Tim Cahill gave David Moyes's side belated hope when he scrambled home a Leighton Baines corner in the 89th minute but, with Lukasz Fabianski saving well from Jermaine Beckford, Steven Pienaar and Louis Saha, there was to be no repeat of the dramatic fightback that saw United drop two valuable points here after having led 3-1 earlier in the season.
Maybe it was the sight of John Heitinga, the man he dismissed in the World Cup Final and the first player booked here, but once again referee Howard Webb found himself at the centre of controversy courtesy of another erratic performance. The Premier League's finest match official, allegedly, left the field to a barrage of abuse from the home crowd at half-time and that was before he rejected two opportunities to show red to an Arsenal player.
Sébastien Squillaci was first to test Webb's leniency when, as the last defender, he tripped Saha as the Everton striker broke through on goal. The referee had seen Saha handle, however, and therefore showed only yellow to Squillaci and denied Seamus Coleman the advantage by blowing up as the young Irishman gathered the loose ball and ran through at Fabianski.
Seconds later Cesc Fábregas committed the kind of foul that understandably sends Wenger apoplectic when he caught Sylvian Distin after the defender had cleared. The Arsenal captain collapsed as though he were the victim. Webb, who may not have had a clear view of the incident, bought it and another yellow appeared.
Both incidents were the object of Everton complaint and also served to shift focus from their own failings. Neither side impressed in an often subdued game but it was only Arsenal who were willing and clinical in front of goal. Those small but critical differences set Wenger's team apart.
The breakthrough epitomised the performance of both teams. Samir Nasri brought a good save out of Tim Howard from the edge of the area and, as Everton hesitated, Arsenal seized the initiative. Andrey Arshavin turned the loose ball back to Bacary Sagna, the below-par Mikel Arteta stood watching, and the Arsenal right-back beat Howard at his near post with a venomous strike for only his second goal for the club in three years.
Arsenal extended their lead three minutes after the restart. Arteta was again at fault, losing possession after being played into trouble by Steven Pienaar, and the visitors broke with their customary precision. Denilson fed Fábregas, he exchanged passes with Marouane Chamakh, and then swept the ball low beyond Howard into the far corner.
Source: Andy Hunter, The Guardian on 14 Nov 10
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