Back in north London after a punishing midweek journey to Munich, Arsenal found enough strength to beat Everton 2-0 and remain in contention at the top of the Premier League. Mikel Arteta praised his side’s performance but used the aftermath to challenge a schedule he felt had given his players far too little recovery time.
Quick facts
- Arsenal defeated Everton 2-0.
- The match followed a Wednesday-night European fixture in Munich.
- Arsenal returned late on Thursday before playing Everton at 3pm on Saturday.
- Gabriel Magalhaes played on after a physical concern and scored one of the goals.
- The result kept Arsenal in the fight for first place.
Arteta said the victory, the display and the broader week deserved credit because of what he described as “terrible” planning. Arsenal had played on Sunday afternoon before travelling for their European match in Munich on Wednesday night.
The squad arrived back late on Thursday, leaving little time to prepare for Everton’s visit. Arteta stressed that Saturday’s early-afternoon appointment came against difficult opposition and after an already demanding sequence.
“We are very happy with the win, the performance and the week,” he said. “They gave us a terrible schedule.”
Despite the accumulated fatigue and absences in the group, Arsenal negotiated the occasion with defensive authority. Their central defenders made the decisive contribution, with Gabriel among the scorers.
The Brazilian had suffered a scare during the game but was determined to continue. Arteta singled out that response as an example of the attitude required from his players.
“That is what we need from our players,” the Arsenal manager said. For a side balancing domestic ambitions with European travel, the Everton result offered both points and proof of resilience.
