Everton vs Arsenal live: Gunners eke out win to return to top Premier League tree for Christmas

David Moyes was forced to contain his fury at the officiating after Everton succumbed to a drab 1-0 loss at home to Arsenal.

Moyes was engaged in discussions with referee Sam Barrott at full-time and when asked by Sky Sports what they spoke about, he replied: "I’d like to [repeat it], but I’d probably be fined in some ways. You need to find ways at Sky to talk to referees or don’t bother asking me.

"It was a day where just a lot of things didn’t quite suit and go our way. There was quite a few people going down injured. The referee was blowing up for them. It’s a different football club here. We play tough. We expect our referees to do the same.”

On the penalty decision that involved William Saliba and Thierno Barry, he added: "I think they’re saying it’s insignificant contact, and it might have been. May well have been. They come up with new words for every decision don’t they."

"We didn’t give away many chances and we defended really well,” he told Sky Sports. “We had to suffer at times.

“We weren’t clinical and didn’t hurt them as much. I don’t think David Raya really had a save to make. Small margins and that’s why they are top of the league.

“They have been resilient at the back and hard to break down. They got a penalty and scored, the effort and application we put in was quality.

"You’ll have games where you create loads of chances and games where you have one or two and have to be clinical but Arsenal don’t give many opportunities away. Look at their record, eight or nine clean sheets."

"It's a few that can take it and this time it was me that took it,” Gyokeres told Sky Sports. “It was important to score that one. It was nice.

"You always want to score goals. That's the main target every game for attacking players. That's what we want to do. Today we could've scored a few more but the most important is we won the game.

"I think I try to do my best always on the pitch and of course you have to get to know the system and how we play and get to know the role and adapt to that. We're playing quite well. We're in a good position in the league and Champions League, so carry on like this."

"There's not really any emotions in it,” Saka told Sky Sports when asked how the players felt seeing Man City take top spot.

“We take the emotions out. We just know we focus on our job this week, after last week we focus on coming here and winning. We did that today.

“We're back on top of the table but we're not watching City too much, or the other teams. We're in control now. We know if we win every week we'll stay there.”

When asked on the decision to let Viktor Gyokeres take the penalty, Arteta told Sky Sports: "That's what I hoped and they have to take initiative on the pitch. They decide that Viktor is the best taker and he scored, so what a great decision.

"You need to enjoy the process of winning and that's going to be hard moments, difficult moments, great moments.,

“That's all part of that intention and how close we are winning and that's why we have to enjoy and take it game by game."

Arsenal took advantage of Everton’s missing creative spine to beat the Toffees and ensure their place at the top of the tree for Christmas.

After being frustrated for the first 20 minutes, the Gunners were given a golden opportunity to break the deadlock at the Hill Dickinson Stadium after Jake O’Brien, with both arms raised, bewilderingly handled a corner delivery, with a penalty being awarded after a VAR check.

Viktor Gyokeres stepped up and converted, putting the Gunners in control of an Everton side without its key creators, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall injured and Iliman Ndiaye on Africa Cup of Nations duty.

Mikel Arteta‘s side spurned a couple of opportunities to extend their lead after the break, hitting the post twice, but they were able to quell any Everton comeback to respond effectively to Manchester City win over West Ham earlier in the day, taking back top spot ahead of Christmas Day.

It wasn’t a comfortable night, but Arsenal are top of the tree for Christmas!

90+7 mins: The Arsenal head of Hincapie meets it. That should be all.