Sign up to FREE email alerts from Mirror - Arsenal FC Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Arsenal beat Everton 2-0 to regain third place from Manchester United.

The Gunners put in a far from vintage performance after their midweek disappointment against Monaco, but came away with all three points after a first-half strike from Olivier Giroud was later doubled by substitute Tomas Rosicky.

Everton meanwhile are now languishing deep in the bottom half after another poor result.

But what did we learn? Ed Malyon was at the Emirates...

Everton dominance means little

(Image: Reuters)

Roberto Martinez lined up a side that was built to hit Arsenal on the counter - with Ross Barkley a fifth midfielder asked to use his pace and directness to join attacks.

But the visitors proceeded to dominate the ball, boasting nearly 70% possession in the first 20 minutes of a game where Arsenal struggled for a sniff.

Romelu Lukaku would have scored had it not been for a tentative David Ospina clawing the ball away as the Belgian prepared to smash home.

The problem with having the ball, then confidence, then territory, is that it exposes spaces. And this Arsenal side is now one of the most lethal counter-attacking units in the division. Having nicked an opener from a set piece, the Gunners swept home a second on the counter as a demonstration of their pace and power.

A decent Everton performance undone.

PLAYER RATINGS:Who was Man of the Match?

Gabriel gets lucky in Jekyll and Hyde performance

(Image: Action Images)

Hector Bellerin has impressed since his promotion to first-team action, twinning attacking drive with defensive contribution.

But one thing it will take time to get, by definition, is experience. And Everton clearly decided to try and exploit the channel between the inexperienced Bellerin and new-boy Gabriel Paulista.

The duo comprised the right side of the Arsenal defence and were faced with three very different threats: A rampaging Romelu Lukaku, the driving runs and trickery of Ross Barkley and surges from deep as Luke Garbutt joined the attack.

Though Gabriel's big error wasn't costly, his other major contribution was. The Brazilian performed an outstanding sliding tackle to steal the ball from Lukaku in the 38th minute, coming away with the ball and starting an attack that ended with Olivier Giroud diverting a corner home in the 39th.

In a matter of seconds the game had flipped on its head and the story of Gabriel's game was suddenly very different.

Giroud gets the goal he needed

(Image: Reuters)

Olivier Giroud's midweek horror show

France's leading sports daily L'Equipe , and some observers even thought that was generous after his raft of missed chances helped contribute to a potentially season-defining exit.

But despite a quiet start - once again, generous - to this game, he turned the match on its head with an excellent dash to the near post and clipped finish.

He never failed to offer his side an outlet, and John Stones struggled all day with his physicality and clever movement up front.

Exactly the display he needed after a torrid night on Tuesday.

There's something about Ozil

(Image: Action Images)

Arsenal fans defend their record signing with vitriol, but he is a peculiar case.

Perhaps it's the loping stride or maybe his awkward gait that makes Mesut Ozil such a curious player to watch. One who walks off the ball and glides on it, and spends much of the game keeping out of sight. Indeed, one press box colleague asked after 22 minutes why Ozil wasn't playing, only to be informed that the German was there - you just need to find him.

That goes for Arsenal too, who use him less than any of their other creators. Ozil touched the ball less than any other player in that Gunners midfield but, when he does, he inevitably creates.

It's not ostentatious creation. It's not flash touches or scooped passes that catch the eye.

But in those few opportunities he gets to influence proceedings, he makes the most impact - providing more key passes than any other Arsenal player against Everton. Not to mention both assists.

He looks kinda funny, and he's not yet justified his price tag, but never let anyone tell you that Ozil doesn't do anything.

Ever(ton) the problem

(Image: Getty)

It's the sign of a title-winning team to win while playing badly, and while Arsenal have lost too many while playing badly to be in that conversation, this was a scoreline that didn't tell the story of its performance.

Indeed, more worrying is what it does to Roberto Martinez, whose team played well but now find themselves below Crystal Palace in the table.

For a team who talked of Champions League ambitions in pre-season, let nobody fool you that this is acceptable.

It was an inexperience backline that faced Arsenal, with Garbutt and Coleman flanking Stones. Phil Jagielka leads it bravely too, but apart from Europe this season looks dead for the Toffees now, and planning for a summer switcharound must start now.

That defence, plus Leighton Baines, will grow with time, but there are too many players off the boil for Everton at the moment, and they lack a passing creator from the centre of the park.

In pictures: Arsenal vs Everton