Arsenal's Goodison Park hoodoo continued as Everton stunned the Premier League leaders 1-0 in Sean Dyche's first game in charge of the Toffees.
Producing a masterclass in physicality and pressing that would have delighted Dyche to no end, the Merseyside giants deservedly put a dent in the Gunners' title aspirations as James Tarkowski headed home the game's only goal on the hour mark, inflicting just a second league defeat of the season on Mikel Arteta's under-performing team.
The new manager bounce was evidently in effect for Everton in front of their boisterous fans, as the Toffees put Arsenal under relentless pressure and gave the table-toppers a good run for their money in the first half.
Two magnificent chances presented themselves to Dyche's side just after the half-hour mark, as Amadou Onana capitalised on a sloppy pass to charge away down the left, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin inexplicably failed to get a touch on Onana's low ball across the six-yard box.
Barely three minutes later, Abdoulaye Doucoure was gifted a free header inside the box after a slip from Gabriel Magalhaes, but the midfielder could not connect with Dwight McNeil's cross properly and sent his effort harmlessly wide.
Doubling up on Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, Everton restricted the influence of Arsenal's wide men expertly, but the Gunners were not without a couple of gilt-edged chances of their own in the first half.
With 30 minutes on the clock, Saka held off Vitaly Mykolenko before playing in Eddie Nketiah, but the in-form striker sliced his attempt horribly wide from a tight angle.
It was Saka's turn to send a goal-bound volley towards the bottom corner in the 40th minute, but Conor Coady took up a brilliant position on the goal-line to hook his compatriot's effort away.
Everton were agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock just before the break, but Calvert-Lewin's near-post header flew just wide of Aaron Ramsdale's far post in the third minute of added time.
Arsenal appeared more settled at the start of the second half, but Everton's physical prowess from set-pieces eventually paid off in the 60th minute, as Tarkowski comfortably held off Odegaard and headed home at the back post.
The first goal of the Dyche era sparked pandemonium within Goodison Park, but Everton escaped a big penalty shout just four minutes later, as Neal Maupay got caught in a tangle with Gabriel's legs before VAR waved away Arsenal appeals.
Jordan Pickford continued to receive ample protection in the Everton goal, but England's number one was called upon to beat away Leandro Trossard's effort in the 78th minute before the Belgian had another chance in the 82nd minute, but his curler was high, wide and not very handsome.
As tempers flared towards the dying embers, Everton survived six minutes of added time to pick up a richly-deserved three points, which has temporarily lifted them out of the relegation zone into 17th place in the table ahead of a Merseyside derby with Liverpool on February 13.
Meanwhile, Arsenal - who face Brentford next Saturday - maintain their five-point lead over Manchester City at the top, but their advantage will be cut down to two points if the champions overcome Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. body check tags ::
