Gyokeres Penalty Seals Arsenal Victory Over Everton, Gunners Back on Top

Arsenal scraped a narrow victory against a resilient Everton side at Hill Dickinson Stadium, with Viktor Gyokeres's penalty proving the difference. The win propels the Gunners back to the top of the Premier League table after what was ultimately a fortunate result.

Here's how each Arsenal player performed:

• David Raya (7/10):** Enjoyed a relatively untroubled evening between the posts. Despite some defensive wobbles ahead of him, he dealt comfortably with everything Everton threw his way.
• Ricciardo Calafiori (7/10):** Was kept busy throughout, with Everton frequently targeting Arsenal's right flank. He defended stoutly and maintained a good average position deep in his own half.
• Piero Hincapie (6/10):** Played a high defensive line, aiming to nullify the threat of McNeil and Iroegbunam. He was fortunate to escape a booking for a shirt pull in the second period.
• William Saliba (6/10):** Endured a challenging night and had a major let-off when he appeared to kick Barry inside the box. VAR took considerable time before deciding against awarding a penalty.
• Jurrien Timber (7/10):** Performed strongly at both ends of the pitch. He supported Saka with high pressing and delivered some piercing passes.
• Martin Odegaard (7/10):** Played his part in securing the victory, putting in a diligent shift as Arsenal defended their slender lead. He was replaced in the 88th minute.
• Martin Zubimendi (6/10):** Gave his all, as usual, and was perhaps fortunate not to concede a penalty after a challenge on Barry in the penalty area.
• Declan Rice (7/10):** It wasn't a flashy performance, but he provided the necessary steel in midfield. He disrupted Everton's play effectively as they searched for an equalizer.
• Bukayo Saka (7/10):** Was a constant threat around the Everton area and should have found the net in the 49th minute, but Pickford made a good save from his low shot. He was energetic as ever, but his creativity was somewhat stifled.
• Viktor Gyokeres (7/10):** Showed composure in converting his penalty but had limited opportunities otherwise. He worked hard leading the line, producing a solid performance only slightly tarnished by a needless yellow card for kicking the ball away. He was substituted in the 64th minute.
• Leandro Trossard (8/10):** Continues to be a central figure in Arsenal's attacking play. He was unlucky to see his curling shot cannon off the post when it deserved to find the back of the net. He was taken off in the 80th minute.

**Substitutes:**

• Gabriel Jesus (7/10):** Came on for Gyokeres just after the hour mark. He showed glimpses of quality around the Everton box but failed to make a significant impact.
• Gabriel Martinelli (6/10):** Replaced Trossard in the 80th minute, helping Arsenal see out the match and protect their three-point advantage.
• Mikel Merino (N/A):** Came on in the final minutes for Odegaard.

Mikel Arteta (7/10) will be satisfied with his team's resilience and determination, displayed on an evening where clear-cut chances were scarce. His side had to demonstrate grit against Everton's physicality to secure the victory.