Olivier Giroud went some way to silencing his
critics as he scored the opening goal in Arsenal’s
2-0 Premier League win over Everton at the
Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
The France international had been widely derided in
midweek for missing a host of chances in the 3-1
defeat to Monaco in the UEFA Champions League
last 16 first leg.
But Giroud made up for his poor performance on the
European stage by breaking the deadlock in the first
half, before substitute Tomas Rosicky’s late goal
settled the hosts’ nerves.
Giroud – who scored a late leveller when Arsenal
drew 2-2 at Everton in August – netted his 12th
goal of the season with a low effort from Mesut
Ozil’s corner and Rosicky’s deflected drive in the
final minute scuppered any hopes the visitors had
of earning a share of the spoils.
Before that intervention, Arsenal had relied heavily
on the fine form of David Ospina, the
goalkeeper frustrating an Everton side who now
have just three wins from their last 18 league
games.
Roberto Martinez’s side remain only six points
above the drop zone, while Arsenal are one point
ahead of fourth-placed Manchester United and
still three clear of Liverpool following their success
over Manchester City.
Arsenal may have fallen behind in the 17th minute if
not for a piece of smart goalkeeping from Ospina,
who raced off his line to rob Romelu Lukaku of the
ball after the striker had beaten Gabriel Paulista –
in for Per Mertesacker as part of three changes
from midweek – to a long ball over the top.
Giroud then spurned Arsenal’s first chance as he
turned Alexis Sanchez’s near-post cross wide with
a diving header, but soon atoned for that miss to
break the deadlock.
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