Viktor Gyokeres delivered an early Christmas present for Arsenal, securing a crucial 1-0 victory against a depleted Everton side at Hill Dickinson Stadium. The win propelled the Gunners back to the top of the Premier League, ensuring they will spend Christmas Day in the coveted first position.
Manchester City's earlier triumph over West Ham had briefly knocked Arsenal off their perch, but Mikel Arteta's men responded with resilience against a Toffees team missing key players. The decisive moment arrived in the 26th minute when Jake O'Brien was penalized for a handball inside the box following a VAR review. Gyokeres stepped up and confidently converted the penalty, marking his seventh goal in Arsenal colors and his first in five matches.
"It was a tough win away from home, but we took the three points and it was nice to score a goal," Gyokeres said, reflecting on the match. He also spoke about the penalty, stating, "We spoke a little bit on the pitch. It was an easy talk and then I took it… it was nice to take one again and to score".
Arsenal dominated possession early on, but Everton threatened first when David Raya failed to clear a corner. After Gyokeres's penalty, Arsenal had opportunities to extend their lead, with Leandro Trossard and Martin Zubimendi both hitting the post in the second half. Bukayo Saka also saw his effort cleared off the line. Everton, meanwhile, felt they should have had a penalty when William Saliba appeared to make contact with Thierno Barry in the box, but VAR ruled otherwise.
Despite not being at their best, Everton pushed for an equalizer, but Arsenal remained defensively solid, securing the three points. Arsenal's manager, Mikel Arteta, would have been encouraged to see his team respond to the pressure of Manchester City's win, even if the performance wasn't the most convincing.
"It was a tough game but it would have been good if we had scored a few more goals obviously, because then you can control it a bit more," Gyokeres stated. "When it's only 1-0 it can be a bit stressful at times in the end. Of course, we would have liked to convert those chances we had, but we won in the end so that's the most important thing".
With this victory, Arsenal sits atop the Premier League table heading into Christmas. However, Gyokeres tempered expectations, saying, "It's always a good feeling to win football matches and to be top of the table, but it doesn't mean so much because it's a long way to go and [there are] a lot of games still to play".
Everton, currently in 10th place, will look to bounce back in their remaining games of 2025 against Burnley and Nottingham Forest. Arsenal will face Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup quarter-final before hosting Brighton & Hove Albion and Aston Villa to close out the year.
