Everton recorded a third straight win as they edged out Arsenal at home.

Marco Silva’s side were forced into a late change ahead of kick-off as Phil Jagielka took the place of Michael Keane, who was struggling with a virus, in defence.

Jagielka’s inclusion paid off almost immediately as he pounced to put the Blues ahead after Dominic Calvert-Lewin had flicked on a throw-in by Lucas Digne.

Poor finishing saw the hosts fail to build on their advantage but they were still able to comfortably dominate the Gunners throughout the second half.

Here were the key talking points from Goodison Park:

Jagielka steps in with a captain’s display

 

Losing Everton’s best centre-back just before kick-off suggested an impending doom.

Michael Keane’s late withdrawal through illness saw Phil Jagielka handed his first start in exactly 11 months as Marco Silva found his hand forced very early on.

But the Blues’ captain did not disappoint, scoring the decisive goal – his first in nearly two years – and produced a typically resolute defensive performance too.

There was also a personal milestone thrown into the mix as Jagielka became the oldest player to score in the league this season, at 36 years and 233 days.

Even in difficult circumstances, he managed to deliver a true captain’s showing.

Blues comfortable but not clinical

 

Stats can be notoriously misleading and, seemingly, so too can scorelines.

One goal separated the sides here but Everton should have enjoyed a more comfortable margin when the full story of this match is forensically examined.

Silva’s players registered three times the number of attempts at goal as the visitors: six to two on target, nine to three off it and 15 to five overall.

Arsenal rarely troubled Jordan Pickford’s goal to the point that the England stopper did not have a meaningful save to make throughout the game itself.

With far better finishing, notably from Gylfi Sigurdsson and Richarlison, a greater lead would have reflected Everton’s near-total dominance of proceedings.

Better opponents may punish Silva’s side for that alarming lack of clinical edge but the fact they remained comfortable throughout deserves its own recognition.

Brilliant Bernard embodies Silva’s style

 

It is no coincidence that Everton’s philosophy under Silva has become increasingly evident over recent weeks in line with Bernard’s displays.

Any signs that the Brazilian is still adjusting to life in the Premier League, were conspicuous by their absence as he produced another man-of-the-match offering.

Clever flicks dovetailed with surging runs and should have produced scored when he faced Bernd Leno in a one-on-one but fired straight at the Arsenal stopper.

Bernard’s link-up play with Lucas Digne down the left-hand side evokes memories of the partnership Leighton Baines and Steven Pienaar once enjoyed.

Should the ex-Shakhtar Donetsk man continue in this vein of form, Silva’s signature style may follow in the pair’s productive footsteps.

Goodison finally back to its best

 

Who knew an air raid siren could be such a catalyst?

Goodison Park has rocked and roared in equal measure since Tony Bellew’s famous ring-walk doubled up as a pre-cursor to the ritual playing of Z-Cars.

It is no coincidence that the tweak has coincided with a more ferocious Grand Old Lady and seven points gained from a possible nine since early February.

A fortuitous schedule pitting some of the league’s big-hitters in swift succession has also helped, with Manchester United’s Easter Sunday visit set to round it off.

The siren may not make reappear this season beyond the visit of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side in a fortnight’s time but it has already had the desired effect.