Arsenal and Everton faced off in their Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
The Gunners had the chance to move top of the Premier League with a victory over the Toffees. Meanwhile, Everton were looking to end a 21-match winless run in their trips to face the North London outfit.
Arsene Wenger's men secured their fourth win on the spin in the top flight to move to the summit of the table as first-half goals from Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny were enough to hand them the victory, despite a strike from Ross Barkley.
Read how all the action unfolded in our commentary below.
4.30pmGood afternoon and welcome to the live commentary of the Premier League clash between Arsenal and Everton.
4.31pmThe Gunners come into today's fixture fresh off a vital win in the Champions League during the week against Bayern Munich. Goals from Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil were enough to secure the victory at the Emirates Stadium to keep the club's hopes of reaching the knockout stage of the competition alive, as well as taking a scalp of a team who have troubled Arsene Wenger's men in recent years.
4.33pmWenger's men are in impressive form entering the clash against the Toffees, having won their last three matches in the Premier League, which has restored the club's status as contenders for the top-flight crown. The run has included their 3-0 victory over Manchester United two weeks ago, while they followed up that display with a convincing 3-0 win over Watford at Vicarage Road. Wenger will be delighted with the way his side are performing at the moment.
4.37pmEverton come into the match following a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester United last week. The Toffees had a good run of results against the Red Devils at Goodison Park, so the defeat will have surprised Roberto Martinez and his players, but they will be determined to get back to form against the Gunners this afternoon.
4.42pmBefore their loss to United, Everton were on a five-match unbeaten run, which included victories over Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion. The Toffees also earned valuable points against bitter rivals Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, which elevated them into mid-table, meaning Martinez's should have more than enough confidence to take a positive result away from the Emirates.
4.45pmThe team news has been announced and we'll start with the home side.
4.48pmARSENAL STARTING XI: Cech, Bellerin, Koscielny, Gabriel, Monreal; Coquelin, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Ozil, Alexis, Giroud
Subs: Macey, Chambers, Debuchy, Gibbs, Flamini, Walcott, Campbell
Subs: Macey, Chambers, Debuchy, Gibbs, Flamini, Walcott, Campbell
4.51pmEVERTON STARTING XI: Howard; Coleman, Jagielka, Stones, Galloway; Barry, McCarthy, Lennon, Deulofeu; Barkley; Lukaku
Subs: Joel, Kone, Mirallas, Naismith, Cleverley, Osman, Funes Mori
Subs: Joel, Kone, Mirallas, Naismith, Cleverley, Osman, Funes Mori
4.55pmWenger revealed that before the match that he had selection headache in regards to who to start up front today. Giroud has got the nod to start ahead of Theo Walcott following his goalscoring performance against Bayern during the week. Aaron Ramsey is out due to injury and is replaced in the midfield by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, while Per Mertesacker also misses out as he is ill so Gabriel Paulista comes into the back four.
4.57pmEverton have made just one change from their defeat to United last time out. Gerard Deulofeu comes into the lineup to replace Steven Naismith, who drops to the bench. Meanwhile, Tom Cleverley returns to the bench after two months out with an ankle injury. Romelu Lukaku leads the line for Martinez's men supported by Ross Barkley just in behind the frontman, while Gareth Barry and James McCarthy sit in front of the back four. Phil Jagielka and John Stones anchor the centre of defence, while Seamus Coleman and Brendan Galloway occupy the full-back spots.
4.59pmWenger believes that his side have managed to turn a corner in recent seasons and should no longer be branded a "fragile" team.
He told reporters: "What is the most important for me is to continue to develop as a team, to feel that we grow in the quality of our game. We have maybe a better discipline. People reproached us many times, 'Okay, Arsenal play football but they are a bit fragile'.
"Before, maybe, when we were not dominating completely the game, we were a bit insecure. On Tuesday night, Bayern had a lot of the ball, but we could handle that.
"We are more mature, for sure. Two years ago we were top of the league for a long time. After, we lost one or two players, and we lost one or two big games, that was the killer for us. I feel today we are better prepared. We know, as well, the competition will be long. We have played nine games, there is a long way to go."
5.02pmMartinez has admitted that his side will not face many challenges bigger than their trip to the Emirates over the course of the season.
"We are facing an Arsenal team that I watched against Bayern and I don't think it's a coincidence that they won," Martinez told reporters.
"They were very worthy of the win. They are a very complete team at the moment and I think this will be as big a challenge as we will face all season."
5.05pmSTAT ATTACK! Everton have not beaten Arsenal away from home since 1996, a run that stretches for 21 matches which includes 17 defeats and four draws. Graham Stuart and Andrei Kanchelskis scored the goals in a 2-1 win for the Toffees in January 1996 at Highbury.
5.07pmSTAT ATTACK! Arsenal have not conceded a goal at the Emirates in the Premier League since their opening-day defeat to West Ham United.
5.10pmHere in our video below, Sports Mole's pundits give their views on the match.
5.13pmSTAT ATTACK! Everton are unbeaten in their last five Premier League games on the road since their defeat to Aston Villa on May 2.
5.19pmAs Manchester City face Manchester United tomorrow a win would lift Arsenal to the top of the Premier League overnight. Wenger will not be too dismayed to see his great rival Jose Mourinho suffer another defeat this afternoon as Chelsea lost 2-1 to West Ham United at Upton Park.
5.21pmEverton meanwhwile can move up to sixth place in the table with a victory today following Crystal Palace's defeat to Leicester City.
5.24pmThe players are making their way out on to the pitch so we should be underway shortly.
5.27pmPREDICTION: Everton have been a solid outfit away from home this season, but Arsenal should have just enough quality to edge the contest in a 2-1 victory to extend their good run at home against the Toffees.
1 minKICKOFF! We're underway at the Emirates Stadium.
2 minDeulofeu wastes two good openings down the right in the opening stages of the match as he has space to raid into down the flank, but his first delivery is easily cleared by Paulista. The winger manages to get the ball back for his team and then attempts to run past Bellerin down the flank, but the full-back does well to force him out behind the goal to win a goal kick for the Gunners.
4 minArsenal make their first forray into the Everton half an Bellerin displays his speed to get down the flank deep inside the Toffees' territory. The full-back knocks the ball back to Coquelin, but he sends his cross over the head of Sanchez at the back post.
5 minA mistake from the restart almost allows Sanchez an effort at goal as Howard misplaces his pass to Jagielka. However, Stones reacts to the danger to close down the forward before he can shoot towards the net.
7 minFurther careless play from Everton as Jagielka's pass to Galloway hits the defender in the back and Oxlade-Chamberlain pounces on the ball. The midfielder skips past the challenge of Barry, but Galloway gets back to divert the ball behind for a corner.
7 minCHANCE! Cazorla sends the corner to the near post and Giroud rises highest in the box, but he cannot make a good connection with his header as he puts his effort wide of the target.
9 minThe Gunners make another surge down the right and Oxlade-Chamberlain wins another corner for his side to test the aerial ability of the Everton backline in the early stages of the match.
10 minCHANCE! Cazorla sends the cross in from the right and this time Paulista rises highest on the penalty spot, but he cannot get over his header and can only put his effort over the bar.
12 minArsenal seem to be making a point of trying to attack Galloway down their right flank, but the 19-year-old proves that he is up to the task of closing down Oxlade-Chamberlain by winning a goal kick for his team by kicking the ball off the midfielder.
13 minAgain the Gunners come down the right and Oxlade-Chamberlain this time slides the ball into the path of the advancing Bellerin. The right-back fires a low ball across the face of goal, but Jagielka reads the danger to put the ball behind for a corner.
14 minA long ball finds the run of Giroud, who gets above Stones and Jagielka to knock the ball into the path of Ozil. However, the referee blows his whistle for a foul on Stones to stop the German in his tracks as he faced a one-on-one situation with Howard.
17 minEverton advance down the left through Galloway as Barry picks him out with a incisive through ball, but the defender's low cross into the box is blocked by Bellerin. The 19-year-old throws the ball quickly back into play, looking for Lennon who shakes off the challenge of Coquelin, but did so unfairly according to referee Lee Mason.
20 minArsenal are quite content in the early stages of the game to patiently build in their possession game as Everton are back in numbers, with only Lukaku ahead of the ball.
22 minOzil almost makes the quality play needed to break the deadlock as he raids to the edge of the box and sends a clever reverse pass for the run of Sanchez, but Jagielka reads the danger and slides to divert the ball out for a corner.
23 minThe German lifts the resulting corner in from the right and Paulista rises highest in the box, but can only send his effort past the post.
25 minYELLOW CARD! Coquelin goes into the book for a late challenge on Galloway.
27 minBarkley sends the ball into the box from the right for the visitors and Bellerin can only clear as far as Galloway on the edge of the box. The defender aims a first-time volley at goal, but Oxlade-Chamberlain makes the block to divert the ball behind for a corner. Role reversal for the two players.
28 minCHANCE! Stones should put Everton ahead as Cech makes an error by palming Lennon's shot into the six-yard box. However, the England international snatches at the ball and slices his strike wide of the target. A huge opportunity for the Toffees.
30 minHoward's clearances have been suspect in the early stages of the match and he almost commits another mistake as Sanchez closes him down, with the American just getting his kick away before the forward comes in with the challenge.
32 minLennon gives away a free kick in a dangerous area of the pich and Ozil sends a inviting ball towards the penalty spot. However, the German's delivery is inches too high for the head of Koscielny and goes behind for a goal kick.
33 minArsenal keep the pressure on as Everton try to play the ball out of their own half, only to lose the ball. Giroud knocks a pass into the feet of Sanchez on the edge of the box and he turns and shoots at goal. The effort from the Chile international is all wrong as he sends his strike well wide of the post.
36 minGOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Everton (Giroud)
36 minArsenal take the lead as Giroud lifts a header over the outstretched hand of Howard from close range after latching on to Ozil's pinpoint cross into the box. The delivery from the German was sublime as he took a touch out of his feet before launching the ball towards the six-yard box for the run of the Frenchman, who got in between Jagielka and Stones, before guiding his effort over the keeper.
38 minGOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Everton (Koscielny)
38 minArsenal double their lead as another cross proves to be Everton's downfall. The Gunners are awarded a free kick on the edge of the box on the left wing as Sanchez was brought down by Coleman. Cazorla put the set piece into a dangerous area and all it needed was a touch from Koscielny to guide the ball past Howard into the net. The Frenchman could not miss from that range, leaving his side in control of the match.
39 minGalloway makes a surge into the final third and into the box before he gets closed down by three Arsenal defenders. His effort strikes of Paulista before rebounding off the Toffees defender and going over the bar. A warning for the Gunners.
44 minGOAL! Arsenal 2-1 Everton (Barkley)
44 minEverton get back into the game right before the break as Barkley strikes the ball from outside the box with a shot to nothing and his effort is deflected past Cech by Paulista. The Gunners were warned when Galloway went close and now Barkley has made them pay. Wenger will be furious that his side have allowed the Toffees back into the match this close to half time.
45 minThere will be two minutes of added time.
45 + 1 minEverton put the pressure on right before the break by earning two corners in quick succession, but the deliveries are poor and Arsenal go into the break with a narrow lead.
45 + 2 minHALF-TIME: Arsenal 2-1 Everton
6.20pmAfter a slow start to the game Arsenal soon took control with two goals in the space of two minutes through Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny. The Gunners had troubled the visitors with set pieces early in the game, but two pinpoint deliveries from Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla helped Arsene Wenger's men get the breakthroughs which they deserved.
6.22pmHowever, Everton hit back just before the half-time whistle with a goal out of nothing as Ross Barkley's strike was deflected past Petr Cech after Alez Oxlade-Chamberlain lost the ball on the edge of the Toffees box and allowed the visitors to break. The Gunners have been by far the better side, but will be wary of only holding a one-goal lead despite their dominance.
46 minRESTART! We're back underway at the Emirates.
47 minCHANCE! Oxlade-Chamberlain slides a through ball into the box for Giroud, who dummies the ball to allow it to travel into the path of Sanchez. The forward and Coleman race to win control, but the Arsenal man gets a foot to the ball to send a low effort towards the bottom corner, but Howard reacts to the strike by turning his effort past the post.
48 minLaurent Koscielny celebrates notching Arsenal's second goal.
© Getty Images
50 minJagielka goes down with an apparent injury following a challenge by Giroud, but he appears to be okay to continue after receiving treatment.
51 minSHOT! Coleman collects the ball 25 yards from goal and Arsenal allow him to continue towards the edge of the box. The right-back strikes at goal, but his effort is comfortably held by Cech.
52 minSUBSITUTION: Jagielka is not okay to continue as his injury has been deemed serious enough to force him off and Ramiro Fuenes Mori comes on to the field to replace him at centre-back, with Howard taking over the captain's armband.
53 minOxlade-Chamberlain surges through the middle for the home side and gets to the edge of the box before he slides a through ball for the run of Sanchez. However, Howard reads the danger and comes off his line to make the challenge and force a corner.
56 minCHANCE! Giroud comes close to a second goal when Ozil stands the ball up for the forward at the back post. He wins the header by knocking the ball into the path of Oxlade-Chamberlain, who sends it back to the Frenchman. Giroud tries an acrobatic volley, but Howard punches the ball clear at his near post.
58 minCHANCE! Arsenal come within inches of a third goal as Oxlade-Chamberlain collects the ball on the wing and fires the ball first time across the face of the net, but Giroud's outstretched leg just cannot make contact to divert it into the net. It was a sure goal had the Frenchman been able to reach the cross.
60 minEverton break down the right a Deulofeu finds all sorts of space down the flank. The winger plays a low ball into the path of Barkley on the edge of the box, but the England international is dispossessed by Paulista and Koscinely is alert to clear the danger with Lukaku lurking.
63 minGiroud flicks the ball back towards his midfielders and Ozil seizes possession of the ball, and with no support around him he goes for goal. The German's strike is powerful and on target, but Howard saves with relative ease.
64 minMonreal gets down the left flank and sends a ball deep into the box, which goes over the head of Galloway. Oxlade-Chamberlain strikes the ball on the volley, but the 19-year-old makes the block and it rebounds into the path of Bellerin 25 yards from goal. The Spaniard strikes the ball first time, but sends his effort well over the bar.
66 minYELLOW CARD! Barry is booked for pulling back Sanchez.
68 minCHANCE! Monreal loses the ball deep in his own half of the pitch and Deulofeu plays the ball to Barkley on the edge of the box. The England man takes a touch to get the ball out of his feet before striking an effort at goal. However, his strike is tame and saved with ease by Cech, a waste from the midfielder.
69 minOFF THE BAR! Giroud comes within inches again of notching his second goal of the match and his side's third when Ozil plays a neat ball into his feet inside the box. The striker works the ball back on to his left foot and curls his strike over Howard, only to see his shot crash off the bar and bounce clear.
70 minYELLOW CARD! Giroud is booked for a poor challenge on Barkley.
71 minSUBSTITUTION: Lennon makes way for the Toffees to be replaced by Mirallas.
72 minRoss Barkley is congratulated after getting Everton back into the game on the stroke of half time.
© Getty Images
74 minCHANCE! Everton have a great opportunity to level the scores when McCarthy sends a cross on his left foot to the back post, which Cech cannot come out to claim. The ball sails over the head of Bellerin and Galloway dives to make contact at the back post, only to put his effort past the post.
78 minOFF THE BAR! Everton come so close to levelling the scores as Galloway sends the ball in from the left and Lukaku rises to power a header towards the top corner, only to see his effort hit the crossbar and go over. Huge chance spurned by the Belgian.
79 minThe Toffees have slowly worked their way back into the match as Arsenal have not been able to make their dominance in possession pay. It could set up a very nervy final 10 minutes for the Gunners, and it's games like this that can decide the title race.
80 minSUBSTITUTION: Oxlade-Chamberlain makes way for the Gunners to be replaced by Flamini.
82 minBellerin tries to weave his way past three Everton defenders into the box, and he goes down under pressure. However, referee Mason waves play on and the Toffees get to clear the danger with a goal kick.
84 minCazorla tries to lift the ball into the box, but the ball hits the back of Ozil's head. There's uncertainty as Everton try to clear the danger as Fuenes Mori and Stones cannot decide what to do. Howard takes it upon himself to come charging off his line to win the ball, but Giroud knocks a tame header past him. However, the American manages to scramble back to claim it to end the attack.
86 minCHANCE! Flamini of all people latches on to a cross in the box from Sanchez and with the entire goal to hit, the Frenchman guides his headed effort straight into the hands of Howard.
86 minCHANCE! Everton raid straight upfield and Lukaku's ball across the face of goal finds Deulofeu at the back post. The winger takes a touch to get the ball out of his feet, but it proves to be too heavy, which allows Cech to come racing off his line to narrow the angle and make the crucial save.
88 minSHOT! Deulofeu threatens again as he collects the ball inside the box and turns Monreal. The Spaniard sends a low strike towards the near post, but Cech is able to gather with ease. Everton are upping the ante in the final minutes here.
89 minOFF THE POST! Agony for Arsenal as they come within inches of securing the win as Ozil takes the ball in the edge of the area and curls an effort towards the bottom corner, only for his strike to cannon off the post and spin behind for a goal kick.
90 minSUBSTITUTIONS: Kone replaces Coleman for the visitors, while Gibbs comes on for Sanchez for the home side.
90 minThere will be four minutes of added time.
90 + 2 minDrama at both ends of the pitch as Ozil almost weaves his way through the Everton defence, but gets forced wide by Howard. Gibbs tries to work the ball back into the middle, but the visitors manage to clear the danger. This sets up a chance on the counter as Barkley breaks and slides a pass into the feet of Lukaku, but Paulista makes a vital tackle to stop the Belgian in his tracks.
90 + 4 minRED CARD! Barry is sent off for a deserate challenge on Gibbs, picking up his second booking in the dying seconds.
90 + 4 minFULL-TIME: Arsenal 2-1 Everton
7.25pmArsenal secure a vital 2-1 win over Everton to move to the top of the Premier League for the first time in 20 months. The Gunners were not at their clinical best as they spurned several chances to kill off the match, which gave the Toffees hope of salvaging a draw. Arsene Wenger's men displayed resilience to hold out for the three points to notch their fourth win on the spin in the top flight to lay down a marker in their quest to win the title.
7.28pmEverton will rue their defensive mistakes in the first half as they never really got to grips with Olivier Giroud and Arsenal's physical presence in the box, which allowed the home side to take a 2-0 lead. Ross Barkley got thee Toffees back into the game, and they were handed lifelines by the Gunners throughout the second half, but were unable to take advantage. The result extends their winless run in their trips to face Arsenal to 22 matches.
7.30pmThanks for joining our commentary this evening. Until next time, goodbye.
