Arsenal return to Premier League action on Saturday night with another opportunity to reinforce their authority at the top of the table when they travel to Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Mikel Arteta’s side arrive as league leaders and know that victories in fixtures like this are essential if they are to continue setting the pace during a demanding festive period.
This visit also carries personal significance for Arteta, who returns to Everton for the first time since the club moved into their new home, having spent some of the most influential years of his playing career with the Toffees.
Arsenal were far from convincing last weekend but still found a way to defeat Wolverhampton Wanderers, grinding out a 2-1 win that preserved their slender advantage at the summit.
That late victory felt more like a release than a celebration, yet it underlined a trait that often separates champions from contenders.
The Gunners have shown slight defensive fragility of late, with just two clean sheets in their last six league matches, but context matters after an intense run of fixtures.
Crucially, Arsenal now head into this match with a full week of recovery, a rare luxury at this stage of the season.
That rest should help offset their injury concerns and restore some of the sharpness that deserted them in recent outings.
Everton, however, are unlikely to make this a comfortable evening for the visitors. David Moyes has overseen a clear upturn in form since returning to the club, guiding them into ninth place and within touching distance of the top five.
Four wins from their last six league matches have transformed the mood around Everton, even if last weekend’s 2-0 defeat to Chelsea exposed the gap to the division’s elite.
The Toffees have become far more competitive, organised and assertive, particularly against sides expected to dominate possession.
Home advantage has been less decisive recently, but Everton’s physicality and growing belief ensure this remains one of the more demanding away trips Arsenal will face over the festive schedule.
Recent meetings also suggest this fixture is rarely straightforward, with Everton taking points off the Gunners last season and often finding ways to disrupt their rhythm.
For Arsenal, the challenge is as much mental as tactical. They are being chased, scrutinised and tested weekly, and every performance is now judged through the lens of a title race.
This match represents another chance to respond with authority rather than anxiety. If Arsenal can combine the control that has defined their season with the resilience shown against Wolves, they should have enough to overcome an improving Everton side.
It may not be fluent or comfortable, but at this stage of the campaign, substance matters far more than style.
