Arsenal opened up a five-point gap at the top of the Premier League table to Manchester City with a dominant victory at Emirates Stadium against Everton. Mikel Arteta's men scored four goals without reply in their game in hand over City giving themselves a major advantage in the title race.
A tense opening 40 minutes was quickly eradicated by two quick-fire goals from Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli before half time. The Gunners then picked up where they left off in the second half with Martin Odegaard scoring for the first time since the North London Derby in mid-January, and Martinelli grabbing a second and Arsenal's fourth with 10 minutes left to play.
Despite Arsenal's dominance at home and Everton's frailties at the back, this was a huge test for Arteta and his players. Less than a month ago, the Gunners lost to Everton at Goodison Park in Sean Dyche's first game in charge but there was absolutely zero sign of that happening again as the league leaders reached 60 points after just 25 games.
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Following their recent wobble, it is now three consecutive wins for Arsenal and it would absolutely be fair to say their title destiny is in their hands. Here is how the National media reacted to the Gunners latest triumph.
"As the ol és rang out from the Arsenal support with 15 minutes to go, the victory in the bag, Everton looking broken, it was possible to wonder how on earth they had lost to the same opposition at Goodison Park at the beginning of February.
"If that was one of the clearest examples in recent times of a new manager bounce, Everton responding to Sean Dyche, the visitors were back to the toothlessness that has characterised much of their season, even if they did make life difficult for Arsenal until the 40th minute.
"Once breached by a scorching Bukayo Saka finish, there was only ever going to be one winner – particularly given Everton’s lack of edge in front of goal. Arsenal were patient when they had to be and then clinical, the moment that in effect ended the contest just before half-time being one to keep Dyche awake at night.
"And Idrissa Gana Gueye, who dallied on the ball facing his own goal for so long that it seemed as though he must have heard a whistle from the referee, Michael Oliver. Saka nicked it off him, Gabriel Martinelli ran through to finish and, if Everton thought they would be reprieved by a VAR check for offside, they were wrong. Martinelli was level. It was not a night when Everton would get away with anything.
"It has got to the stage where Arsenal fans have to be peeking at what their team have left. There are some difficult looking away assignments, including Fulham, Liverpool and Newcastle – plus the big one at City on 26 April. But it is difficult to escape the feeling that a first title since 2004 is theirs to lose. It has appeared that way for a number of weeks, although there was the small wobble after the Goodison defeat when they drew against Brentford and lost to City – both at the Emirates Stadium."
"Victory against the Toffees and a rare win for Arteta over counterpart Sean Dyche means Arsenal can breathe a small sigh of relief; they’ve made their game in hand count.
"As a result, the Gunners now sit five points clear of nearest challengers and reigning champions Manchester City. Few would have predicted this title race before a ball had been kicked this term, let alone that Arsenal would be leading it as late in the season as March.
"With the stakes at their highest and the white-hot spotlight of City’s glare firmly on them, Arsenal made no mistake.
"25 games played each, 13 more before a winner is crowned, more drama is all but guaranteed but the Gunners can take comfort in the fact they finally seem to be able to play under the weight of title-winning expectation."
"When he made a plea for understanding, and for time, as the crisis around him deepened last week, besieged Chelsea manager Graham Potter chose one man as an example of the good things that can happen at a football club if only the board holds its nerve and keeps the faith. The man Potter chose was Mikel Arteta.
"Arteta has become a beacon of hope for the ridiculed and the pilloried, the bedraggled and the bewildered. When things seem beyond rescue, when it feels as if you are being dragged inexorably towards a whirlpool of swirling mediocrity, when the fans want you out, when it looks as if you have failed, there is always the knowledge of what Arteta did.
"A little over two years ago, Arteta’s Arsenal had taken two points from their previous seven league fixtures and had not won a match for nearly two months. They were 15th in the table on Christmas Eve 2020, four points off the relegation zone. Arteta was starting to doubt himself. Now, as winter turns to spring and Arsenal carry all before them, some are saying that he and Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti deserve to be called the best in the world this season."
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