Everton 1 - 2 Arsenal
Cesc Fabregas finishes off a sweet move to slot home Arsenal's second
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By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer at Goodison Park |
Bacary Sagna's powerful finish nine minutes before the interval set the Gunners on their way to three points, with Cesc Fabregas adding a second three minutes after the break to put the north Londoners in command.
Everton threatened early on when Tim Cahill headed over an unguarded goal, but Arsenal were then in the ascendancy and ended up securing their second away victory in four days.
Samir Nasri and Marouane Chamakh wasted chances to give the scoreline a more emphatic appearance, but goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski then excelled in the closing stages with a succession of fine saves as the Merseysiders threatened to snatch a point.
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Wenger happy with substance over style
And the value of Fabianski's contribution was underlined even more when the visitors had to survive an anxious finale after Cahill pulled a goal back for Everton.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will be delighted with the three points, earned without his side ever hitting the heights and in the face of Everton's spirited late rally, although he may consider himself lucky not to have seen defender Sebastien Squillaci sent off for bringing down Saha when clean through in the second half.
It keeps the Gunners on the tail of leaders Chelsea and maintains their recovery after the shock home defeat against Newcastle United last Sunday.
For Everton, there was only the frustration of seeing their seven-match unbeaten run come to an end, with referee Howard Webb cast as the villain of Goodison Park after a series of contentious decisions that enraged the home support.
Wenger's men, with that chance to move ahead of United, should have fallen behind in the 11th minute when Seamus Coleman's impressive surge took him clear of Gael Clichy, but Cahill's header was uncharacteristically wayward with the goal at his mercy.
After surviving an early period of pressure unscathed, Arsenal's confidence increased throughout the first half and Andrey Arshavin twice flashed shots wide as they started to exert their authority.
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Both sides made changes at the start of the second half, with Jack Wilshere - who had been on the receiving end of some rough treatment from John Heitinga - replaced by Denilson. Heitinga, whose approach ran the risk of receiving a red card from referee Webb, who sent him off in the 2010 World Cup final in July, was removed in favour of Jack Rodwell.
It was Arsenal's change that had the greater effect as they doubled their lead three minutes after the break. After winning possession in midfield, Denilson linked with Chamakh and he set up Fabregas for a low, composed finish.
The home side needed a swift response, and Rodwell almost provided it, only to fire narrowly wide after good work by Pienaar.
The Gunners were primed to take advantage of Everton's increasing desperation, and twice in a matter of seconds on the hour they came close to extending their advantage.
Moyes 'no complaints' with defeat
The Toffees were struggling to test Fabianski, prompting Moyes to make a double change by replacing the disappointing Mikel Arteta and Phil Neville with Yakubu and Beckford. They had the desired effect of injecting some threat into Everton's attacking efforts.
And it was Beckford who forced Fabianski into his first serious save with nine minutes left, the keeper diving to his left to turn away the striker's shot on the turn.
Having forced Fabianski into action once, the Merseysiders then turned up the pressure and the Arsenal keeper was impressive again as he saved from Pienaar and Saha.
Cahill then set up a tense finish by scrambling home from close range, but Wenger's men hung on for victory to leave Everton frustrated that their late surge came to nothing.
Everton manager David Moyes:
"I can't really feel as if we deserved an awful lot. "I don't think we played all that well.
"I didn't think there was much in the game before the first goal. I didn't
think Arsenal were great and I don't think we were.
"I thought we created one or two chances which on another day we might have scored."
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger:
"The team has shown great spirit," he said. "We were hanging on a bit at the end but I am satisfied with 2-1.
"The most important qualities we showed were discipline, commitment, honest desire, 100% focus for 90 minutes.
"That got us the three points - if you come here without that you don't get the three points."