Mikel Arteta has said Arsenal beat Everton 1-0 because his players stayed fully focused on the single task on Saturday.
Arsenal reclaimed first place with a 1-0 victory at Everton, sealed by a first-half penalty from Viktor Gyokeres. Manchester City had briefly moved top earlier in the day with a 3-0 win over West Ham, but Arsenal responded calmly to get the result they needed.
Arteta said his side blocked out everything else and concentrated only on executing their plan against a difficult opponent.
“We were only focused on what we had to do here,” Arteta said. “The task was to beat Everton, and the players stayed focused on that from the first minute. That’s the only thing that matters.”
The win meant Arsenal sat top of the table on Christmas Day, underlining the importance of the three points in a tight title race. Arteta’s side controlled large spells of the game, limiting Everton’s attacking threat and managing the match with maturity.
Arsenal dominated possession in the first half but found chances hard to come by until Gyokeres stepped up to convert his penalty with confidence. The goal forced Everton to chase the game and allowed Arsenal to dictate the tempo.
After the break, Arsenal had chances to extend their lead. They created three clear openings but failed to take them, which kept the contest alive until the final whistle. Despite that, Everton struggled to break Arsenal down from open play.
Arteta said staying patient was crucial.
“The only thing we can control is our own performance and results,” he said. “This league is very tough and very long. You have to enjoy the process, take it game by game and stay focused on what is in front of you.”
Arsenal now turn their attention quickly to cup action. They are next in action tomorrow in the Carabao Cup quarter-final away to Crystal Palace.
After that, Arteta’s side return to league duty on December 27, when they host Brighton at the Emirates Stadium as they look to maintain their position at the top of the table.
