After a very brief period off the top spot, Mikel Arteta's Arsenal dealt with the tricky Hill Dickinson test to ensure it will be the Gunners who sit top of the tree at Christmas.
Viktor Gyokeres struck from 12 yards following a moment of inexplicable madness from Jake O'Brien to concede a penalty, and from then on, in a game that ebbed and flowed, the North London outfit held firm to see out a 1-0 success.
It was a vital, if not easy on the eye, victory in the title race that Arsenal will be hope to build on throughout the festive period to take some momentum into the new year.
Here are four things we learnt from the late kick off in Merseyside.
Arsenal Show Their Mentality to Return to the Top of the Table
Following Manchester City's comfortable 3-0 victory over West Ham United earlier on in the day, Arsenal arrived at the polished new home of the Toffees, sat in second place, knowing that only 3 points would move them back to the summit.
The away side, although making it hard for themselves at times, responded to the pressure, with a positive result and a clean sheet that will no doubt please Arteta, following 3 away matches without a win in the league.
With the Gunners having only won 1 of their previous 7 visits to Everton, this fixture stood out as a potential banana skin in the title race. Despite a lack of clinical finishing and a penalty shout for the hosts leading to some nervy moments, Arsenal showed their mental fortitude to climb back above Pep Guardiola's side.
The league leaders' number 14 has not had the most explosive start to life in England's top flight, having struggled to involve himself in games and be that poacher in attack that Arsenal have been missing over the last few seasons.
However, when O'Brien gifted Gyokeres an opportunity to boost his confidence from the penalty spot, the Swede obliged, hammering home past Jordan Pickford to give his side a 1-0 lead.
Aside from what proved to be the match winning moment, the former Sporting Lisbon man failed once again to include himself in much of Arsenal's attacking play. Leandro Trossard and William Saliba, on multiple occasions, looked for the big centre forward with direct passes, however he struggled to hold the ball up against the physicality of Michael Keane and James Tarkowski.
The Right Flank Continues to be Arsenal's Creative Heartbeat
Although creating just the one shot on target from open play, the Gunners' most positive attacking work, once again, came down the right side, with Bukayo Saka and Jurien Timber forming a strong partnership on the touchline. Martin Odegaard, on multiple occasions, drifted over to complete the triangle, in a move that has become a familiar sight in a Mikel Arteta team.
Fans have questioned whether Timber can replicate the relationship that Ben White has with Saka, as the Dutchman is better known for defensive solidity rather than bombing runs forward to support the England winger.
On this occasion however, Arsenal's number 12 made countless runs, overlapping and underlapping Saka to add more bodies to the Gunners' attacks. His confidence at keeping the ball in tight situations was clear throughout, and his hard work going forward was very nearly rewarded with an assist for Saka, had it not been for a block on the line by Everton's Tarkowski.
Defensive Reassurance when Everton Came into the Game
At half time, having yet to face a shot of any kind from the hosts, it seemed that Arsenal would simply continue to control the game in the second 45 to see out a comfortable three points. However, the Toffees grew into the match as time went on to make it a nervy final few moments for the Gunners' backline.
David Moyes chose to send on Beto with 24 minutes left on the clock, and the Portuguese-born number nine did make himself a nuisance, working tirelessly to make life difficult for the Arsenal defence. Saliba looked slightly flustered at times, but when he did, Timber stayed solid alongside Declan Rice who dropped back between the two centre halves.
David Raya, although only facing one shot on target all game, was one of the best players for the away side, claiming crosses into the box with confidence, and showing his distribution skills as well as his ability with the ball at his feet. A ninth league clean sheet for him at a tricky away ground demonstrated once again Arsenal's defensive capabilities.