Arsenal vs. Everton results: Gunners coast to victory

Liverpool are breathing behind Arsenal’s necks for fourth place, but the Gunners were able to keep pace with a win Sunday. They were far from their best, but were also rarely seriously challenged by Everton in a comfortable 2-0 win.

Very little happened until the 37th minute, when Gabriel made a brilliant tackle on Romelu Lukaku to save a goal. The January signing, on his full debut, announced his presence by dispossessing Lukaku beautifully in the penalty area, just before he ripped off a shot, at the end of a 40-yard run by the Belgian.

That tackle sparked Arsenal to life, and they were ahead two minutes later. Olivier Giroud lost his marker on a corner into the center of the box from Santi Cazorla, and he placed a calm finish past Tim Howard.

The Gunners were more focused on protecting their lead than expanding it in the second half, and they defended well. Everton’s best chance came in the 66th minute, when David Ospina made an impressive stop on Lukaku from 10 yards, but Everton wouldn’t come particularly close to scoring after that.

As Everton pushed harder for an equalizer, space opened up for Arsenal and they were able to create chances without taking too many risks. Everton were lucky to avoid conceding in the 81st minute, when Phil Jagielka made a great block on a shot by Mesut Özil, but they didn’t hold out much longer. Tomas Rosicky sealed the win for the hosts in the 89th minute, scoring off a deflected shot that Howard had no chance to save.

Goals: Giroud (39’), Rosicky (89’)

Everton: Howard, Garbutt, Jagielka, Stones, Coleman, Besic (Naismith 77’), Barry (Gibson 84’), McCarthy, Mirallas (Lennon 62’), Lukaku, Barkley

Goals: None.