Six years ago this week, Mikel Arteta sat in the Goodison Park directors' box, on the cusp of becoming Arsenal manager, watching a dour goalless draw that laid bare the enormity of his task. This weekend, he returned to Merseyside, now to Everton's new stadium, and oversaw a gritty 1-0 victory that propelled his side back to the Premier League summit.
A Familiar Challenge on a New Stage
The anniversary brought a familiar reckoning. It has now been 21 years since Arsenal last won the title, and the shadow of the relentless Manchester City machine, which had returned to the top just a day earlier, loomed as large as ever. The perennial issue of goalscoring potency, a constant theme of Arteta's tenure, was again under the microscope. By kick-off, Arsenal had scored ten fewer goals than their title rivals.
The significance of securing three points at a venue aiming to be a cauldron was immense. Everton, severely weakened by the absences of creative sparks Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Iliman Ndiaye, offered stubborn resistance but lacked cutting edge. The game's decisive moment came from the penalty spot after a handball by Everton's Jake O'Brien. In a move designed to boost confidence, captain Martin Odegaard passed the duty to striker Viktor Gyokeres, who emphatically dispatched the spot-kick past Jordan Pickford.
Control Without Conviction
Despite the victory, Arsenal often failed to quicken the pulse in attack. A Martin Zubimendi snapshot flew over, Bukayo Saka was denied by a superb James Tarkowski block, and Leandro Trossard later rattled the post. For long periods, the Gunners controlled possession but struggled to create clear chances, a reminder of the attacking refinement still required to sustain a title challenge.
The travelling Arsenal support's choice of chant, a repetitive chorus of 'Feed the Scousers', drew criticism as a tedious and embarrassing throwback, especially with Everton promoting foodbank charity work on their big screens throughout the match.
Moyes's Rebuild and City's Shadow
The week also marked a sliding doors moment for Everton boss David Moyes, who was overlooked for the Goodison Park hotseat six years ago when Arteta was appointed. Now, he is in the foothills of a major rebuild, his task highlighted by the team's creative shortcomings in this match. Defensively, however, giants like Tarkowski and Michael Keane stood firm, with Tim Iroegbunam also impressing.
Yet, as Arsenal celebrated reclaiming the peak, the spectre of City was inescapable. The handful of Arsenal players with four league goals each contrasted sharply with Erling Haaland, who took his tally to 17 this season. The gulf in firepower remains the central question surrounding Arsenal's credentials.
At the final whistle, Arteta punched the air in relief and triumph, greeted by chants of 'We are top of the league' from the away end. Supremacy is retained for now, but the road ahead looks fiercely tough. Holding onto this position, with Pep Guardiola's juggernaut in pursuit, will be the ultimate test of how far Arteta's project has truly come in six years.
