BBC Radio Merseyside

Former Everton winger Ronnie Goodlass: "That's why Olivier Giroud is in the side and he's taken it well. It was a great ball in from Mesut Ozil, but why Everton's players allowed him to go in on his left foot. You don't allow him come on to his stronger foot."

Image source, Get

The last time Everton won at Arsenal arrived in 1996. Need a memory jog as to how long ago that was? Well the Spice Girls netted their first UK number one that year with 'Wannabe'. 

"I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna really really really wanna zigazig ha."  

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain pops up on the left, he may have switched flanks. He finds Alexis Sanchez who gets bundled over 35 yards out. 

This is too far for a crack so much like for their opener on Tuesday night, the home side float the ball in. It's Mesut Ozil towards Laurent Koscielny but the flicked header is wide and Tim Howard need not dive and dirty his shirt.

BBC Radio Merseyside

Former Everton winger Ronnie Goodlass: "John Stones should hit the target. It wasn't the best cross in the world, but with the conditions the Arsenal goalkeeper has palmed it. However, Stones just couldn't finish that."

It's fairly even, Roberto Martinez will be thrilled with the way his players have settled. Brendon Galloway has been targeted at left-back but he wants to take a swipe back and shoots wide via a deflection.

The corner is worked short and Aaron Lennon crosses into the corridor of uncertainty... Petr Cech palms it into the six yard box... CHANCE... volleyed wide by John Stones. 

Wow. By no means easy but the best opening we've seen.

Francis Coquelin, dives in, late, Brendon Galloway hurdles, Lee Mason goes to pocket, yellow, no complaints. 

Image source, Reuters

Arsene Wenger says no Christmas football in England would make him cry. He does not want a winter break. What - in this wonderful sport of ours - would make you shed tears? Tweet #bbcfootball.

BBC Radio Merseyside

Former Everton winger Ronnie Goodlass: "Arsenal have had a lot of possession but Everton are starting to grow into the game. The Everton midfielders are beginning to put their foot on the ball a bit more."  

As you'd expect so far? Arsenal possession, Everton happy to be tight.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain tries to drive into the box but gets dealt with on 18 yards, Alex Sanchez is slipped in at a tight angle and forces another corner - again Gabriel heads off target. 

Image source, Getty Images

"Put it in the mixer."

Arsenal don't perhaps do this in the traditional heavy duty, here comes a high ball, kind of way, but they do see a lot of the ball in the opposition area.

They've had 329 touches in the oppositions' box this season before today's game, a high in the Premier League.

And for those who say the Gunners are too 'tippy-tappy', their fist goal against Bayern Munich this week perhaps shows they now have a rugged side too. A direct free-kick into the box created Olivier Giroud's opener. Have it.

Brilliant stuff from Alexis Sanchez as he tracks all the way back to rob Seamus Coleman of the ball near the home penalty area. It launches an attack - route one from Arsenal - and Mesut Ozil is in in goal to fire wide. It was a clear opening but he may be relieved to see the flag up. It's adjudged the flick on by Olivier Giroud was achieved with a foul. 

Sanchez is purring, a gorgeous flick into Ozil in midfield follows.

Image source, Getty Images

The Gunners force a third corner in the opening stages but again it comes to nothing.

The focus is coming down the right flank.

When Arsenal play forward passes into the feet of Mesut Ozil or Olivier Giroud, there's a tight squeeze on the recipient of the ball as holding midfielders Gareth Barry and James McCarthy tighten the space.  

Ross Barkley has a big role today. Without the ball he will need to help stifle possession in midfield but he cannot leave Romelu Lukaku isolated. A balance needed.

Arsenal have their second corner of the game, again it's the right flank as they pressure young Brendon Galloway at left-back for Everton. He deflects behind, in it comes... Gabriel header... over.

Image source, PA

Image source, Getty Images

In light of Arsene Wenger saying an end to football at Christmas would see him cry, we want to know what would make you shed tears in your love affair with the beautiful game?

Did watching your kid's first game make you emotional? Is relegation painful enough to bring the waterworks? Tweet us on #bbcfootball or text 81111.

A Seamus Coleman cross is wayward and drifts for a goal kick and on the opposite flank, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain whips in a corner but Olivier Giroud cannot head at goal, it's 10 to 12 feet wide. He leaped with authority but headed it tamely off target.

Arsene Wenger probably went up in the estimations of many a football traditionalist on Friday when he declared the removal of festive football in England would see him cry.

"It is part of English tradition and English football," said Wenger. His comments arriving in the wake of Louis van Gaal calling the Christmas fixture pile up "evil".

Image source, Get

What more can we glean from Arsene's traditional side? Would Christmas be mulled wine, stuffed turkey and some Only Fools and Horses box set at his house? Does Arsene dream of a white Christmas?

Santi Cazorla into Mesut Ozil in midfield and the German's wonderful Cruyff turn and crisp pass isn't enough to build an attack of meaning. We have some early sparring, James McCarthy and Gareth Barry are spoiling in the middle but a heavy Francis Coquelin cross leaves the away side with no work to do, goal kick.

And so here we go. Can Arsenal lay down a real marker and show they can build on one big result with one which would take them top?

The pitch is wet and therefore slick, so can they zip the ball about - it should suit them. Everton, capable, hard working and with quality of their own, have much to do.