GUNNERS CASH IN ON CECH MAGIC
Super saves set platform for win
ARSENAL made it five straight wins thanks largely to goalkeeper Petr Cech.
Alexandre Lacazette and PierreEmerick Aubameyang scored the goals to move the Gunners up three places to sixth.
But it was 36-year-old Cech who was their hero with a string of superb saves.
He defied his years to show surprising speed off his line to deny Dominic Calvert-Lewin, in the first minute, then ex-Arsenal star Theo Walcott.
Cech had been in the spotlight due to his struggle dealing with new boss Unai Emery’s demands that he plays the ball out from the back.
His main job, though, is keeping out the opposition and he did that superbly to ensure a first clean-sheet of the Emery reign.
For Everton this was the same old story at Arsenal.
The Toffees once again came unstuck – this was the 25th successive match they have failed to win in north London, the last victory coming in 1996.
It could have been a totally different story. Calvert-Lewin spurned a great chance with just seconds gone.
Sprinting onto a fine ball from skipper Tom Davies, he tried, and failed, to round the advancing Cech when Richarlison – back after a three-match ban – was well positioned to his left to score. Arsenal hit back when Aubameyang teed up Nacho Monreal, whose snapshot was beaten away by Jordan Pickford before Richarlison brushed past Hector Bellerin and then saw his firm shot parried by Cech.
Soon after that the Brazilian, from a similar position, bent his effort just past the far post.
Cech did well to tip over a dipping Lucas Digne free-kick and was super quick off his line to stop Walcott picking out the wellpositioned Calvert-Lewin or Richarlison. An Aubamayeng cross almost caught out Pickford, landing on top of the bar and Richarlison, who exposed Bellerin time and time again, forced Cech to palm over a firm leftfoot drive.
Then in the 56th minute Arsenal went ahead against the run of play.
Aaron Ramsey picked out Lacazette in space on the left side of the Everton box and he curled a precise shot with his right foot which gave Pickford no chance.
Three minutes later it was 2-0. Lacazette sent Mesut Ozil clear. His pass to Ramsey was then flicked on by the Welshman to Aubameyang, who stroked into the net.
The Gabon hitman was clearly offside but the goal stood.
Cech got down well after the double strike to keep out a Michael Keane header from a Gylfi Sigurdsson freekick, then beat away a firm drive from the Icelander.
Bouncing
He also punched clear time and time again as Everton attempted a rally but, in truth, Marco Silva’s men never looked like their hearts were in it.
The closest they got was when Lucas Digne’s 85th-minute cross struck the frame of the goal before bouncing clear.
The Gunners may not be blasting away opponents, but this victory and the move up the table shows some signs of progress.
Their two main goal threats scoring was also a boost for fans.
As for Everton, it is just two points from their last four games.