Arsenal player ratings vs Everton as Gyokeres makes impact but two 6/10s struggle

Arsenal moved back to the top of the Premier League table after victory over Everton as Viktor Gyokeres’ penalty secured all three points

Arsenal have reclaimed their spot at the top of the Premier League table over Manchester City after a triumphant win against Everton. This victory ensures they’ll be sitting pretty at the summit come Christmas.

The Gunners owe a debt of gratitude to Jake O’Brien for his ill-judged decision to raise his arms in the box, gifting them a penalty in the first half. Viktor Gyokeres was on hand to confidently convert from the spot.

In the second half, Arsenal continued to press, with both Leandro Trossard and Martin Zubimendi rattling the woodwork, while Bukayo Saka’s effort was thwarted by a last-minute interception.

Despite dominating, the match ended on a tense note though David Raya was rarely troubled. Here’s how the Arsenal players were rated:

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David Raya – Nearly caught off guard with the ball at his feet, but skilfully sidestepped his opponent in the first half. He handled a barrage of aerial challenges and passes with aplomb. 8.

Jurrien Timber – Showed good initiative bringing the ball forward and ventured into central areas frequently, demonstrating good control. However, he occasionally seemed hesitant to push forward, like many of his teammates, opting for a backward pass when a bolder move might have been available.

His performance improved as the match progressed, notably making a superb tackle on Beto in the 76th minute to prevent a one-on-one situation. 7.

William Saliba – His poor clearance resulted in an Everton corner, which he then cleared himself before making a superb tackle on Alcaraz in the box. He was perhaps lucky not to concede a penalty after making contact with Barry’s foot. 7.

Piero Hincapie – He opted for long passes a few times too many, prompting a reaction from Mikel Arteta on the touchline. He somehow managed to avoid a booking when he halted a clear attack down the right. 6.

Riccardo Calafiori – The Italian had a mixed game filled with both impressive and frustrating moments. At times, he would deliver a fantastic pass or make a great move, only to be caught out at other times.

Despite this, he persevered and contributed to maintaining the clean sheet. 7.

Martin Zubimendi – He was perhaps guilty of adopting a passive style and often chose the safe option. He was somewhat fortunate in his tussle with Thierno Barry as the striker advanced, but the incident was dismissed.

He hit the post after being set up inside the box by his captain, with a curling shot that beat Pickford but not the woodwork. 7.

Declan Rice – It was his ball into the box that led to the corner. He delivered a perfectly timed pass in the box for Trossard who should have capitalised on the opportunity. 7.

Martin Odegaard – He found a couple of good balls into the box in the first half which nearly found a teammate and required last-minute interceptions to prevent. He made a really poor pass to Gyokeres in the box just before the half-time whistle, squandering a promising chance.

Undoubtedly, his performance improved significantly in the second half. He played a key role in creating three major opportunities, two of which hit the post and a Saka chance that should have been better executed. 7.

Bukayo Saka – Occasionally moved to the left flank and delivered some quality crosses into the box, unfortunately, none were met. However, he shockingly missed an early opportunity in the second half, which should’ve extended the Gunners’ lead by two goals at that point.

He had another shot at scoring when he faced the last defender, Michael Keane, but was once again denied a clear shot. 7.

Viktor Gyokeres – Delivered a good pass to Saka, leading to his first opportunity in the game, a deft header around Jordan Pickford’s right post. He was then brought down in the box just as he was about to tap-in, but no penalty was awarded.

However, moments later, Martin Odegaard handed him the ball for a penalty kick, and he didn’t disappoint. 7.

Leandro Trossard – Provided a fantastic pass for Gyokeres to run clear, but sadly the Swede couldn’t capitalise on it. He hit the post with a massive chance that he simply had to convert. 6.

Substitutes:

Gabriel Jesus – Replaced Viktor Gyokeres in the 65th minute. The impact was immediate as the Brazilian dropped in to help link play, increasing the frequency of the Gunners’ chances. 6.

Gabriel Martinelli – Came on for Leandro Trossard in the 80th minute. He provided pace but had little to do after coming on. n/a.

Mikel Merino – Substituted in for Martin Odegaard in the 88th minute. Entered the game too late to make an impact. n/a.