Arsenal 2-0 Everton: result and report

The Pundit picked Arsenal (66%): correct

Report

## Arsenal: the expected win, without fuss

Arsenal beat Everton 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium. They were expected to win this at home, and the performance matched the result rather than flattering it.

Ezri Konsa put Arsenal ahead in the 7th minute from Viktor Gyökeres' assist. That lead held until the 68th minute, when Gabriel scored from Ben White's pass to make the game safe. Because Everton never scored, Arsenal spent the whole match in front.

Chance quality backs up the scoreline

The clearest point is that Arsenal deserved more than a narrow margin. They finished with 2.39 xG to Everton's 0.56, so the two-goal gap is, if anything, a fair reflection of the chances.

The supporting numbers point the same direction. Arsenal had 17 key passes to Everton's seven and more than twice as many dangerous attacks. They also hit the woodwork once, a near miss that could have made the scoreline wider still. The pressure pattern was lopsided too, with Arsenal sustaining far more of it across the afternoon, though that reflects territory rather than every phase of the game.

Gabriel was named player of the match after scoring the second and keeping Everton out at the other end.

Everton: what might have been

Everton were not without openings, though. They created two big chances and missed both, while David Raya made three saves to keep the clean sheet.

That is the honest counter-signal. With only 0.56 xG, Everton did not create enough to say they were unlucky to lose. Still, one of those big chances going in would have changed how the last stretch felt for Arsenal.