Premier League - Arsenal overcome Everton

Eurosport - Sun, 19 Oct 04:11:00 2008

Samir Nasri, Robin Van Persie and Theo Walcott scored second-half goals as Arsenal came from behind to defeat Everton 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium.

Robin van Persie v Everton, FOOTBALL - 0

The visitors took the lead through Leon Osman's close-range strike after just nine minutes.

But the half-time introduction of Walcott was the catalyst for an improved Gunners performance after the break with Nasri levelling three minutes into the second period.

Van Persie then headed Arsenal ahead 20 minutes from time before Walcott sealed the points with a crisp strike in the final moments.

The Toffees stunned the home fans inside the opening 10 minutes with Steven Pienaar exposing stand-in right-back Alexandre Song, and the South African's cross into the centre was poked past Manuel Almunia by the sliding Osman.

Osman came close to a second when his 20-yard shot was deflected just past the post by home debutant Mikael Silvestre and Joleon Lescott saw a header chested off the line by Gael Clichy.

Van Persie had the best of Arsenal's first-half chances, seeing a shot superbly blocked by Tim Howard from point blank range before failing to hit the target with his favoured left foot after being picked out by Emmanuel Eboue.

A great challenge from Lescott denied Nasri a certain equaliser when Song's cross was nodded back across goal by Cesc Fabregas and the Spanish midfielder tried to inspire his team as the half came to an end, seeing a long-range drive go narrowly wide and driving a dangerous cross-cum-shot past the far post.

A shoulder injury to Kolo Toure forced Arsene Wenger into a half-time reshuffle with Song moving to the heart of defence and Eboue dropping to right back. His side seemed to benefit from the change and were soon back on level terms.

A corner was only half cleared and Silvestre teed up Nasri whose fierce 25-yard drive took a deflection off Lescott and nestled in the corner of the net.

The Londoners began to carve out chances at will and Eboue's centre was smashed over the top by an unmarked Van Persie 12 yards out. The Dutchman was seemingly pulled down by Leighton Baines in the penalty area but Peter Walton denied the claims.

The Gunners did finally go ahead when Emmanuel Adebayor lined up Fabregas who was denied by a fantastic close range save from Howard only for van Persie to nod home the rebound, finding the gap between the keeper and Baines on the line.

Arsenal continued to press for a third and a Fabregas corner was headed over from eight yards by Van Persie before Walcott settled matters.

Walcott started the move, finding fellow sub Abou Diaby whose pull back from the by-line was slammed home by the England teenager for his first Premier League goal at the Emirates.

The Gunners returned to winning ways after dropping points against Hull and Sunderland and are now four points behind leaders Chelsea and Liverpool.

Lee Walker / Eurosport

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  1. it was a good performance,i think Sylvester made a­ patchy start but came on top as game progressed,i was­ not particularly happy with van finishing and their­ link play with ade hasn't convinced either.the­ midfield which was arsenals axis for many years is­ still weak but diaby should mildly improve it.
    i dont­ think arsenal can win the league with dat squad but i­ know if we maintain the momentum of 1-5 points behind­ up to january and wenger gets in one or two good­ players especially in the defense and midfield with the­ would b new signing as Edwardo and rosicky,then we have­ a chance in the premier league,
    the veras Ramsey will­ shine up to maybe semis but could stumble against­ Chelsea and united who relatively field a stronger­ side.
    the fa cup is always unpredictable and we can win­ it,ironically i believe arsenal can win the champions­ league if they can only avoid English sides in the run­ to the final.with all respect to teams outside­ england,i believe the gunners can go past them.muhamed­ hajji +256774078704

    From muhamedknows, on Mon 20 Oct 12:32PM

  2. it was a good performance,i think Sylvester made a­ patchy start but came on top as game progressed,i was­ not particularly happy with van finishing and their­ link play with ade hasn't convinced either.the­ midfield which was arsenals axis for many years is­ still weak but diaby should mildly improve it.
    i dont­ think arsenal can win the league with dat squad but i­ know if we maintain the momentum of 1-5 points behind­ up to january and wenger gets in one or two good­ players especially in the defense and midfield with the­ would b new signing as Edwardo and rosicky,then we have­ a chance in the premier league,
    the veras Ramsey will­ shine up to maybe semis but could stumble against­ Chelsea and united who relatively field a stronger­ side.
    the fa cup is always unpredictable and we can win­ it,ironically i believe arsenal can win the champions­ league if they can only avoid English sides in the run­ to the final.with all respect to teams outside­ england,i believe the gunners can go past them

    From muhamedknows, on Mon 20 Oct 12:31PM

  3. Well done gunners but their defence left a lot to be­ desired i hate to admit this but its clear that Gallas­ was being missed especially in the first half

    From sijabule_dube, on Sun 19 Oct 3:33PM

  4. Good display by arsenal Yesterday. But alot happen and­ wenger should take corrections. Why would song play 2­ when Eboue is fit and was on the Pitch. This shows us­ that when we have injured player, there are no gd­ replacement for them. This was why Arsene was advice to­ buy players last season bt he refused claiming that he­ has enough. It will take a stroke of luck to win­ anything this season. That is my humble submission

    From tunde, on Sun 19 Oct 7:33AM

  5. Gunners 4life.hope we most reach 2 the top of the table

    From emmanuel_obiajulu, on Sun 19 Oct 6:40AM

  6. Gunners 4life.hope we most reach 2 the top of the table

    From emmanuel_obiajulu, on Sun 19 Oct 6:40AM

  7. Thank God 4 his divine intervention,Toure's injury­ helped us,cos wengers 4mation did not work 4 us in d­ 1st half,ow could u play Song as 2,when Eboue is alive­ n fit,pls wenger,u can still make somethin out of this­ young team,aren't u worried abt this trophiless­ scandal,i will keep advising u,if u'l adhere(pair­ ADEBAYO-BENDTNER,VANPERSIE-VELA,EBOUE-WALCOT)U'l­ get d desired result,pls nobody is perfect d humilation­ @ d viewing centre is terrible when we r down,i quite­ appreciate ur work n belief,keep it­ up..................9ja gunners

    From segun, on Sun 19 Oct 6:15AM

  8. if arsenal no luzin pojts en hum win PREMJER LIG­ THIS JER GUNERS FOR EVER ERMIR MUHJA ALBANJA

    From miri, on Sun 19 Oct 6:11AM

  9. we are taking over gunners4life up arsenal.we did well

    From dennisdcute, on Sun 19 Oct 5:09AM

  10. what the hell happened to Everton's defense? ­ Howard is a fantastic keeper, but he's got to be in­ fits after each game for all the point-blank shots to­ deal with.

    From shoo, on Sun 19 Oct 4:45AM

  11. Walcott would be one of the most rising star in­ premiership this season.Look at what he had been­ achieved in recent of time for Arsenal and England­ national team.I must say Gunners would overcome their­ disappointment from lost to Fulham and Hull city.

    From cathay747, on Sun 19 Oct 1:04AM

  12. What do you mean by a tender age, 21 years. Thats how­ old Bolt - the Jamaican Lightning is.

    From peter m, on Sat 18 Oct 10:46PM

  13. ARSENE WENGER WILL NEVER STOP BEING A TECHNICAL­ MAGICIAN, AM NOT AN ARSENAL FAN, BUT I SUPPORT GOOD­ FOOTBALL WHEN I SEE ONE, TUMBS UP 4 THE GUNNERS THEY­ DESERVE IT.

    From tonyslarsh, on Sat 18 Oct 10:22PM

  14. WE THE BEST.GUNNERS 4 LIFE

    From wale, on Sat 18 Oct 9:45PM

  15. ARSENE WENGER WILL NEVER STOP BEING A TECHNICAL­ MAGICIAN, AM NOT AN ARSENAL FAN, BUT I SUPPORT GOOD­ FOOTBALL WHEN I SEE ONE, TUMBS UP 4 THE GUNNERS THEY­ DESERVE IT.

    From tonyslarsh, on Sat 18 Oct 9:34PM

  16. WELL DONE A.F.C A LOVELY WIN BUT I STILL THINK WE NEED­ 1 STRONG MIDFIELD PLAYER UP THE ARSENAL YIPPEEE A.F.C 4­ EVER

    From Leisha, on Sat 18 Oct 9:19PM

  17. FABREGAS SAID IT ALL IN THE WEEK THAT LACK OF­ EXPERIENCE PLAYERS IS COSTING THEM POINTS....DO YOU­ STILL THINK ARSENAL CAN EVER WIN THE LEAGUE WITH THE­ SUPERIOR FIREBRAND OF LIVERPOOL,MAN U AND CHEAT..SEA­ CLUB!!!GO AFTER ZAKI,GOVANNI IN JAN.WINDOW.
    AND SELL­ GALLAS FOR RICHARD-MAN CITY.GOOD LUCK....!!!

    From Olugbayi, on Sat 18 Oct 9:14PM

  18. i am arsenal supporter but i think arsenal will win­ nothing again this year. arsenal is good when they have­ the ball but what if their opponent get the ball? they­ cannot defence well and any opponents could score­ against them. their defensive play is awful and that­ make the defferent between them and other top teams.

    From cs t, on Sat 18 Oct 8:46PM

  19. am chelsea fan because of mikel. i was 4 arsenal when­ kanu was making waves there, right now my back is on­ arsenal and see where they are, struggling. 2 sad man u­ won.

    From olive, on Sat 18 Oct 8:39PM

  20. who the hell is CHIOMA - THUMBS DOWN

    From olive, on Sat 18 Oct 8:36PM
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