Robin van Persie’s spectacular second half volley was enough to beat a stubborn Everton side as Arsenal secured three vital points on their 125th anniversary.
The Dutchman’s effort lifts Arsene Wenger’s side into the Champions League position for the first time this season and sets the Gunners up nicely ahead of a tough away fixture with Manchester City.
As expected Thomas Vermaelen was handed the responsibility of covering for Andre Santos and Kieran Gibbs in the left-back position, Laurent Koscielny partnering Per Mertesacker in the centre of defence and Johan Djourou starting on the right. The midfield and attacking unit was the same that beat Wigan 4-0 last week.
After an emotional tribute to legends of days gone by, the first half was a pretty forgettable affair; the sight of messrs McLintock, George, Wilson, Limpar, Pires, Henry failing to inspire the class of 2011.
Time after time Arsenal attempted to penetrate Everton’s high line with through balls, but despite wriggling free of his markers Theo Walcott too often found himself offside. On the one occasion the England winger did time his run he opted to pass to Gervinho who squandered the opportunity.
The Ivorian nearly made amends minutes later but despite hitting hard low angled drive, Tim Howard got down well to save. Aaron Ramsey further frustrated the home crowd by clipping the cross bar having wriggled free in the box.
Everton hadn’t mustered a shot on target by half time with Wenger’s four centre backs looking calm and composed on the ball. Louis Saha looked relatively disinterested up front for the Toffees while Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellaini produced below par performances.
You hoped the Gunners might up the tempo in the second half, but aside from a couple of tasty dribbles by Walcott it looked increasingly likely that Everton would follow Fulham’s lead in holding out for a clean sheet. That the away side opted to replace Saha for defender Distin just after the hour mark pretty much summed up the extent of their ambition.
In games like this you sometimes need something special to make the difference. Van Persie’s left foot was that difference today. After a 69 relatively low profile minutes the striker came alive. Picked out by a beautiful lofted diagonal ball by Alex Song, the club captain followed the line of the ball before perfectly arrowing a low volley in off the post. It was an extraordinary goal and arguably one of the best the Emirates has witnessed. Even Thierry enjoyed it – the Frenchman standing to his feet with the net still rippling.
Very little happened in the last twenty minutes. Van Persie nearly doubled the lead with a header from a corner before Everton sub McAleny flashed a cracking effort just wide of Szczesny’s goal in the dying moments.
Relief washed over those supporters who braved a bitterly cold afternoon to see the game through to the final whistle. It wasn’t a memorable match, but it was a memorable goal on a day all about remembering the past.
As former manager George Allison once said: “It’s one-nil to The Arsenal. That’s the way we like it.”
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