Olivier Giroud overcame midweek disappointment to score the opening goal in Arsenal's 2-0 Barclays Premier League win over Everton at Emirates Stadium on Sunday
The Arsenal striker had been substituted after missing chances in the 3-1 defeat by Monaco in the UEFA Champions League last 16 first leg on Wednesday. But he made up for his performance on the European stage by breaking the deadlock in the first half, before substitute Tomas Rosicky's late goal settled the hosts' nerves.
Giroud, who scored a late leveller when Arsenal drew 2-2 at Everton in August, netted his 12th goal of the season, and eighth in the league, with a low effort from Mesut Ozil's corner and Rosicky's deflected drive in the final minute scuppered any hopes the visitors had of earning a share of the spoils. Before that intervention, Arsenal had relied heavily on the fine form of David Ospina, the goalkeeper frustrating an Everton side who have just three wins from their last 18 league matches.
Roberto Martinez's side remain six points above the relegation zone, while Arsenal are a point ahead of fourth-placed Manchester United and three clear of Liverpool after their success over Manchester City earlier in the day.
Arsenal could have fallen behind in the 17th minute but for a piece of smart goalkeeping from Ospina, who raced off his line to rob Romelu Lukaku of the ball after the striker had beaten Gabriel Paulista, who was in for Per Mertesacker as one of three changes from midweek, to a long ball over the top.
Giroud spurned Arsenal's first chance as he turned Alexis Sanchez's near-post cross wide with a diving header, but soon atoned for that miss to break the deadlock. He converted Ozil's set-piece delivery with a cool first-time finish into the bottom-left corner six minutes before the interval.
Arsene Wenger's men gained confidence from that goal and went close to adding a second shortly after when Santi Cazorla's long-range effort was tipped over by Tim Howard. The Everton goalkeeper was tested by his own player from the resulting corner as Muhamed Besic's attempted defensive header forced the American into a save.
Everton started the second half the stronger and almost levelled in spectacular fashion as Gareth Barry sent a bicycle kick narrowly over the bar. Lukaku provided Everton's main threat and only the acrobatics of Ospina prevented him from levelling matters.
The Colombian dived brilliantly to his right to turn the Belgium forward's shot over after a superb cross from Ross Barkley.
Everton substitute Aaron Lennon shot straight at Ospina and Ozil had an effort deflected wide at the other end before the German picked out Rosicky to settle matters. The Czech fired home just seven minutes after coming on and there was time for a late point-blank miss from Giroud as Arsenal kept themselves in a strong position to return to the UEFA Champions League.
You can watch the highlights here
0 comments:
Post a Comment