Player Ratings: Everton 0-1 Arsenal 

Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokores' first-half penalty sent the Gunners back to the top of the Premier League table after beating Everton 1-0 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium

Find out who impressed with View From The Armchair's Player Ratings as Arsenal win at Everton 

David Raya: 8.5/10 - no time for jokes, this is serious stuff now, three points are a must - if there is a better team at the old squeaky bum playing it out from the back game I’ve yet to see 'em, simply imperious when it all comes together like it did today.

Jurrien Timber: 8/10 - Super comfortable bringing the ball out from the back, as Arsenal invite Everton onto them to find the gaps to spring the attacks. An excellent display of defensive grit to get the clean sheet, 1-0 to the Arsenal.

William Saliba: 8/10 - wasn’t at his finest Rolls Royce Best tonight, but never a penalty after appearing to kick Thierno Barry on 56 minutes. Would have been a complete farce if it had been given - come on seriously, jeez thank goodness for that, nothing given. VAR escape is his biggest involvement, got better as the game went on, clean sheet speaks its own words.

Piero Hincapie: 8/10 - David Moyes is losing it like Fisher here on the touchline, as Piero gives away a free kick, he has been wasteful in possession tonight, still played his part in a defensive rearguard to be commended away from home.

Riccardo Calafiori: 8/10 - 25 minutes, leaps like a salmon, a Roman gladiatorial chop your head off salmon swimming upstream for the penalty handball shout, turned out to be a massive turning point in this game as it seals the deal that brings home the Xmas toffee, bacon and the three points that put us back on top - COYG!

Martin Odegaard: 8/10 - Captain's duties with the penalty 27 minutes, who gives it to Gyokeres, and that is why he is captain. 79 minutes wait for the joyous drop of the shoulder and threaded ball on the highlights, made way for Merino with three minutes of regulation time remaining

Martin Zubimendi: 8/10 - straight away from the kick off, it’s squeaky bum time as Zubi clears it away for a throw in, let’s get some composure on the ball, where’s Raya, he smashes a clean strike against the post of 68 minutes as Arsenal press for the second goal that never came. That said, we picked up three points - it’s all that matters.

Declan Rice: 9/10 - compelling force at the heart of the defence tonight, sweeping up, covering, allowing Zubimendi to get forward more, lost a tackle on 86 minutes, but that aside as commanding a performance as you are likely to witness.

Bukayo Saka: 8/10 - 50 minutes goes close to adding the second via we so desperately needed. Whipped in some late crosses from corners that kept the action right where we need it - at the other end where our travelling Gooners are massed in the corner.

Viktor Gyokeres: 8/10 - made it 1-0 after 27 minutes from the spot after firing it in a bit like the right hand that broke Jake Paul’s rolling pin last night in the boxing. Subbed off on 64 mins for Jesus, can be happy with his goal and performance. Booked

Leo Trossard: 7/10 - great control whenever the ball came into him but wasn’t able to spring the trap down the left as often as we would have liked. Hit the post on 64 minutes. It was a shock to see him miss that. Subbed off with 11 minutes remaining after failing to score against Everton in Liverpool for the third season in a row. 

Substitutes:

Jesus: 7/10 - off the bench, 64 minutes. Pigs in blankets, do one, Brussels sprouts, not today, them 'eat me' prune things that appear this time of year - get in the sea. But, along with the nougat, please spare those orange matchmakers - it's all about those - not to mention three points, and a goal from Jesus very soon - that's really all I want for Xmas.

Gabi Martinelli: 7/10 - sent on with 11 minutes remaining, our Gabi ran the clock down, tired those Everton legs out, and, er was booked late on

Mikel Merino: 8/10 - on for Odegaard late on as the minutes ticked down, bonus point for being Spanish it doesn’t matter, we head back down the motorway with all three points, COYG

Paying tribute to Steve Ashford, AKA Highbury Spy ?? Getcha Gooner: Issue 314 out now ? pic.twitter.com/u20il0ZsDe

— The Gooner (@GoonerFanzine) December 22, 2025