Arsenal have reclaimed their position at the summit of the Premier League after grinding out a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday evening.
Viktor Gyokeres proved the match-winner once again, converting from the penalty spot to ensure Mikel Arteta's side would sit top of the table at Christmas.
The Gunners now hold a two-point advantage over Manchester City, who had earlier piled on the pressure with their own comfortable win against West Ham.
It wasn't pretty from Arsenal, but title contenders sometimes just need to find a way to get the job done – and that's exactly what they managed.
Arsenal secured victory through Viktor Gyokeres's penalty
|REUTERS
The penalty came courtesy of a bizarre moment from Everton defender Jake O'Brien, who inexplicably raised both hands above his head while trying to clear Declan Rice's corner in the 27th minute.
It was a gift Arsenal were more than happy to accept.
Gyokeres stepped up and absolutely buried the spot-kick, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance whatsoever.
The Swedish striker has now converted all 19 penalties he's taken in league football since the beginning of the 2023-24 campaign, including his time at Sporting before joining the Gunners.
That's quite the record from twelve yards.
VAR said there was not enough contact from William Saliba to give a penalty
|REUTERS
The match wasn't without its share of controversy, though.
Everton felt they should have had a penalty of their own when William Saliba caught Thierno Barry, kicking the underside of the forward's leg as he attempted to clear the ball.
Referee Sam Barrott waved away the appeals, and VAR took an extended look at the incident before ultimately backing the on-field decision.
The official explanation stated that "the contact from Saliba on Barry wasn't sufficient for a penalty."
It's fair to say the home supporters and David Moyes' players were left feeling rather aggrieved by that call, nursing a genuine sense of injustice throughout the remainder of the second half.
Arsenal will be top of the Premier League table on Christmas
|REUTERS
Arsenal's dominance was clear in the opening 45 minutes, with Everton failing to register a single shot – only the second time that's happened to them at home in Premier League history according to Opta records.
The second half proved trickier for the visitors, though they still created the better opportunities.
Leandro Trossard and Martin Zubimendi both struck the woodwork when they really should have found the net, while James Tarkowski cleared a Bukayo Saka effort off the line.
Everton desperately missed the creativity of Iliman Ndiaye, who's away at the Africa Cup of Nations, and the injured Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.