Arsenal faced considerable pressure, having gone three consecutive away matches without a win and ceding the top spot to Man City. A cautious approach was paramount, leading to a slow first half with no clear chances for over half an hour.

The turning point arrived in the 32nd minute from a set-piece. Following an Arsenal corner, defender Jake O’Brien's arm made contact with the ball inside the penalty area under pressure from Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie. Referee Sam Barrott initially waved play on but, after a VAR review, pointed to the penalty spot. From the spot, Gyokeres struck a powerful shot into the left corner, beating Jordan Pickford despite the Everton goalkeeper diving the right way.

Jake O’Brien (in blue) handled the ball in the penalty area, leading to Arsenal being awarded a penalty.

Viktor Gyokeres converted the penalty with a powerful shot into the left corner, helping Arsenal beat Everton 1-0 in Premier League matchweek 17 at Hill Dickinson, Vauxhall, England on 20/12. *Photo: Arsenal FC*

This marked Arsenal's first away penalty in the Premier League in 2025. Gyokeres, meanwhile, maintained a perfect record from the 11-meter spot in national leagues, successfully converting all 19 penalties since joining Sporting in the 2023-2024 season.

The first half concluded with the visitors holding the advantage. Arsenal extended their 34-match unbeaten away streak in the Premier League when leading at halftime (28 wins, 6 draws). Their last defeat in this scenario was against Everton in 12/2021. Everton, on the other hand, endured a rare 45 minutes of offensive struggle – this was only the second time they failed to register a shot in a first half at home in the Premier League since the 2003-2004 season.

In the second half, Arsenal surprisingly increased the tempo. In the 49th minute, Bukayo Saka combined effectively with Jurrien Timber on the right flank before taking a shot from a tight angle. The ball got past Pickford but James Tarkowski made a desperate block right on the goal line.

A few minutes later, Arsenal repeatedly hit the woodwork. In the 56th minute, Leandro Trossard curled a shot that struck the post after a lay-off pass from Declan Rice. Just four minutes later, Martin Zubimendi also hit the post from a cross by captain Martin Odegaard.

Leandro Trossard curled a shot that hit the post. *Photo: Reuters*

Meanwhile, Everton primarily relied on contested situations inside the penalty area. The hosts appealed for a penalty twice, including a collision between William Saliba and Thierno Barry, but VAR determined the contact was insufficient to warrant a foul.

Arsenal did not score again, but their defense played solidly, preserving their slender lead until the final whistle. The 1-0 victory saw "the Gunners" conclude the matchweek at the top of the Premier League.

This marks the fifth season in the club's history that they have been top of the table during the Christmas period (after the 2002-2003, 2007-2008, 2022-2023, and 2023-2024 seasons). However, on all four previous occasions, Arsenal failed to win the title. Their current number one position offers an opportunity but also poses a significant challenge for Mikel Arteta's side for the remainder of the season.

On 23/12, Arsenal will return home to face Crystal Palace in the League Cup quarter-final. If they win, "the Gunners" will meet Chelsea in the semi-final.

Hong Duy