Arsenal slumped to their second Premier League defeat of the season as James Tarkowski’s header gave Everton the perfect start under new manager Sean Dyche with a 1-0 win at Goodison Park on Saturday.
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Everton’s first win in 11 games lifted the Toffees out of the relegation zone.
Arsenal remain five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table, but may not have a big chance to extend their advantage as they aim for their first league title since 2004.
Everton go into the match with four league defeats at Goodison for the first time since 1958.
This disastrous run of form has put Frank Lampard on the job and Dyche’s appointment has achieved the desired result.
Everton’s board is again not far away due to the rising tension between the club’s hierarchy and the supporters.
Protests have been planned before and after the game for fans to voice their anger at the club.
The Toffees are the only Premier League club not to sign in the January transfer window despite their precarious position in the table.
But the front side shows there is still enough talent available for Dyche to dig himself out of trouble if they can harness the same level of energy and intensity on a more regular basis.
Dyche’s two former Burnley players were included in his first starting line-up and combined for the game’s only goal on the hour mark when Tarkwoski headed in Dwight McNeil’s corner.
A first win since October was no more than Everton deserved after they had plenty of chances to go ahead before the break.
Keeping Dominic Calvert-Lewin fit will be critical for Everton’s survival hopes, but the England international showed his rustiness in front of goal in his second consecutive season-impact injury.
Amadou Onana’s run and the ball in front of goal just needed a final touch which Calvert-Lewin couldn’t manage.
After some time, Abdoulaye Doucoure, who had been frozen by Lampard, had a great chance when he was unmarked in the box.
Arsenal took half an hour to threaten Jordan Pickford’s goal but should have taken the lead when Eddie Nketiah fired high and only the keeper could beat him.
Coady clearance
Conor Coady then had to react quickly to clear Bukayo Saka’s volley off the line as the visitors began to find their rhythm.
But it was Calvert-Lewin who could not see another goal in first-half stoppage time when he headed Seamus Coleman’s cross wide.
Arsenal were the brighter at the start of the second period and Martin Odegaard will have felt he should have been on target when he was caught by Nketiah.
But when the Gunners started to turn the screws, their luck at the end ran out.
Tarkowski was fundamental to Dyche’s feat of keeping Burnley in the Premier League for six consecutive seasons between 2016 and 2022 and the centre-back rose highest to power over McNeil’s corner on the hour mark.
Mikel Arteta’s decision to replace three of his most consistent players this season in Gabriel Martinelli, Thomas Partey and Odegaard will be questioned as Arsenal lack the guile to break down the massed defensive ranks of Dyche’s men.
The full-time whistle was greeted with joyous celebrations as Everton moved one point clear of the bottom three.