Everton 1 – 4 Arsenal

After going down 1 – nil the Gunners shifted a gear up in the second half to win 4-1. For large parts of the games Everton had the upper hand but together with defensive mistakes did not create enough chances to warrant a win.

Arsene Wenger suprised many when he reverted to 4-4-2 but opted to use the carling cup strike duo of Bendtner and Eduardo. With Manchester United losing to West Ham earlier in the day, Arsenal had to take the opportunity to end the year as league leader. It was Everton though, who took the upper hand. Some sloppy defending off a corner kick allowed ever present Cahill to put the toffees ahead.

Arsenal looked rattled their verve was missing, the rain was pounding and Everton was showing why they are so highly rated. The toffees had a few half chances before the break, Yakubu especially had Toure beaten but was to slow on the trigger and eventually went down in search of a penalty.

It must have been tempting for Wenger to make changes at the break but that’s just not his style. He stuck with his selection and got rewarded almost immediately at the start of the second half. Clichy launched a 60 yard pass to Eduardo who controlled the ball well, and with a hint of nonchalance stroked the ball pass Howard.

Eduardo then got his second premier league goal form an almost identical play, long pass, control with hand (crafty cheat or cunning professional, your call), slot pass the keeper. Arsene knows why he got this guy, give him a chance and he will put it away.

Then came the cards, Eduardo, Clichy and Bendtner falling afoul of the ref. Bendtner did not do himself any favours with his tackling and got a red card by way of a second yellow. He should count himself lucky as it easily could have been a straight red.

Wenger was now forced remove Eduardo to bring in Adebayor. Everton failed to take advantage and Adebayor put Arsenal firmly in the drivers seat when he practically mugged the Everton goalkeeper to walk the ball into the net.

Arteta was send off for a raised hand to the face of Fabregas. A red card was the only option but Cesc did not have to go down like a toy soldier. The game was over by then, there was no way Everton would score 2 goals in the next 6 minutes without Arteta on the pitch.

The gunners got another goal in injury time, Rosicky this time the scorer after Adebayor thought better of holding the ball in the corner to kill time.

That win certainly would shut up the snipers, we can win in the north east, in December, in bad weather.