Match ends, Everton 0, Arsenal 2.
EvertonEverton0ArsenalArsenal2
Arsenal responded to their exits from both the Champions League and FA Cup with a comfortable victory over Everton at Goodison Park.
Danny Welbeck opened the scoring on seven minutes, put through by Alexis Sanchez to round Joel Robles and slot home for his fourth of the season.
On 42 minutes, teenager Alex Iwobi marked his maiden Premier League start with a first goal for the club.
The result leaves the Gunners 11 points behind leaders Leicester City.
It was a first win in four league matches for third-placed Arsenal, who dominated the game.
In contrast, Everton failed to test their opponents properly and had just two shots on target as their dreadful home form - now four defeats in five in the league - continued.
Relive Arsenal's stroll at Goodison Park
Light at the end of a bad week
Arsenal began the week with a 2-1 home defeat by Watford in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup being knocked out of the FA Cup.
Then on Wednesday they lost 3-1 to Barcelona at the Nou Camp as they were knocked out of the Champions League.
With only the league to focus on, this looked like a must-win match for the Gunners if they were to stay in touch with Leicester.
There are also not yet assured of a Champions League place with fifth-placed West Ham only three points behind before kick-off.
In the event, they responded to last week's disappointments with a positive performance and earned a first league win since beating Leicester 2-1 on 14 February.
Super Eagle
It was a dream full league debut by Iwobi, the 19-year-old Nigeria midfielder.
He has come through the ranks at Arsenal's Hale End academy and made his first-team debut in October's 3-0 League Cup defeat by Sheffield Wednesday and signed a new contract last year.
Iwobi was born in Lagos but played for England's youth teams before deciding to represent Nigeria and has won two caps for the Super Eagles.
He boasts footballing pedigree as his uncle is former Bolton and Nigeria legend Jay-Jay Okocha.
Iwobi was brimming with confidence in attack and had the most shots of any of his team-mates.
He linked well with Welbeck and showed composure and strength to hold off the challenge of Ramiro Funes Mori before scoring his goal.
Man of the match - Alex Iwobi (Arsenal)
Everton lack home comfort
Everton have now won just one of their past nine Premier League games at Goodison Park.
They have the league's worst defensive record at home, conceding 28 goals - already the most they have shipped in a 38-game Premier League season.
The Toffees' record is worse than bottom club Aston Villa, who have let in 25 at Villa Park.
They have kept only two clean sheets at home in the league this season and their Goodison Park record reads: played 16, won four, drawn four, lost eight.
The fans were audibly frustrated at their team's poor form and the home defence was exposed horribly by Hector Bellerin's well-flighted pass for Iwobi's goal.
Manager Roberto Martinez changed formation at half-time, bringing on defender John Stones for midfielder Muhamed Besic and switching to a back three.
The change worked as Everton looked more compact in the second half, but they rarely threatened a comeback.
What the managers said
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: "It was a very significant win for us and a mental test. We continued the level of performance against Barcelona.
"I like this group, I like the mental attitude - it has been questioned and it hurts me.
"When you work every day with them you see how much effort they put in."
Everton manager Roberto Martinez: "We were second best. I thought Arsenal had more bite and intensity.
"It was so disappointing, the contrast in performance from last Saturday [the 2-0 FA Cup victory over Chelsea] is difficult to explain.
"We never got a platform into the game, we were ineffective, we had second thoughts in every action and Arsenal were, in every single aspect of the performance, better than us."
The stats you need to know
- Arsenal enjoyed only their third victory in their past 10 away Premier League games (drawn four, lost three).
- Welbeck has now scored four Premier League goals against Everton, his joint-best return against any side (along with Aston Villa).
- Iwobi scored on his first Premier League start, the first Arsenal player to do so since Joel Campbell in October.
- Bellerin has provided three assists in his past two Premier League games after managing just two in his previous 46.
What next?
The Premier League takes a break for international football and Arsenal do not play again until 2 April when Watford visit Emirates Stadium.
Next for Everton is a trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on 3 April.
Line-ups
Everton
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Robles
- 23Coleman
- 6Jagielka
- 25Funes Mori
- 3Baines
- 16McCarthy
- 17BesicSubstituted forStonesat 45'minutes
- 12Lennon
- 20BarkleySubstituted forDeulofeuat 73'minutes
- 15Cleverley
- 10Lukaku
Substitutes
- 5Stones
- 9Koné
- 14Niasse
- 19Deulofeu
- 21Osman
- 24Howard
- 32Galloway
Arsenal
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 13Ospina
- 24Bellerín
- 5Gabriel
- 6Koscielny
- 18Monreal
- 35Elneny
- 34Coquelin
- 17Sánchez
- 11ÖzilSubstituted forGibbsat 74'minutes
- 45IwobiSubstituted forChambersat 86'minutes
- 23WelbeckSubstituted forGiroudat 75'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Gibbs
- 4Mertesacker
- 12Giroud
- 14Walcott
- 21Chambers
- 28Campbell
- 49Macey
- Referee:
- Mark Clattenburg
- Attendance:
- 39,270
Match Stats
Home TeamEvertonAway TeamArsenal
- Possession
- Home54%
- Away46%
- Shots
- Home8
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away3
- Corners
- Home7
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away10
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Everton 0, Arsenal 2.
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Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Phil Jagielka (Everton).
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Attempt missed. Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Calum Chambers.
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Corner, Everton. Conceded by Mohamed Elneny.
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Foul by Calum Chambers (Arsenal).
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Aaron Lennon (Everton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Attempt saved. Romelu Lukaku (Everton) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ramiro Funes Mori with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Calum Chambers replaces Alex Iwobi.
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Foul by Alex Iwobi (Arsenal).
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Leighton Baines (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Olivier Giroud (Arsenal).
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Phil Jagielka (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Seamus Coleman.
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Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Phil Jagielka.
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Attempt blocked. Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Phil Jagielka.
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Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Seamus Coleman (Everton).
