Arsenal move within two points of Chelsea

Arsenal moved to within 2 points of Chelsea on Sunday after the Gunners beat Everton at
Goodison Park 2-1 and Chelsea suffered just their second defeat of the season as they lost to Sunderland 3-0 at Stamford Bridge. Arsenal's goals came from Sagna and Fabregas, Tim Cahill scored Everton's goal. Arsenal had not lost in Merseyside since 2007 and continued their dominance in that part of the country. Djourou kept his place in defence as Koscielny finished the last of his 2 game ban. Nasri returned to the side in place of Thomas Rosicky who played last Wednesday night in the trip to Wolves.

Nasri got a good opportunity to grab the opener when he ran at the Everton defence and shot but Distin threw himself in the way of the shot and the ball went out for a corner. Nasri took the corner but it was cleared away easily and given to Coleman on the right hand side who managed to out run Fabregas and then put a cross in for Cahill but he could only manage to put his free header over the bar.

Arshavin then grabbed an opportunity to put the Gunners ahead but he skyed his shot miles over the bar. The Everton backline were defending well and Wilshere's effort was then blocked by Jagielka as his shot was heading goalbound.

Arsenal then grabbed the lead on 35 minutes when Nasri cut inside and worked a shot which Howard kept out but Arshavin picked up the ball on the byline and found Sagna who smashed his effort past Tim Howard at the near post. That was only Sagna's second goal for the club and his first for Arsenal in over 2 and a half years.

Everton then got a corner which Arteta delivered into the area and onto the head of Saha right on the byline but Fabianski kept the shot out. If it had gone in it would not have counted anyway as the linesman thought the ball had already gone out of play.

The score at half time was 1-0 to Arsenal.

Fabregas then got an early chance in the second half as Arsenal looked to double their advantage but the American Tim Howard kept the score at 1-0.
Arsenal then did double their advantage 3 minutes into the second half when Fabregas played a nice one-two with Chamakh inside the area before fireing home past Howard to give the Gunners a 2-0 lead.

Everton then had a claim that Squillaci should have been sent off meaning Arsenal would go down to 10 men. The frenchman brought down Saha as he was racing through on goal but Howard Webb said he was not the last man as Clichy was coming across so the referee only gave Squillaci a yellow card.

Everton were pressing for a way back into the game when Coleman fed Pienaar inside the area who crossed into the path of Rodwell but he put his shot high and wide.

Samir Nasri then should have confirmed all 3 points for the Gunners when he ran from inside his own half. He raced past Jagielka easily and then into the penalty area but he stuck his shot straight at the on coming Everton goalkeeper.

Marouane Chamakh then really should have sealed the victory for the Gunners when Fabregas drove in a low cross towards the Moroccan but he smashed his shot over the bar from 4 yards out.

Beckford then almost gave the hosts a way back into the game when he hit a shot on the turn but Fabianski made a smart save down to his left to prevent the former Leeds player from scoring 2 in 2 games.

Fabianski then made another good save when the ball fell to Pienaar just outside the box who drove a shot towards goal but straight at the Polish goalkeeper.
Then Fabianski had to make another save when the ball fell into the path of Saha who sent a curling shot towards the top corner but Fabianski was at full stretch to palm the ball away.

Everton then finally got the goal they deserved when Pienaar delivered the ball in from the left onto the head of Saha who knocked the ball down to Cahill who then put the ball past Fabianski to put Everton back into the game. It was too little too late though.

The final score ended Everton 1-2 Arsenal.

The teams lineups:

Everton: Howard, Neville(68), Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Coleman, Heitinga(46), Cahill, Pienaar Arteta(68), Saha.
Subs: Mucha, Hibbert, Bilyaletdinov, Rodwell(46), Beckford(68), Gueye, Yakubu(68).

Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Djourou, Squillaci, Clichy, Fabregas, Arshavin(65), Wilshere(46), Song, Nasri, Chamakh(90).
Subs: Szczesny, Eboue(90), Gibbs, Walcott, Denilson(46), Rosicky(65), Van Persie.

My man of the match: Lukasz Fabianski

Referee: Howard Webb
Attendance: 36,279