Viktor Gyokeres scored the winner to ensure Arsenal will be top of the Premier League table at Christmas with victory over Everton.
In a first half of very little opportunities, the Toffees dominated early on but failed to create an effort on goal in the opening 45 minutes. Defender Jake O'Brien gave away a penalty midway through the first half following a handball, allowing Viktor Gyokores to fire home from the spot to give his side the lead.
The home side felt as though they should have had a penalty of their own early in the second half after Thierno Barry was caught by William Saliba but despite a VAR check, nothing was given.
Arsenal looked the more threatening going forward and twice were denied by the woodwork, with Leandro Trossard and Martin Zubimendi both seeing their respective efforts cannon off the post.
Meanwhile, Everton did very little to cause problems for the Arsenal defence, who held on for a narrow victory to remain two points clear of Manchester City. The Gunners will be back in action on Tuesday night in the Carabao Cup against Crystal Palace, whilst Everton travel to Burnley next Saturday.
Story of the Match
Everton manager David Moyes made three changes to the side that were defeated by Chelsea as Carlos Alcaraz came in for the injured Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Tim Iroegbunam and Dwight McNeil replaced Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye respectively, who both departed for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Meanwhile, for Arsenal, Mikel Arteta also made three changes from their last fixture. Gabriel Martinelli made way for Leandro Trossard, who joined Bukayo Saka and Viktor Gyokeres in attack whilst Martin Odegaard and Riccardo Calafiori came in for Eberechi Eze and the injured Ben White respectively.
The home side dominated in possession and showed signs of promise in the opening exchanges but had yet to provide an effort on goal. It took until the 18th minute for the first shot on goal as Saka's cross was cleared by Michael Keane and into the path of Martin Zubimendi, who fired his effort wayward.
Arsenal were beginning to show their attacking prowess as Martin Odegaard delivered the ball into the middle but Gyokores could only head over the bar. Mikel Arteta's side were pushing for the opener as Jurrien Timber's deflected cross almost fell to Gyokores, who felt he was nudged by Jake O'Brien inside the six-yard box, but the referee waved away appeals for a penalty.
However, from the resulting corner, the Gunners were a awarded a penalty following a VAR check after a handball from O'Brien. Gyokores stepped up from twelve yards and slotted home with venom to break the deadlock on Merseyside.
After taking the lead, the visitors were in the ascendency and looked to extend their advantage, but a shot from Declan Rice was fired off-target. Meanwhile, having gone behind, the Toffees did very little to trouble the Arsenal defence despite a promising start to proceedings.
The visitors threatened early in the second half when Bukayo Saka combined with Jurrien Timber before the England winger saw his strike blocked by James Tarkowski. Not long later, Everton felt aggrieved not to have been awarded a penalty after Thierno Barry went down under the challenge of Zubimendi but nothing was given by the referee.
Everton were finally starting to push for an equaliser as an Alcaraz strike flashed wide of the target. The home side then had another penalty shout after William Saliba caught the leg of Barry but a check by VAR was cleared.
However, midway through the second half, Arsenal pushed forward on the break as Declan Rice picked out Trossard down the left channel, as the Belgian's right-footed shot struck the post. Shortly after, Odegaard's cross fell to Zubimendi, whose low driven shot hit the post.
Arsenal still had their slender lead heading into the closing stages but nearly wrapped up the win in the final minute of the game when Tarkowski almost put the ball in the back of his own net, but drifted wide to spare the defender's blushes.