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It's been a year since Mikel Arteta and Carlo Ancelotti were appointed managers by their respective clubs. The former is struggling to inspire Arsenal in the Premier League while the latter is enjoying his time in the top six of the table.
Everton took the lead in the 22nd minute in the game between the two clubs following an own goal from Rob Holding. The Arsenal captain tried to track Dominic Calvert-Lewin but the forward's header hit Holding's thigh and was deflected into the net.
The Gunners were awarded a penalty after Tom Davies brought down Ainsley Maitland-Niles in the Everton box. With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missing, Nicolas Pepe stepped up to take it and made no mistake from the spot.
Just seconds before half-time, Pepe allowed Yerry Mina to run free and the Colombian defender scored from a corner to give Everton the lead again. That goal proved to be the match-winner as Arsenal were unable to secure a comeback. On that note, here are five talking points from the match.
#5 Everton move up to second in the Premier League table
It's an early Christmas present for the Toffees who are moving their way up the Premier League table. With the 2-1 victory at Goodison Park, Everton are now 2nd, five points behind their Merseyside rivals.
Ancelotti's team face a winless Sheffield United next weekend and they will host Manchester City before 2020 comes to an end. As things stand, Everton's great form means that they are on track to finishing in the top six at the end of the year.
Since the establishment of the Premier League, Everton's highest league finish is 4th in the 2004/05 campaign but under the tutelage of Ancelotti, they could create history this season.
#4 Arsenal have forgotten how to attack
With no players making runs forward or getting into the Everton box, it seemed nearly impossible for Arsenal to create scoring chances or trouble Pickford.
According to SkySports, Arsenal have the lowest shooting accuracy and shot conversion rate in the Premier League. The Gunners often rely on hopeful balls, wishing that one team-mate or another would miraculously connect and score a wonder goal.
At half-time, Arsenal legend Ian Wright said,
"I don't see how Arsenal are gonna win the game."
"The best they can do is stay in it... I don't see where the threat is coming from."
Willian, who was signed in the summer to provide more creativity and attacking threat, offered nothing in the game. The former Chelsea man had the joint-fewest touches alongside Pickford in the first 45 minutes.
In the second half, his performance wasn't any better and in the last 11 Premier League games, Willian has produced just one shot on target. Clearly, the Gunners made a wrong move in signing the 32-year-old from Stamford Bridge.
#3 Arsenal have massive work to do in the January transfer window
The January transfer window will open in two weeks and Arsenal have already missed out on one of their midfield targets, Dominik Szoboszlai, who joined RB Leipzig on a four-and-a-half-year contract.
It remains to be seen whether the Gunners will attempt to sign Houssem Aouar again after failing to close the deal for the attacking midfielder in the summer. Arsenal are also rumoured to be keen on signing Real Madrid's midfielder Isco and Fabio Vieira from Porto.
With no way back for Mesut Ozil at the club, Arteta must sign a creative midfielder in the coming weeks as well as let go of some deadwood to resurrect their season.
#2 Arsenal are in a serious crisis
14 points from 14 Premier League games is not impressive at all. Once a regular top four or top six finisher, Arsenal are now the only team from that clique to be rooted in the bottom half of the table.
The Manchester clubs have moved up to 6th and 7th spots after a slow start to their season. However, the Gunners are dropping further and further out of sight.
Only Sheffield United have lost more games (12) than the Gunners (8) at this stage of the competition and the prospect of being in a relegation battle is growing day by day.
Arsenal have not been relegated since the 1912/13 season but the fans' worse fears might come true as the team's performances just do not seem to improve.
#1 Battle for top spot become fiercer between the Merseyside rivals
When Liverpool handed a 7-0 thrashing to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, Everton took the onus upon themselves to respond by beating Arsenal in a convincing fashion. Three consecutive Premier League wins and the Toffees are living up to expectations in front of the fans.
Tottenham and Leicester City are the clubs that could make the top four before Christmas Day. Only seven points separate league leaders Liverpool and fourth-placed Leicester, who are yet to play this weekend.
The situation is less tight-knit at the bottom but Arsenal are five points away from safety. They will host Chelsea on Boxing Day and then face Brighton on 29th December. If things don't go Arteta's way, the Gunners could very well find themselves in the relegation zone in the coming days.
