Everton picked up just their second win in 11 Premier League outings by coming from a goal down to beat Arsenal 2-1 at Goodison Park.
Alexis Sanchez put the Gunners on course for top spot with his heavily deflected free kick 20 minutes in, but Seamus Coleman glanced home to level things up before the interval.
With four minutes left to play an unmarked Ashley Williams headed past Petr Cech to earn the three points for his side, but there was still time for some late drama as Phil Jagielka saw a second yellow and Arsenal were denied a leveller on the line.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Everton and Arsenal at Goodison Park. This match brings together two sides that have experienced contrasting fortunes over the past few months, as the home team have won just one of their last 10 in the league, while the Gunners are unbeaten in 14 and can go top with another win here tonight.
It is fair to say that Ronald Koeman's honeymoon period at Goodison Park is now well and truly over, with the odd murmur of discontent even creeping in following the hugely disappointing 3-2 defeat to Watford three days ago. The fixtures are now coming thick and fast, though, so this is a big chance for the Dutchman to get his side's season firmly back on track. Arsene Wenger will have other ideas, of course, with top spot within touching distance ahead of this busy midweek programme.
TEAM NEWS!
EVERTON XI: Stekelenburg; Coleman, Jagielka, Williams, Baines; Gana, McCarthy; Lennon, Valencia, Barkley; Lukaku
ARSENAL XI: Cech; Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Xhaka; Walcott, Ozil, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Sanchez
Let us start by taking a look at the home team, then, which shows four changes from that defeat to Watford a few days ago. The big news is that Enner Valencia comes in for his first Premier League start since joining the Toffees, while Aaron Lennon is also included from the off. Gerard Deulofeu and Kevin Mirallas are the men to make way from those wide positions, with Romelu Lukaku - Everton's star man once again this term - retaining his place up top.
There are also recalls for Phil Jagielka and Ross Barkley, who come in for Ramiro Funes Mori and Gareth Barry respectively - the latter of whom drops out of the squad entirely this evening. That means a likely 4-2-3-1 formation named by Koeman once again, led by Lukaku who has scored nine and set up three of the Toffees' last 15 goals. Essentially, those fresh faces out wide - Lennon and Valencia - need to get higher up the field and provide him with all the support he needs.
In terms of the visitors, Wenger has looked to keep changes to a minimum to keep this positive run of form going. Hector Bellerin was brought back sooner than the Frenchman would have liked last time out, coming on in place of Shkodran Mustafi who left the field with a hamstring injury that will keep him out of action until the New Year. Bellerin was always likely to start this game, then, and so it proves as he is named in his favoured right-back berth.
Gabriel Paulista therefore starts alongside Laurent Koscielny in the heart of defence, while Francis Coquelin and Granit Xhaka are again entrusted to protect that back four in this tried and trusted 4-2-3-1 formation. Olivier Giroud has scored five goals in his last six outings against today's opponents, but Alexis Sanchez was always expected to retain his place as the lone centre-forward in a role he has taken to with ease. The Chilean has been involved in 26 goals in his last 26 Premier League outings.
Aaron Ramsey is the other notable absentee from the Gunners' squad this evening as he recovers from a slight hamstring twinge, with Mesut Ozil starting in the centre of a three-man attacking midfield along with Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The English duo have done well to hold down their places in this exciting Arsenal side, with Alex Iwobi recently dropping out due to the latter's form in recent weeks. It is now a case of them producing the goods on a consistent basis.
BENCH WATCH!
EVERTON SUBS: Joel, Deulofeu, Mirallas, Cleverley, Mori, Calvert-Lewin, Holgate
ARSENAL SUBS: Ospina, Gibbs, Holding, Elneny, Iwobi, Lucas, Giroud
Koeman has just confirmed that Barry is left out this evening due to fitness reasons, rather than any sort of injury, with one eye on this upcoming run of festive fixtures. With a place on the bench therefore up for grabs, young striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin is named in the Everton squad after impressing for the Under-23s since joining from Sheffield United during the summer. Arsenal, meanwhile, have Giroud, Iwobi and Lucas Perez to call upon in the attacking department if required.
Just the one change made by Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who welcomes Hector Bellerin back into the starting lineup following his recent absence. The Spaniard made a big impact from the bench when replacing Shkodran Mustafi against Stoke City at the weekend, so he certainly won't need time to settle into things. Everton manager Ronald Koeman makes four changes, meanwhile, bringing in both Aaron Lennon and Ross Barkley in attack.
Much of the focus this evening may be on the visitors - understandably so considering that they can end the day sitting at the top of the table - but this is also a crucial game for Everton in what is a difficult period for the club. The Toffees claimed 13 points from the first 15 on offer, finding themselves second in the Premier League come mid-September, yet since then it has been just the one victory in 10 - a real shocker.
Half of those games have ended in defeat, too, meaning that Everton are in a worse state than they were in this time 12 months ago under Roberto Martinez. The good news, if you can call it that, is that their impressive start to the campaign means they are not exactly out of the top-five mix entirely. The late point rescued against Manchester United, followed up by defeat at Vicarage Road, has left Koeman's charges ninth in the table and 10 points off the top four.
Finishing in a Champions League berth was always an outside bet, granted, but upon Koeman's appointment early in the summer many supporters were dreaming of a return to their days of challenging for a place in the Champions League. The Dutchman spent money to bring in Yannick Bolasie from Crystal Palace, who has since been ruled out for the rest of the campaign - and possibly whole of next year, too - but it is clear that he is desperate for the winter window to open to bring in further new additions.
The word used by Koeman following the loss in North London was "weak", claiming that his side lacked the backbone to challenge the Hornets. An attacking player will likely be at the top of his wishlist; someone who can take some of the weight of Lukaku's shoulders, particularly with talk over the Belgian's future - which appears to be away from Goodison Park - constantly lingering. Koeman will no doubt have played in mind, but for the next few weeks it is a case of picking up points and halting this slide as best as possible.
This is the first of a tough run pre-Christmas for Everton, as they also take on Liverpool here next Monday in a fixture that could carry even more importance due to the Reds' impressive start to the campaign. Then attention turns to trips to Leicester City and Hull City, while January and February offers what appears to be a nice run of games, with only Manchester City to face among the current big boys. This season could well end on a high for Everton, and there is plenty of time to get back on track.
One particularly good omen for Everton supporters is that Koeman has yet to lose in his five home outings against opposite number Wenger as a manager of Ajax, PSV Eindhoven, AZ and Southampton. The last of those games when in charge of the Saints, coming just short of 12 months ago to the day, ended with the Gunners suffering a heavy defeat at St Mary's Stadium to see the wind well and truly taken out of their sails heading into the New Year.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Everton's only win over Arsenal in the last 18 meetings came in April 2014 when winning 3-0 here. The Gunners have more victories over the Toffees than any other Premier League side, with three points this evening enough to make it 30 wins in all in this fixture. They triumphed in both fixtures last season, too, with goals from Alex Iwobi and Danny Welbeck in the first half enough to get the job done when they met here in March.
Since picking up 13 points from the first 15 on offer at the start of the season, Ronald Koeman's tenure at Everton has progressively gone downhill. The Dutchman, who has seen his side win just once in 10 games since that solid start to the campaign, does have an impressive home record against Arsene Wenger, though - going five matches without defeat in spells in charge of four different sides.
Things not looking so good for Everton at the moment, then, while for Arsenal it is a case of many outsiders waiting for the inevitable annual collapse. For now, the Gunners remain well on course to end their Premier League title drought as they head into this match sitting three points off leaders Chelsea thanks to an incredible run of league form. Not since an opening-game defeat to Liverpool, when falling 4-3 at the Emirates Stadium, have Wenger's men tasted defeat.
The Gunners are on a 14-match unbeaten run in the league, while going further back it is actually just the one defeat in 25 stretching back to the start of March. If further proof was needed to highlight just how consistent the Gunners have now become, they have also lost only two games from 24 in all competitions this term - that opening-weekend loss to Liverpool and the recent EFL Cup setback at home to Southampton. It is a run that has seen them through to the last-16 of the Champions League as group winners and left them right in the mix at the top end of the Prem.
It is all looking pretty good for Arsenal, it is far to say, but they are now waiting for Chelsea to blink first. The Gunners are doing pretty much all they can by picking up points on a consistent basis, but their London rivals have turned into a machine since defeat at the Emirates Stadium a few months back by winning nine on the spin. Defeat for the Gunners tonight and Chelsea can potentially move six clear if they see off bottom-placed Sunderland in 24 hours' time, bursting Arsenal's bubble ahead of the Christmas schedule.
Arsenal are one goal worse off that Chelsea in terms of goal difference, but looking in the opposite direction both Man City and Liverpool are waiting to pounce after their respective slip-ups at the weekend. Since losing to Southampton in the EFL Cup the Gunners have won three-successive games in the league, including the 3-1 victory over Stoke on Saturday - the sixth time they have recovered from a goal down to save points already this term.
That ability to recover from a goal behind may not matter tonight, though, as Everton have gone into half time a goal down in five of their last six games at Goodison Park - including in that eventual 1-1 draw against Man United a little over a week ago. Three points for Arsenal tonight will be a priority for Wenger, with Man City to come at the Etihad Stadium next Sunday before games against West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace on home soil.
DID YOU KNOW? Arsenal are the division's only unbeaten side on their travels, going 12 games without tasting defeat stretching back into last season. They could remain unbeaten in 15 games overall this term should they avoid slipping up this evening; the first time that will have happened since a 16-game run from December 2010 to April 2011. The Gunners also have not lost on a Tuesday in the Premier League since February 2006, winning 10 and drawing seven since.
With kickoff at Goodison Park now exactly 10 minutes away, let us check out some pre-match thoughts from both camps heading into this showdown.
Ronald Koeman: "We need to win now. Every week there are several meetings about this [with the players]. It's all about commitment of players, bringing your quality to the team and that's why we spoke together about how we can do it together to get a better run of results. But finally the answer is on the pitch, not between the four walls in a meeting room. Of course we will not win every game but one out of 10 is underperforming for everyone."
Arsene Wenger: "When you look at the teams around us, you can see that the margin of difference between the teams has shrunk a lot. So the way you respond in every single game is absolutely vital. What is for sure is at the moment every game is like a cup final for everybody. We just came out of a game where we were 1-0 down and for the sixth time in the season, we come back after having been down. Let's now continue that resilience."
One thing you can say about Koeman - and I'm not sure if this really goes down all that well with his own players during bad spells such as this - but he is never afraid to say things as it is. Everton have, quite simply, been poor over the past few months, picking up just the odd credible result - such as a draw at the Etihad Stadium, for example. As the Dutchman says, though, the only way to change all that is by performing on the field.
"Resilience" is the word used a couple of times by Wenger in his pre-match press conference on Monday, which he is justified in doing due to his side's ability to recover from behind six times already this term. Away from home they have been near perfect, building from a strong defence which has seen them concede a league-low five goals on their travels all season. They are the only side in the division yet to lose away.
Both sets of players are now making their way out on the field of play, greeted by a superb atmosphere in front of what is a sell out Goodison Park crowd. Mark Clattenburg once went six years without refereeing a game here, but he is the man in the middle this evening for what should be a thrilling game of football. Arsenal can go top, remember, while victory for Everton will see them climb up to seventh.
Arsenal have not lost any of their last 14 games in the Premier League, while away from home it is also just the one loss all calendar year; that coming against Manchester United last season. They have a superb record against Everton, too, winning more games against the Toffees than any other Premier League side. Worth mentioning that the hosts have not lost at Goodison Park since March, though, so something has got to give!
KICKOFF! We are up and running on Merseyside, where Arsenal were very nearly in just 60 seconds or so into the match. Some slack play was pounced on by Sanchez, who saw his attempted pass to Walcott in the middle scooped up by Everton keeper Stekelenburg.
Barkley was at fault for that early error and, after the hosts did well to get at their opponents and won a corner, it proved to be a poor cross from the Englishman. The Toffees already looking a little low on confidence early on here.
Home fans urging their players forward, with the ball being knocked backwards more times than not. Never has the first goal been more important for Everton, who really could be in for a long night if they fail to make a positive start to this one.
The first half-chance of the match falls to Ozil, who is picked out at the end of a free-flowing move with a ball from the left but can only send his shot high over the bar from 15 yards out. I say only half a chance, but he has scored from trickier situations.
Really god play by Everton, as Valencia cuts through the middle and slips the ball into Lukaku's pass. The Belgian saw his attempted cut-back then blocked aside by Coquelin in a central position, but he had more time than he thought and could have looked up.
Both teams getting into promising positions inside the opening 10 minutes or so, then, but Ozil failed to convert when picked out and Lukaku struggled to find a teammate when in behind on the right. Home fans far more encouraged now.
Arsenal have just spent a good couple of minutes passing the ball around, slowly working it into the final third and always appearing to have a man spare to pick out. Everton a little too deep at the moment, which again leads to a few groans.
The Gunners looking very bright at the moment, making the most of Everton's inability to really get out of their own final third. Everton have trailed at the interval five times in their last six outings, remember, so keeping things tight may be the task.
A bit of a disaster for Everton to sum up how things are going for them at the moment, as Williams clatters into Idrissa Gueye and, to add insult to injury, Jagielka collided with Coquelin so a free kick will be awarded once treatment is received.
GOAL! EVERTON 0-1 ARSENAL (ALEXIS SANCHEZ)
The man of the moment adds another goal to his tally to draw level with Diego Costa in the goalscoring charts. It may well go down as an own goal, though, as the free kick took an almighty deflection off Williams on its way past Stekelenburg.
Everton fans really on edge now, with their side just unable to keep hold of the ball. Arsenal being allowed to knock the ball into the final third, always with a man spare, and they could well add a second and third come the midway point.
Better from Everton, as they look to put an attack together. Valencia and Barkley miss out on putting the ball into the box, though, and Arsenal are able to clear with ease. Lennon then charges forward but sees his shot blocked by Gabriel.
Arsenal haven't exactly dominated the game, certainly in terms of chances - they have yet to create anything from open play, really - but it has been very comfortable for them on the whole. Everton now showing signs that they are ready to get at their opponents.
More good play from Everton, who are now the side on top. Coleman gets into the box but his cross is well blocked aside by Koscielny for a corner, from which Valencia gets his contact wrong on his first start of the season and heads over the bar.
Xhaka starting to get pressured on the ball in that deep defensive position, with Arsenal now the side having to hold on a little. That second goal of the match really will be key, though, with another for the Gunners surely enough to knock any remaining confidence out of their opponents.
Barkley gives the ball away, summing up the anxiety, but as quick as losing it a few challenges fly in and Everton and on the attack. Lennon is direct, charging into the box but skewing his effort wide of the target. Enough to get the crowd going, at least!
Such a frantic pace to this game at the moment, which nearly works in Arsenal's favour as Ozil gets on the end of a pass into the box. His reverse ball fails to pick out another player in yellow, however, and that acts as the cue for the hosts to themselves burst forward.
A ball towards Lukaku at the back post bounces a little awkwardly which prevents the Belgian getting on the end of it. The Everton striker was picked out from the next attacking move but could only smash the ball high into the stands.
Still yet to see either side create a clear-cut chance in this first half, with the breakthrough goal coming via a free kick - even that appeared to be off target before taking a deflection off Williams in the wall. A tight match on the whole.
CLOSE! Some bad defending from Monreal looked to have given Lennon a clean shot on goal from around 10 yards out, but Barkley got a touch to the ball first and the winger had to quickly react. His resulting shot was miscued wide of the target.
Ozil peels off his man and is completely free at the back post, but Sanchez's ball in that direction is cleared away for a corner. Everton fail to clear their lines from the set-piece delivery but do eventually get it away through Barkley.
YELLOW CARD! A crunching challenge from McCarthy sees him become the second Everton player to enter the book, joining Jagielka who was cautioned for his challenge on Coquelin prior to that Sanchez free kick.
GOAL! EVERTON 1-1 ARSENAL (SEAMUS COLEMAN)
Coleman levels up the scores and Goodison Park erupts! It was a simple goal for the Toffees, as Coleman drifted into the box and got on the end of Baines's left-sided cross, delicately heading the ball past Petr Cech into the bottom corner.
HALF TIME: EVERTON 1-1 ARSENAL
Things have just boiled over as the players have made their way down the tiny tunnel area. Hard to tell exactly what started it all, but Ozil was being held back by Oxlade-Chamberlain at one point, before one of Everton's backroom staff members took offence at something. I'm sure it will all become a little clearer before they re-emerge for the second half, with the scores locked at 1-1.
Both sides found themselves in promising positions in the early stages of the match, with Mesut Ozil sending a shot over the bar from 10 yards out and Romelu Lukaku failing to find a teammate when played in behind. Home supporters were on edge for the opening quarter of the game, though, which is perhaps explained by the fact that their side have gone into half time a goal down in five of their last six games here.
It looked like being the same old story for the Toffees 20 minutes in when, after Phil Jagielka wiped out Francis Coquelin on the edge of the box, Alexis Sanchez sent a free kick past Maarten Stekelenburg via a big deflection off Ashley Williams. Everton battled back well, though, and were soon the side on top as Arsenal started to sit back a little more to hold off the direct running from wide positions. Aaron Lennon, one of four players brought back into the starting lineup tonight, perhaps should have done better five minutes before the interval when skewing a shot wide of goal from inside the box.
The breakthrough goal for Everton did arrive before the break courtesy of Seamus Coleman, who simply drifted into the box and got on the end of fellow full-back Leighton Baines's left-sided cross, delicately heading the ball into the bottom corner of the net to level things up on Merseyside. A half devoid of many clear-cut chances, but a couple of goals so far and also a sign of things boiling over right at the end of the opening 45 minutes.
Will either manager turn to their bench at the interval? Arsene Wenger certainly will not be panicking too much at ths stage, with Iwobi, Perez and Giroud among his back-up options - the latter of whom has five in his last six against Everton. In terms of the hosts, Ronald Koeman may spring a surprise and turn to youngster Calvert-Lewin at some point in the second period.
EVERTON SUBS: Joel, Deulofeu, Mirallas, Cleverley, Mori, Calvert-Lewin, Holgate
ARSENAL SUBS: Ospina, Gibbs, Holding, Elneny, Iwobi, Lucas, Giroud
RESTART! We are back under way at Goodison Park. Half time came at a bad time for Everton, who were buoyed by their supporters following that Coleman leveller, but Koeman will be happy with the way his side have started this second half.
Ozil works the ball to Sanchez, who in turn picks out Walcott near the penalty spot. The Englishman looked to flick the ball towards the back-post area, but he put a little too much on it and Stekelenburg was not troubled.
Arsenal just looking to inject a bit more pace into their game, in what is shaping up to be a replica of the opening 45 minutes. The Toffees sitting too deep at the moment, just allowing their opponents to gently ease their way up the pitch.
Oxlade-Chamberlain makes good inroads down the left but Gueye does well to get his side back in possession. This match is not really getting anywhere at the moment, with Wenger surely thinking about making a change over the next few minutes.
CHANCE! Glorious chance for Ozil, who is picked out by Sanchez 15 yards from goal but curls the ball over the bar. Similar to his chance in the opening 10 minutes of the match, he just could not wrap his boot around it.
Coquelin with the most blatant of fouls on Baines 22 yards from the Arsenal goal, which for some reason goes unpunished by referee Mark Clattenburg. Still, a bigger punishment may follow - this is well within shooting range for Baines.
It is actually Barkley who takes on the free kick, which is blocked by the jumping Arsenal wall. A very well matched contest on our hands at the moment, with a third of the match still left to play at Goodison Park.
Ozil so nearly through on goal, as he races on to Bellerin's reverse pass which has just a tad too much on it. Baines collided with Stekelenburg when trying to block the through-ball, with the Dutchman requiring a bit of treatment.
SHOT! Jagielka's 50-yard pass is chested down by Lukaku into the path of Barkley, who drags his shot narrowly wide of the far post. Still very delicately poised, with home fans again aggrieved to see Coquelin escape punishment for his latest challenge.
Another ball runs through for Stekelenburg to collect. Surprised that Wenger has held off making that first change, with Iwobi and Giroud the two most likely candidates to be introduced for the closing 25 minutes or so of this tight match.
SAVE! Technically a first attempt on target of the half, as Valencia's cross is deflected off Gabriel and ends nicely in the hands of Cech. That could have ended in disaster for the Gunners, but they had luck on their side.
Arsenal have managed to step things up now and both Bellerin and Ozil found themselves in space inside the box, but neither could pick out a teammate. Everton fans urging their players forward, with the Gunners moving up through the gears all of a sudden.
EVERTON SUB! Aaron Lennon has put in a decent shift this evening, but this is a smart sub from Koeman as he turns to Mirallas for the final 20 minutes. Wenger yet to blink, with Giroud and Iwobi among those currently warming up.
ARSENAL SUBS! Lukaku uses his power to burst into the box, but Gabriel blocks aside the shot into the side-netting - good defending. That's enough to spring Wenger into action; Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain replaced by Giroud and Iwobi.
Real panic at the back for Arsenal, as a cross into the box is stopped right in front of a goal where Lukaku was waiting to pounce. The Belgian just could not quite get contact on it, though, and Arsenal cleared their line. The Toffees looking the more likely to score the second at the moment.
Arsenal have not been allowed to settle since that double change, with Everton really on top now. Still around 15 minutes to go, but right now a point would not seem all that bad for the visitors who are putting in a strong defensive shift.
CLOSE! The first we have seen of Iwobi, who brings down Sanchez's pass at the front post and is able to turn and volley a shot towards goal. It was a yard wide in the end, but Goodison Park collectively held its breath for a moment.
Things have just started to calm down a little now, which is an ominous sign for Everton as Arsenal are being allowed to start putting some moves of their own together. Everton not scored to go long towards Lukaku and Valencia, but the latter is about to be taken off.
EVERTON SUB! What a huge moment for Calvert-Lewin, who is brought on for the final 10 minutes. Valencia makes way, being given a strong round of applause when leaving the pitch following a fine shift up top.
Time fast ticking down for Wenger's men to find a winner in this one, but as mentioned a little earlier they may well see this as a decent enough point on reflection. Everton have not lost at Goodison Park in their last 10 since April, remember.
YELLOW CARD! Gueye does the hard work but just cannot thread the ball through to Mirallas, with Baines also in space. It is the Toffees who are full of belief and finding some gaps, with Koscielny taking out McCarthy to see a yellow.
GOAL! EVERTON 2-1 ARSENAL (ASHLEY WILLIAMS)
Ashley Williams, at fault for that Arsenal opener, makes ammends by heading home unmarked to spark scenes of joy around this famous, old ground. A good delivery into the box from Baines's free kick was helped over by Koscielny. The corner dropped nicely to Jagielka, who saw his shot kept out by Cech, but that was a temporary reprieve as the next ball in ended with Williams scoring what will surely be the winner.
ARSENAL SUB! Lucas Perez has just been introduced for these closing stages. Williams scored the winner against Arsenal for Swansea earlier this year, and he could well be the matchwinner again in this one. What a result for Everton - IF they can hold on.
We are halfway through two minutes of added on time. Arsenal are struggling to get a grip on things, with Everton instead pushing for a third which they nearly got - Cech doing well to keep out Barkley's shot down low. Mirallas was unmarked.
RED CARD! OH MY WORD! It is all happening now. Jagielka is shown a second yellow and is therefore dismissed. Arsenal get the ball into the box but they see two shots kept off the line; the latter an incredible block from Baines.
FULL TIME: EVERTON 2-1 ARSENAL
What a game of football that turned out to be. It lacked clear-cut chances for the majority of the second half, but the final 10 minutes really did have it all as both Everton and Arsenal went in search of all three points. In the end the Toffees came out on top, securing the victory thanks to a late Ashley Williams header, with the small blemish of seeing Phil Jagielka pick up a red which will keep him out of next week's Merseyside derby.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events at Goodison Park. A full on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, while reaction from Merseyside will also follow over the next 10 minutes or so. Thanks for joining!
