My heart was pounding the whole time watching us. A real tough side Everton were, but somehow we got it done. I’m thinking now maybe we can actually win the whole thing? Being top for Christmas feels special, you know.
Honestly, the first half had me worried. Everton started so bright, pressing us all over. Then their defender, he just handles the ball right in the box. Couldn’t believe it. The referee pointed straight to the spot, a moment that just change everything for good.
Gyokeres took the penalty, smashed it home. So much relief. The second half was just chaos at both ends, a real frantic one. We couldn’t score again, but neither could they. Felt bad for their defender, his mistake costing them. They maybe deserved a point, in truth.
Arteta said after, he was so proud of the character. It’s his six-year anniversary today which is a nice gift, three points. He said Everton were very spirited, which is true. Everton’s manager Dyche, he was disappointed but praised their spirit. Said they win and lose as a team, which is fair.
Right at the end, it was so tense! Tarkowski almost scored an own goal, putting it just wide. Martinelli got a yellow for kicking the ball away, everyone’s nerves were gone. A real struggle of a match.
History says top at Christmas is no guarantee, but it means something. For us, it’s a milestone. We haven’t won the league since 2004, so you dream. Winning when you’re not playing your best, that shows maturity. Everton should be hopeful though, they played really well against us. The schedule coming up is brutal for everyone, consistency is what matters now. But tonight, I’m just happy we found a way.
Honestly, the weather was miserable there, a proper cold rain that made everything feel even more frantic. I thought our passing was a bit off at times, too many hopeful balls forward instead of keeping it tidy. But maybe that’s what a title fight is about, winning those ugly games nobody expects you to.
You could see the pressure getting to everyone in the second half. Even our goalkeeper, Raya, he was kicking the ball straight out sometimes which he normally never does. It felt like the crowd was just willing Everton to get that one chance to equalize. My stomach was in knots for the final twenty minutes, truly.
I have to say, Odegaard was working so hard all game, even if nothing quite came off for him. He was everywhere, trying to start something. It’s players like him that do the unseen work, the kind that managers love but doesn’t always get in the headlines the next day.
Thinking about the league now, City will of course respond. Liverpool too. But being top now gives you a different kind of belief in the dressing room, a quiet confidence. You could see it in the players’ faces after the whistle, a kind of hardened joy. They know they got away with one but also earned it.
For Everton fans, it must be so frustrating. They played with such heart, like Dyche said. But sometimes football is just cruel like that, one split-second decision and the whole game turns. I hope they take that spirit into their next matches, they’ll need it.
And looking ahead, our squad depth will be tested with all these games coming. Today showed we can’t always rely on pretty football, we need that gritty side too. It’s a long way to go, but nights like this make you start to believe a little bit more, doesn’t it? However it ends, this feels like a proper team again.
