Published: 25 October, 2015
by PAUL COWLING at Emirates Stadium

Premier League
ARSENAL 2, EVERTON 1

ARSENE Wenger said it had been "a perfect week" after seeing his Arsenal side go top of the Premier League with a narrow win over Everton.

The Gunners boss added that he was delighted to be top, even if it might be short-lived because of Sunday's Manchester derby.

"You could say it is a psychological boost to be top, even if it might only be for 24 hours," admitted Wenger. "But it has been a fantastic week. And it has not been easy.

Olivier Giroud gives Arsenal the lead from Mesut Ozil's pin-point cross

"It is early in the season, but we are happy to be where we are. Nobody would have predicted that after we lost to West Ham on the opening day of the season.

"I thought it would take longer to get there, given Manchester City started with five straight wins. But let's not focus on being top too much. Let's just continue to grow and improve as a team."
Wenger also singled out Mesut Ozil for praise.

"Ozil is a top-class player, and a real team player," he said. "He has the combination of quality, touch and intelligence."

Laurent Koscielny heads past Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard to put the Gunners 2-0 up

There was a definite air of expectancy amongst the home crowd, with the noise level lifted after the blistering win over Bayern Munich in midweek. But the crackling atmosphere failed to lift a dire opening period.

The in-form Ozil sent in a pin-point cross, which Olivier Giroud lifted over the head of the advancing Tim Howard to open the scoring in the 36th minute. Arsenal made it 2-0 on 38 minutes when Santi Cazorla crossed for Laurent Koscielny to double their lead.

But then, just as Arsenal looked to have taken the game by the scruff of the neck, Ross Barkley pulled a goal back. Accepting a pass from Gerard Deulofeu, the England youngster thumped in a shot that took a cruel deflection off Gabriel's foot to make it 2-1 on the stroke of half-time.

Romelu Lukaku's header hit the bar as Everton pushed for an equaliser

"We had the right focus and desire, but it was unfortunate to go in 2-1 at half-time," said Wenger. "In the second half we dominated, but we just couldn't get the third goal."

Toffees fans should have gone away with a point. On 80 minutes, with Petr Cech stranded, Romelu Lukaku saw his header scrape the crossbar. Cech then came to Arsenal's rescue, when he denied Deulofeu with a point-blank save in the 86th minute.

"Lukaku had his header over the bar, and then Cech saves. It gave us three massive points", said a relieved Wenger. "We need to keep together and concentrate. We need humility too. We will try to play better, game by game."

ARSENAL: Cech, Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain (Flamini, 81), Sanchez (Gibbs, 89), Giroud, Ozil.
Substitutes not used: Macey, Debuchy, Chambers, Campbell, Walcott.
Attendance: 59,985.