Arsenal will wake up on Christmas Day sitting top of the Premier League table after Viktor Gyökeres’ first-half penalty secured a gritty 1–0 win over a spirited Everton side that pushed them all the way.
Everton began the afternoon with real intensity at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, pressing high, forcing hurried clearances, and making Arsenal defend crosses and second balls far earlier than they would have liked. The hosts had the better of the opening exchanges, but that early spell came without the one thing they needed most: a finishing touch to turn pressure into a goal.
And then, in a moment that completely changed the mood of the game, Everton’s early momentum was undone by a costly mistake. From an Arsenal corner, defender Jake O’Brien inexplicably cleared the ball with both hands, leaving referee Samuel Barrott with an easy decision as he pointed straight to the spot.
Gyökeres makes the difference
With the stadium roaring in disbelief, Gyökeres took responsibility and delivered in the biggest moment. The striker stepped up and smashed the penalty home with conviction, giving Arsenal the lead and flipping the momentum instantly.
The goal didn’t kill Everton’s belief, though — it only sharpened the contest. Arsenal looked more settled after going ahead, moving the ball with greater purpose and showing the kind of control that title challengers need in difficult away grounds. But Everton kept asking questions, refusing to fold, and ensuring this stayed a fight.
Second-half chaos, but Arsenal hold firm
The second half was far more open — the kind of end-to-end stretch that had both penalty areas feeling like danger zones. Everton threw bodies forward, searching for an equaliser, while Arsenal carried enough threat on the counter to put the game to bed. There was goalmouth action, last-ditch defending, and moments where the ball seemed to ping around the box as both teams pushed for a decisive touch.
In the end, Gyökeres’ penalty remained the difference. Arsenal defended their box with focus, managed the game intelligently in the closing stages, and did what champions often have to do: win when it’s tight.
For Everton, it was a performance full of heart and energy, but one that will sting — not only because they matched Arsenal for long periods, but because a single costly lapse ended up deciding the contest.