Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal Vs Everton: 5 things we learned – Mikel Arteta brilliance

By Andrew Dowdeswell

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 23: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates scoring his teams third goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Everton FC at Emirates Stadium on February 23, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Chloe Knott - Danehouse/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 23: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates scoring his teams third goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Everton FC at Emirates Stadium on February 23, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Chloe Knott - Danehouse/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 23: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates scoring his teams third goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Everton FC at Emirates Stadium on February 23, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 23: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates scoring his teams third goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Everton FC at Emirates Stadium on February 23, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images) /

Arsenal hosted Everton on Sunday afternoon in a critical tilt to keep their top-four hopes alive. Here are five things we learned from the 3-2 win.

In one of the more dramatic matches of the season, Arsenal fought back from a first-minute concession to beat Everton to the tune of a 3-2 scoreline to keep their top-four hopes alive and maintain the momentum that Mikel Arteta has inspired at the club. Eddie Nketiah scored the equaliser after Dominic Calvert-Lewin broke the deadlock early on. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang then scored either side of a Richarlison goal to ensure the Gunners went home with the three points.

Listen to the latest episode of the Pain in the Arsenal podcast here! — A Winning Feeling

Here are five things we learned from the 3-2 victory.

LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 23: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal gives Dani Ceballos of Arsenal instructions during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Everton FC at Emirates Stadium on February 23, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 23: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal gives Dani Ceballos of Arsenal instructions during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Everton FC at Emirates Stadium on February 23, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /

5. Mikel Arteta has his central midfield

As a Pep Guardiola protege and a central midfielder himself, it was always going to be important for Mikel Arteta to build a central midfield partnership as the foundation of his Arsenal team. It is the cornerstone position on the pitch, around which the entire team revolves. This week, it seems as though Arteta has settled on his preferred set-up.

Granit Xhaka is now a mainstay in central midfield, shifting over to the left-back area when in possession to open up central pockets and dictate play from deeper positions. But his partner was Lucas Torreira. Now, however, Dani Ceballos has ostensibly won the starting role, and based on his performance last weekend and on this occasion, he deserves it.

Ceballos was not as influential in possession as he is known for, but he worked tremendously hard, played in a combative, hard-fought manner, and showed a willingness to undertake the dirty work that many creative players veer away from. Xhaka was the distributor here, his left foot spraying some beautiful balls throughout the pitch, but he and Ceballos blended together beautifully and offered Arsenal strong control of the match. Arteta has found his midfield.