Published: 1 March, 2015 
By PAUL COWLING at the Emirates Stadium

Premier League 
ARSENAL 2, EVERTON 0 

ARSENE Wenger praised his Arsenal side for "getting back to basics" after they secured a nervous and narrow victory over Everton. 

Goals from Olivier Giroud and Tomas Rosicky gave the Gunners the three points, but in truth the home side didn't deserve them.

After the match Wenger still said he was proud of his side's response following the midweek Champions League surrender against Monaco. 

"We won the game, have three more points than last week, and we are in a good position in the league," said the Arsenal boss. 

"Our concentration was better than midweek, and overall it was important that we won." 

Wenger made two changes from the Champions League debacle, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain coming in for Danny Welbeck, and Gabriel making his full Premier League debut in place of the beleaguered Per Mertesacker.

The Brazilian centre half impressed Wenger, especially after making a vital interception at the end of a turgid first half to deny the dangerous Romelu Lukaku. 

"Gabriel made a great tackle against Lukaku, and was highly focused," said Wenger.

"He needs to get used to the intensity of the challenge in the Premier League, but he had an encouraging full debut."

Gabriel's crucial tackle seemed to be the catalyst that brought the game, and Arsenal, to life, as not long after Giroud turned in a Mesut Ozil corner to put the Gunners 1-0 up. 

Everton stepped up the pressure in the second half and were unlucky not to draw level just after the hour mark.

David Ospina kept Arsenal's lead intact, tipping Lukaku's goal-bound volley over the bar. Then the Colombian got down well to a drive from Spurs loanee Aaron Lennon. 

Ospina proved his worth again when he came out bravely to meet a dangerous Luke Garbutt cross, with Lukaku lurking.

At the other end, Ozil had a chance to make it 2-0 on 80 minutes, but Phil Jagielka got in a brave block. 

But the Everton defender could only watch as substitute Tomas Rosicky's shot cannoned off his back and into the net for the decisive second.

"We got our basics back and picked up three vital points," said a relieved Wenger.

Wenger also confirmed that Francis Coquelin, who left the field with a blooded face, had broken his nose, but wouldn't speculate as to how long the French midfielder would be out of action. 

ARSENAL: Ospina, Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Gibbs, Coquelin (Chambers, 87), Cazorla, Ozil, Oxlade-Chamberlain (Rosicky, 82), Giroud, Sanchez (Welbeck, 86).
Substitutes not used: Szczesny, Mertesacker, Walcott, Monreal. 
Attendance: 59,925.