Max Dowman, 16, comes off bench to inspire Arsenal to crucial win

Hello and welcome to coverage from the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal look to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table with victory over Everton.

The league leaders will start the match seven points clear of Manchester City, who have a game in hand, and play West Ham at 8pm tonight.

With City 3-0 down to Real Madrid ahead of the second leg next week, their focus this evening could be elsewhere and should Arsenal move 10 points ahead, the pressure would be on to respond.

But in north London, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has dismissed suggestions they have adopted a siege mentality amid mounting pressure.

“You just have to go in that dressing room and feel the mood, the energy and the way we talk to each other and how much we value the position that we have right now,” Arteta said. 

“So our focus is on what ‌we have to ‌do, what we ⁠have to maintain and what we have to improve together.”

With no FA Cup fixture last week, Everton have not played since March 3, so they should start the match fresh but could be a little rusty.

However, since David Moyes returned to Merseyside for a second spell 14 months ago, Everton have won the most matches on the road of any Premier League side other than Arsenal.

Ahead of the match, Moyes came to Arteta’s defence, hitting back at suggestions that Arsenal’s physical approach and set-piece prowess present ​problems and saying ‌it would be boring if every team played the same way.

Arsenal have attracted criticism in recent weeks, especially for their corner-kick routines, as their go-to strategy to score, sparking debate about its tactical evolution.

“You are making it ⁠sound as if that’s a problem because they are good at set pieces and they are a strong, physical side,” Moyes said.

“I don’t see any problem with any of that. It’s part of the game.”