Viktor Gyokeres scored a first-half penalty to secure a narrow 1-0 victory for Arsenal against Everton at the Hill-Dickinson Stadium. The win propelled the Gunners back to the top of the Premier League table, two points clear of Manchester City. Mikel Arteta's side marked his sixth anniversary in charge with a hard-fought result despite not being at their fluent best.
Arsenal reclaimed the Premier League lead with a gritty 1-0 win over Everton on December 20, 2025, at the newly built Hill-Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool. The decisive moment came in the 27th minute when Everton defender Jake O’Brien handled an Arsenal corner in his own penalty area. Referee Sam Barrott, after reviewing VAR footage on the pitchside monitor, awarded the spot-kick. Gyokeres, ending a four-game goal drought since November 1, powered the penalty past Jordan Pickford, who dived the right way but could not keep it out.
Arsenal dominated possession but struggled to create clear chances, with Bukayo Saka having a shot blocked and Leandro Trossard striking the post. Everton, missing key players like Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye due to the Africa Cup of Nations, mounted second-half pressure and appealed for penalties, including one for William Saliba's challenge on Thierno Barry, but none were given. Despite the tension, Arsenal's defense held firm, securing a clean sheet in their ninth league game of the season.
Post-match, Arteta praised his team's resilience: “Very happy to win here … it’s a really difficult place to come … what a beautiful stadium they’ve built.” Saka, named player of the match, added: “We’re back on top of the table but we’re not watching City too much … if we win every week we’ll stay there.” Everton manager David Moyes expressed frustration over O’Brien’s error and officiating: “It was a poor decision by Jake O’Brien to raise his arm … a lot of things didn’t go our way.”
The result leaves Arsenal two points ahead of Manchester City, who earlier beat West Ham 3-0, with Aston Villa emerging as a surprise contender. Arsenal's next challenge is an EFL Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace.
