The Gunners, who have replaced England goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale with David Raya, have lost four of their last five visits to Everton.

But, with the Toffees still without a Premier League win this season, Arsenal replacement Leandro Trossard broke the deadlock after 69 minutes with a brilliant side-foot finish.

Reactions to Arsenal’s victory over Everton
Arsenal’s sweeping first-half finish was ruled out for offside by Eddie Nketiah in the build-up, but the home side couldn’t hold out in the second half as Trossard finished off some patient Gunners probing around the box.

Manager Mikel Arteta was visibly overjoyed as his team maintained their unblemished start to the season and closed the gap on leaders Manchester City to two points.

Meanwhile, the home team appears set for relegation and was a long cry from the side that defeated Arsenal in manager Sean Dyche’s debut game in charge in February.

Arteta’s ecstatic smile in front of the visiting fans after the final whistle told it all for Arsenal.

The Spaniard was enjoying a crucial victory in a stadium where he was a fan as a player but has had a difficult time as a coach.

The Gunners have struggled in the hothouse atmosphere of Goodison Park in the past, most recently last season when they suffered a crushing defeat on Dyche’s debut as Everton manager.

There were no such issues today as they maintained control against a desperately weak Everton team that provided Raya with the most easy of games on his Premier League debut.

The new Brentford signing seemed at ease with the ball at his feet and was allowed to engage in some quite rudimentary catching practice from a series of meaningless Everton crosses.