Everton v Arsenal: full time report
Everton 1 Arsenal 2
Arsenal leapfrogged Manchester United into second place after recording a 2-1 victory over Everton.
Tim Cahill grabbed a late consolation for the hosts, but goals from Bacary Sagna and Cesc Fabregas either side of half time were enough for the Gunners to seal all three points at Goodison Park.
After coming into this fixture off the back of an impressive seven-match unbeaten run, there was never any danger of Everton being humiliated in the manner of last season. On that occasion, David Moyes' side were thrashed 6-1, leaving the Merseyside outfit with a point to prove this afternoon.
And 10 minutes into the match, Cahill should have given the hosts a one goal lead following fine work from Seamus Coleman. The 22-year-old burst down the right wing, outsprinted Fabregas, and chipped a perfectly-weighted ball to the Australian international. Renowned for his aerial ability, most would have expected him to bury the free header, but he failed to hit the target.
Arsenal had started relatively slowly, but nearly broke the deadlock five minutes after Cahill headed over. A venomous half-volley from Andrey Arshavin whistled past Tim Howard's far post from fully 25 yards. It would have been a spectacular opener, as the Gunners began to feel their way into the match.
Minutes later Jack Wilshere had an effort well blocked by Phil Jagielka following an impressive team move involving Fabregas, Marouane Chamakh and Samir Nasri. The youngster, who was included in England's latest squad to face France on Wednesday, struck his shot goalwards, but was thwarted by his compatriot.
Everton were in danger of allowing their visitors too much possession, and with 10 minutes of the half remaining, were undone by a goal from an unlikely source.
After Nasri had struck from range, Howard could only parry. Arshavin picked the ball up near the byline and knocked the ball to Sagna, who was left wide open inside the penalty area. The French defender unleashed a fierce strike which flew past Howard at his near post for only his second goal since arriving at the Emirates Stadium in 2007.
Throughout the afternoon, the hosts refused to let their heads bow and ended the first half on top, almost netting a crucial equaliser after Saha hit the post with a header.
Both managers made changes during the break, with Moyes sending on Jack Rodwell for Johnny Heitinga and Wenger withdrawing Wilshere for Denilson.
And it was Denilson who was instrumental in the build-up to the second goal just minutes after entering the fray.
The Brazilian midfielder found Chamakh, who fed the ball through to Fabregas, and the Arsenal captain finished with aplomb. An instinctive hit from 15 yards curled away from Howard and nestled into the far corner of the net to effectively seal the Gunners all three points.
However, Everton almost responded immediately, and Coleman did have the ball in the back of the net, but referee Howard Webb had already blown for a foul by Sebastien Squillaci on Saha. From the resulting free-kick Leighton Baines hit a disappointing effort straight at Fabianski – but the home supporters were left incensed because they believed Squillaci should have seen red.
The hosts continued to fashion chances for themselves and nearly found a way back into the match five minutes after conceding the second goal. Rodwell had the opportunity to reduce the deficit after being set-up by Steven Pienaar, but the England Under-21 international - only just returning from a lengthy lay-off – hit his shot off-target.
As Aston Villa proved against Manchester United yesterday, 2-0 can be a dangerous scoreline, and Chamakh spurned a glorious opportunity to put the game beyond reach on the half-hour mark. The Morocco international got on the end of a Fabregas cross, and proceeded to sky his effort from two-yards when it looked easier to score.
Just moments earlier Nasri also had a chance to make it 3-0 after running half the length of the pitch, but his strike was well saved by Howard.
With 20 minutes of the match remaining, Moyes decided to go all-out-attack in a bid to rescue something from the match. Yakubu and Jermaine Beckford were sent on in place of Mikel Arteta and Phil Neville, but the north Londoners were content to retain possession.
It took another 10 minutes for Everton to test Fabianksi. Beckford almost grabbed his second goal for the Toffees courtesy of a decent right-footed effort, only to be denied by the rejuvenated Polish international.
And then Pienaar hit a shot straight at the in-form keeper after finding himself in space on the edge of the box.
Everton were eventually rewarded for their persistence when Cahill struck with a minute of normal time remaining – but in the end, it proved little more than a consolation.
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