’s team had to battle to win at Goodison Park for the first time since 2017. Midway through the second half, Belgian attacker Trossard settled a gritty match.
Despite not playing at their most fluid level, Arsenal managed to match Everton’s tough style of play to secure their fourth victory in five games this year.
The players accepted Arteta’s warning that they would have to risk their lives in order to break the Everton curse, and they performed admirably.
This was another tight encounter for Arsenal, who had come from behind to defeat Manchester United in their last match before the international break.
However, Trossard’s goal moved the undefeated North Londoners into fourth position, two points behind Manchester City, as they look to exact revenge for their late collapse in the championship fight the previous season.
“I haven’t won here in a very long time. We had a terrific game and kept nothing from getting away. We dominated, and the final score ought to have been higher, according to Arteta.
“Everton hasn’t produced a single opportunity. It’s both about fighting and intelligence.
“I felt a little relieved when I saw my face after the Manchester United match. It was fun doing this. Leandro’s amazing finish helped us win the game because we were patient.”
Defeated After barely escaping the drop in the last two seasons, Everton is still in the relegation zone and will be fighting for their life once again.
Before the match, Sean Dyche’s squad learned that Farhad Moshiri had agreed to sell his 94 percent share in the club to American investment group 777 Partners, meaning new ownership will take over.
After making his initial investment in 2016, British-Iranian Moshiri’s turbulent reign will come to an end with the takeover.
Ruthless Arteta – For the first time since 2005–06, Everton’s new owners saw firsthand the enormity of the job before of them as the team lost four out of their first five league games.
Former Everton midfielder Arteta seems unconcerned about such things as Arsenal gets ready to play PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday in the Champions League for the first time in six years.
After joining Arsenal from Brentford, goalie David Raya made his debut and kept a clean sheet for the Spaniard. Aaron Ramsdale was benched.
Raya was one of two changes, with Fabio Vieira starting in place of Kai Havertz for the first time since April.
“There is no difference at all. Regarding his brutal choice to fire Ramsdale, Arteta said, “I have 11 players to choose from, and nobody is different.”
When Gabriel Martinelli scored from close range against Eddie Nketiah in the 19th minute, he believed he had given Arsenal the lead their domination merited. However, his attempt was disallowed for offside during the build-up.
To the dismay of Arsenal, Gabriel’s ball had deflected off Everton forward Beto when Nketiah was adjudged to have interfered with play.
Martinelli’s situation was made worse when he hobbled off following the encounter due to a muscular ailment.
Everton failed to make a single contact inside the Arsenal penalty area for the opening thirty minutes as the visitors were so completely in control.
Jordan Pickford of Everton stopped Ben White’s attempt, then shortly after halftime, he made an even greater save to save Marin Odegaard’s rocket.
Arnaut Danjuma of Everton eventually found the back of the goal with a long-range shot, but in the 69th minute, Arsenal’s persistence paid off.
The Everton defense was exposed by a series of passes, and Bukayo Saka skillfully clipped the ball into the path of Trossard, who scored his first league goal of the year with a calm finish into the far corner.