Arsenal strike duo deliver victory over Everton

© Nick Potts/PA Wire

Unai Emery’s Arsenal revolution continued to build momentum as his usual suspects provided the goals to secure a fourth successive Premier League win at the expense of Everton.

Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang fired in quick-fire second-half strikes to secure a 2-0 victory, although the latter was offside as he tucked home.

It was the third time in the last five league games they have started together that both forwards have found the back of the net.

After losing the opening two games of his reign, Emery has been unbeaten since, although the Toffees will feel hard done by to leave the Emirates Stadium on the receiving end of a defeat.

Marco Silva’s men had the better of the first half, with Richarlison, back in the team after serving a three-match ban, a threat for much of the opening 45 minutes.

Despite a decent display, Everton remain without a league win since the second week of the season and have not won a Premier League encounter at Arsenal since Andrei Kanchelskis scored the winner at Highbury in January 1996.

They had a glorious chance to take the lead inside 90 seconds as Dominic Calvert-Lewin broke behind Arsenal’s high defensive line.

© Nick Potts/PA Wire

The England Under-21 international burst into the box only to be stopped by recalled Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech as he looked to round the Gunners captain.

The visitors continued to keep a high tempo, forcing Arsenal into a couple of defensive errors as Emery’s side once again tried to play out from the back.

Arsenal came close to breaking the deadlock as Hector Bellerin’s cross was knocked down to Nacho Monreal by Aubameyang, with Jordan Pickford making a smart save from the Spaniard’s strike.

In an open encounter it was Everton who were next to threaten, Cech pushing away a Richarlison strike after the Brazil international had easily held off the challenge of Bellerin.

Having started his Everton career with a bang before his red card at Bournemouth, Richarlison was looking to hit the ground running on his return and bent another shot wide.

Lucas Digne was next to force Cech into action as his free-kick was tipped over the crossbar after Sokratis Papastathopoulos was booked for fouling former Arsenal winger Theo Walcott on the edge of the box.

Sokratis was forced off with an injury soon after, with Rob Holding replacing the Greece defender for Arsenal, who almost took a fortuitous lead into half-time as Aubameyang’s misplaced cross flummoxed Pickford and came back off the crossbar.

The pace of Walcott and Richarlison threatened Arsenal’s defence throughout the first half and the pair combined for the latter to again test Cech.

With Arsenal enjoying more of the ball after the interval they were denied a penalty by referee Jon Moss, who was unmoved by claims of handball against Jonjoe Kenny.

They hit the front soon after, though, Lacazette with a pinpoint finish inside the far post after an incisive pass from Aaron Ramsey – and things got better just three minutes later.

Mesut Ozil broke forward and his low cross was scuffed by Ramsey into the path of Aubameyang, who doubled the lead, despite standing in an offside position.

Substitute Cenk Tosun forced a late save out of Cech as Everton looked to set up an enthralling finish, but Arsenal held on to continue their winning ways and pick up a first clean sheet under Emery in the process.