Arsenal move into Christmas leading the Premier League after a narrow 1-0 win over Everton, decided by Viktor Gyokeres’ first-half penalty. Mikel Arteta’s
side had slipped behind Manchester City earlier, after City beat West Ham 3-0, but Arsenal responded with a controlled away display that kept Everton at distance despite limited chances.
Everton, without attacking options Iliman Ndiaye and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, struggled in the final third and managed only five attempts. Arsenal created more danger yet still registered just two shots on target, including Gyokeres’ decisive spot-kick, as a solid defensive structure rather than fluent finishing carried the visitors over the line.
The key moment arrived in the 27th minute from a set-piece. Declan Rice delivered a corner, and Everton defender Jake O’Brien handled while attempting to clear under pressure. The handball gave Gyokeres the chance from 12 yards, and the Sweden international powered the penalty beyond the goalkeeper to give Arsenal a lead that never shifted.
After the break, Everton improved and pushed higher, which left spaces for Arsenal to counter. Bukayo Saka saw one effort cleared off the line, then Leandro Trossard struck the post after a flowing move. Later, Martin Zubimendi met a Saka cutback and hit the woodwork as Arteta’s team threatened to double the advantage on the break.
Everton appealed for a penalty of their own when Thierno Barry went down under a challenge from William Saliba. VAR reviewed the contact but decided it was insufficient and did not advise referee Samuel Barrott to consult the pitchside monitor. With Everton short of creativity, that decision felt significant as Arsenal protected the single-goal margin.
Underlying numbers showed Arsenal were on top. They produced 1.81 expected goals from 13 shots, while Everton generated only 0.2 xG from five attempts.
| Team | Shots | Shots on target | Expected goals (xG) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | 13 | 2 | 1.81 |
| Everton | 5 | 0 | 0.2 |
Rice played a central role in midfield, leading the match for possession wins with 10. Rice also recorded 114 touches and 87 accurate passes. On the opposite side, Tim Iroegbunam replaced Idrissa Gueye and impressed, winning eight of 10 duels and six of seven tackles, helping Everton compete physically despite the lack of attacking edge.
Gyokeres’ penalty maintained an impressive record from the spot. Since the start of the 2023-24 season with Sporting CP, Gyokeres has scored all 19 league penalties taken, converting 17 out of 17 in the Primeira Liga and two out of two in the Premier League. That reliability again proved decisive, keeping Arsenal top heading into the festive period.
Taking all three points back to N5 pic.twitter.com/yJZTdyozYbArsenal (@Arsenal) December 20, 2025
