Former Burnley defender James Tarkowski's goal on the hour was enough to seal victory for Sean Dyche's fired-up Everton at a raucous Goodison Park on Saturday.

In front of 39,314 fans on Merseyside former Clarets boss Dyche steered his side home against the Premier League leaders.

The new Toffees boss was full of energy on the touchline, mirroring his newly inspired side on the pitch, as Tarkowski rose at the far post to power home a header from Dwight McNeil's corner to spark deep joy among the club's long-suffering fans.

Speaking after the match Gunners boss Mikel Arteta reflected on only his table-topping side's second league defeat of the campaign, saying:  "We had loads of the ball but we lacked that purpose and quality in the final third, we generated many chances. But then we conceded and they slowed the game down and we struggled."

Arteta, who side suffered their first league defeat in 14 matches, but their second 1-0 defeat in eight days, followng their FA Cup fourth round exit at Manchester City last week, added: "Everton do this to every team, that is their strength with the height, the physicality is their strength, if you want to control the game against them you have to control this. We did not do that today.

"We needed more composure and to control emotionally the game better. We gave away so many unnecessary free-kicks and that's what they want.

"Today I love them much better than the week before or a month ago. It is easy to be next to someone when they are winning well. I am still so proud of all of these players, they deserve it.

"This is not going to be a rose pathway. This is going to be tricky and we will have to dig in and play much better than we did today."

Find out which Arsenal players impressed in our ratings.

GK: Aaron Ramsdale - 6/10 - Alert and reliable in challenging circumstances 

RB: Ben White - 5/10 - Did not have his best game as Everton pressured the Gunners backline while denying them space and time to build 

CB: William Saliba - 5/10 - While have learned so much from playing against such intense opponents, and will be all the better for it. Luckily he won't have to face many teams as intense as Dyche's new charges - while many Toffees players should be asking themselves why they didn't produce such performances under Lampard

CB: Gabriel - 5/10 - Should have won a penalty when felled in the box but the decision not to award a spot kick came thanks to the maelstrom that was Goodison Park on Saturday 

LB: Oleksandr Zinchenko - 5/10 - An important attacking option but embroiled in ugly scenes at the end before boss Arteta led him away

CM: Thomas Partey - 4/10 - Hooked after an ineffectual hour, but whether it was Everton's intensity or his painful ribs that curtailed his usual presence was difficult to tell

CM: Granit Xhaka - 5.5/10 - Another player who was overrrun by Dyche's fired up new side 

RM: Bukayo Saka - 6.5/10 - Always looked for the ball and never hid but try and he may he simply couldn't break through the Toffees defence

AM: Martin Odegaard - 5/10 - Targeted by Dyche as Everton doubled up on the talented Norway international. Arguably his most ineffective performance this season. Spoke volumes when Arteta subbed his captain 

LM: Gabriel Martinelli - 4/10 - Worked hard but wasn't his day. Looks like he needs recalibrating 

CF: Eddie Nketiah - 5/10 - Anonymous

Substitutes

Jorginho (59' for Partey) - 5.5/10

Leandro Trossard (59' for Martinelli) - 5/10

Fabio Vieira (77' for Odegaard) - 5/10

Takehiro Tomiyasu (85' for White) - 5/10