Arsenal reached the Champions League knockouts as group winners by thumping Lens at Emirates Stadium. The Gunners scored five in a phenomenal first-half display as they reach the last 16 in their first appearance in the competition for seven years. Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard all scored in the first half, before Jorginho added a late penalty. Arsenal progress from Group B alongside PSV Eindhoven, with Lens out. “I didn’t even dream like this,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said. “The team from the beginning showed a lot of aggression and determination to go for the game. “Everything happened in the right way in the first 30 minutes. That was really helpful to win the game.”

Havertz, brought into the starting XI after scoring the winner against Brentford at the weekend, opened the scoring on 13 minutes when Lens failed to clear a looping ball into the box. Jesus nodded across goal and Havertz showed a striker’s instinct to finish from close range ahead of goalkeeper Brice Samba. Jesus turned scorer to slot the second past Samba from 15 yards, sweeping home after being set up by Saka’s powerful run between defenders from the right. Arsenal’s attacking unit was in full flow, illustrated by Saka taking his turn to move from provider to scorer just two minutes and 20 seconds later, steering the ball home after Samba saved from Martinelli.

Brazil winger Martinelli would not be denied and scored the best of the lot on 27 minutes, finding the far bottom corner after cutting inside from the left. The fifth came in first-half stoppage time, Odegaard perfectly timing a volley from 12 yards following Takehiro Tomiyasu’s excellent cross. Arsenal are the first side in Champions League history to have five different scorers in the first half of a match. A more sedate second half followed, before Jorginho added a sixth from the spot following a handball by Abduqodir Khusanov.

Substitute Kai Havertz’s late header took Arsenal to the top of the Premier League with a dramatic win at Brentford. In Mikel Arteta’s 200th game in charge of the Gunners, Havertz’s 89th-minute goal rescued a largely forgettable display in west London. After Manchester City and Liverpool drew earlier on Saturday, this win moves the Gunners one point clear at the summit. Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard had a goal ruled out in the first half by the video assistant referee (VAR) but defeat was harsh on Brentford who were only denied goals of their own by exceptional clearances off the line from Declan Rice and Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Arteta has won more matches in his first 200 in charge than any of the other nine Arsenal managers to reach that milestone – and his bold team selection here showed he was determined to take three points. However, the return of Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus from injury did not really bear fruit in a mostly ponderous display. They upped the tempo in the second half but waves of attacks were repelled by Thomas Frank’s well-drilled defence. That was the case until a moment of magic from Bukayo Saka finally unlocked the door and Havertz produced his most significant contribution in an Arsenal shirt to head home at the back post. Brentford stay 11th in the table after their second successive defeat.

It has been an inauspicious start to life in north London for £65m signing Havertz, with just one goal and one assist before Saturday since his arrival from Chelsea. While Arteta has continued to back him publicly, he was left out to accommodate the return of Odegaard and had to watch as his team-mates failed to fire for much of the game. Summoned from the bench with 12 minutes to go, he had the defining say when he squeezed his header over the line from a tight angle. It could be a huge moment in the context of his Arsenal career. Before Havertz’s arrival, the only real sub-plot was whether Aaron Ramsdale could make the most of his first Premier League start since September, given on-loan keeper David Raya was ineligible against his parent club.

Arsenal moved level on points with Premier League leaders Manchester City courtesy of a hard-fought victory over beleaguered Burnley.The Gunners, beaten at Newcastle last weekend, had struggled to break down a disciplined Clarets side for much of the first half but broke the deadlock when Leandro Trossard bravely nodded in at the far post for Arsenal’s 1,000th goal at Emirates Stadium. Burnley equalised eight minutes into the second half when Josh Brownhill’s low shot was deflected into the net by Gabriel, but the visitors were level for only three minutes before William Saliba headed in Trossard’s corner from point-blank range. Oleksandr Zinchenko completed the scoring with an acrobatic finish into the top corner after Dara O’Shea had inadvertently steered another Trossard corner onto the crossbar.

Arsenal finished the game with 10 men after second-half substitute Fabio Vieira was shown a straight red card for a studs-up challenge on Brownhill, but the Gunners held on comfortably. Burnley stay in the relegation zone while Arsenal trail league leaders City on goal difference – although Pep Guardiola’s team can restore their three-point lead with victory at Chelsea on Sunday. Arsenal have had more than their fair share of injury troubles in recent weeks, but they were given a welcome boost before kick-off as Saka and Takehiro Tomiyasu, who both suffered knocks in Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Sevilla, were passed fit to start.

Saka was heavily involved in the early stages and went closest to giving the home side the lead inside the opening 20 minutes, his rising effort from the edge of the area tipped onto the crossbar by Clarets goalkeeper James Trafford. Kai Havertz – who endured another frustrating afternoon – should have done better from a Saka corner and Trossard had another powerful drive tipped over by Trafford, but the Belgian made no mistake after Saka rose highest to steer a Zinchenko delivery into his path. The Gunners are just the third Premier League side to score 1,000 goals at a venue since the 2006-07 season, after City (1,138 at Etihad Stadium) and Chelsea (1,028 at Stamford Bridge).

The home side felt Brownhill’s second-half equaliser should have been disallowed for a foul on Tomiyasu by Luca Koleosho in the build-up – but they did not have to wait long to restore their advantage as Saliba was left unmarked to nod home his first of the campaign. There were few complains from Arteta or his players when Vieira was dismissed for a reckless challenge on Brownhill, but Zinchenko’s scissor kick nine minutes earlier had all but ended Burnley’s hopes of salvaging a point.

Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka scored as Arsenal claimed a comfortable Champions League victory over lacklustre Sevilla. Trossard, who started as number nine with Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah both injured, swept the Gunners in front in the 29th minute. Saka clinched the three points in the 64th minute, racing away from the defence before slotting home. Arsenal top Group B on nine points from four games, while Sevilla are bottom of the table. The Spanish side, who won the Europa League last season, are still looking for their first win in this Champions League campaign.

They were comprehensively outplayed by the hosts, who took a deserved lead when Trossard finished Saka’s low cross after the England winger was set away by Jorginho’s fine through-ball. Saka turned from provider to finisher with a composed second goal, having been played through by Gabriel Martinelli. The game ended on a concerning note for Arsenal as Saka limped off with five minutes left after twisting his ankle, however Arteta said it was only a “knock”. PSV’s 1-0 victory over Lens denied Arsenal the chance to clinch a place in the last 16 with two matches to spare. But Arteta’s men will qualify with a point from either of their final two group matches against Lens or PSV.

Following a strong start to the season, the last week has been testing for Arsenal. Back-to-back losses included the controversial 1-0 defeat at Newcastle, after which Arteta said the refereeing decision to allow the winner was “embarrassing” and a “disgrace”. The Gunners has also had to deal with mounting injuries – Nketiah missed out with an ankle knock to join Jesus on the sidelines, leaving Trossard to lead the line. Captain Martin Odegaard was also absent again. Trossard, however, eased worries about Arsenal’s forward strength with his goal and performance, and is ready to play the role again if needed.

It is a goal they will talk about for a long time, not because of its beauty or even its magnitude, but because Newcastle United’s winner somehow survived three separate Var checks and condemned Arsenal to a costly defeat. It may well even make its way to becoming an obscure football quiz question, as Anthony Gordon’s close-range strike was checked for the hat-trick – ball out of play, foul and offside – but survived all three to send the home fans delirious and Arsenal into a strop.

Each check was announced on the big screen and by the stadium announcer, each check was booed and jeered by the home crowd. It took the video referees almost five minutes to decide they could not rule it out and had to let it stand. Arsenal will feel hard done by, but as good as they looked, as pleasing on the eye as they were, they lacked a cutting edge. This was a huge test of the title-winning credentials, to travel to Tyneside and come away with points, and they failed. It will once again raise question marks over Arteta’s side, especially their ability to maintain Champions pace whenever they are without Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard.

Arsenal looked sick but without a sting. They passed around or through the Newcastle press. They looked after the ball, they looked in control. Arsenal dominated possession and spent a lot of time in Newcastle’s half, exerting pressure, pushing and probing. But as the game approached half time, you realised that had not actually forced a single save from Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope until stoppage time when Gabriel Martinelli cut inside and shot straight at him. Arsenal’s efforts on goal were from long range and most of them were blocked by someone in a black-and-white shirt flinging themselves in the way. Arsenal slowed the game down at every opportunity, trying to frustrate and annoy their hosts but perhaps they needed more urgency in their own play.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said “I’m disappointed with myself” after his side were knocked out of the Carabao Cup in the fourth round following a 3-1 defeat by West Ham. Arteta made six changes to his starting XI, with Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and captain Martin Odegaard on the bench. The Arsenal side selected produced a below-par display – for which Arteta took the blame. “I’m very disappointed. I’m responsible for that,” he said. “We’re out of the Cup, we wanted to play a very different game and compete. “The game took a direction because of the first goal but we have to see much more from the team and earn the right to win.

“I’m disappointed with myself. We wanted to play in a different way and we weren’t able to do that. Every time we lose the pain is there. “We have to use this pain and this defeat to prepare the best way for Newcastle [in the Premier League] on Saturday.” West Ham took the lead via an own goal in the 16th minute, with Jarrod Bowen swinging a corner in close to goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, before Ben White nodded it past him. Tomas Soucek had hold of Ramsdale’s shirt, but with no VAR at this stage of the League Cup, the complaints of the England international – making his first club appearance since 27 September in the previous round – fell on deaf ears.

Arsenal dominated possession but failed to break through, and they were punished five minutes after the break when Mohammed Kudus beautifully trapped Nayef Aguerd’s 50-yard cross-field pass before finishing low through the legs of Gabriel. West Ham’s win was safe shortly before the hour when Bowen collected a poor defensive header from White and fired in a volley from the edge of the area, a deflection off Gabriel’s thigh wrongfooting Ramsdale. Odegaard slotted into the bottom corner with the final kick of the game, but the Gunners’ 30-year wait to win the League Cup goes on. West Ham are into the quarter-finals for the third successive season, where they will face Liverpool away.

Eddie Nketiah struck his first Premier League hat trick in exquisite style as Arsenal maintained the pressure on North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur at the top of the table with a crushing 5-0 victory over winless Sheffield United. The Arsenal academy graduate controlled the ball and calmly slotted it past Wes Foderingham to open the scoring just shy of the half-hour mark, before smashing a stunning second into the roof of the net shortly after the restart.

And the best was still to come as the forward picked up Emile Smith Rowe’s pass and fired an unstoppable 25-yard piledriver beyond the helpless Foderingham, who could only watch the ball nestle into the top corner. Arsenal weren’t finished and there was still time for Fabio Vieira to add a fourth from the penalty spot, before right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu made it a fantastic five in the dying seconds to cap a breathtaking afternoon at the Emirates. And when referee Tim Robinson took a VAR check to see that substitute Fabio Vieira had been fouled just inside the box by Blades skipper Oliver Norwood, he wanted the chance to add to his tally. But Veira had won it and he wanted it. The Portuguese snatched the ball from the striker’s hands before sending United keeper Wes Foderingham the wrong way.

The challenge is for Nketiah to find the back of the net with enough consistency to keep his manager happy. Gareth Southgate saw enough to hand Nketiah his first England cap earlier this month – and that recognition seems to have taken his game to another level.

Gabriel Jesus scored a goal and grabbed an assist to help Arsenal get back to winning ways in the Champions League with victory at Sevilla. After losing 2-1 to Lens in their previous European outing, the Gunners came through a difficult test against the seven-time Europa League winners. Gabriel Martinelli got the visitors off and running by marking his Champions League debut with a goal, racing on to Jesus’ brilliant ball and rounding the goalkeeper in first-half stoppage time. Jesus then increased Arsenal’s lead early in the second half with a superb strike into the top corner. Sevilla, backed by a vocal home crowd, got back into the game when Nemanja Gudelj headed in from a set-piece.

From then on, Arsenal had to withstand some pressure as the hosts tried to find an equaliser, and David Raya tipped Mariano’s shot on to the crossbar, although it may not have counted because of a possible handball. Mikel Arteta’s side then suffered a late blow as Jesus went off with a suspected hamstring injury, but they held firm to secure a victory that moves them top of Group B. The Gunners are back in the Champions League after a six-year absence but have a squad that is still finding its feet in the competition, with several players having never played in it until this season. That included the scorer of Arsenal’s opening goal, Martinelli, but he will be thankful for Jesus’ European experience, which showed in this performance.

Facing a hostile atmosphere at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, the Gunners needed their big players to step up and Jesus did just that with a superb display. A Champions League runner-up with Manchester City in 2021, Jesus’ assist for the opener was a thing of beauty as he brought the ball down and then spun to beat two players with one movement, before showing great vision to send Martinelli away with a perfect pass. His goal in the second half gave the visitors the breathing space they needed as Sevilla piled on the pressure looking to rescue something from the game. With three goals in three Champions League games this season, Jesus is a crucial player in Europe for the Gunners. However, he faces a spell on the sidelines as Arteta confirmed after the match that he went off late on with a possible hamstring injury.

Arsenal staged a stunning late fightback to earn a point at Stamford Bridge just as Chelsea looked about to enjoy their finest victory under manager Mauricio Pochettino.Chelsea were in complete control after Cole Palmer put them ahead from the penalty spot in the 15th minutes, with William Saliba penalised for handball following the intervention of the video assistant referee. Arsenal looked certain to slump to their first Premier League defeat of the season when Mykhailo Mudryk’s speculative effort from out wide caught Arsenal keeper David Raya stranded and out of position three minutes after the break.Arsenal were sloppy and struggled to create anything until they were gifted a lifeline with 13 minutes left, Declan Rice sending Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez’s poor clearance back past him into the net.

And, remarkably, they were level seven minutes later when substitute Leandro Trossard made a decisive first contribution, stealing in at the far post to score as Chelsea hesitated in dealing with Bukayo Saka’s cross. Arsenal will be delighted to have secured a point at Chelsea after struggling for their usual fluency. The Gunners deserve full credit for sticking in there to maintain their unbeaten Premier League run with a result that looked unlikely for most of the game. Manager Mikel Arteta was berating his players regularly for their carelessness, but there can be no questions about their character as they snatched a point with that late rally. It was not a display without question marks, though, and the biggest will be over David Raya’s poor performance in goal.

Arteta took a big decision when he replaced long-time first choice and England keeper Aaron Ramsdale with his summer signing from Brentford for the visit to Everton in September. For all Arteta’s talk of competition for places, it is clear he was installing the 28-year-old Spain international as his main keeper and much was riding on his choice. It is a move that has not yet worked as Arteta hoped, with Raya looking uncertain in recent games, at fault for a goal in the Champions League defeat away to Lens and getting away with moments of hesitation in the win against Manchester City.

Here, he cut a nervous figure throughout and was embarrassed when he was caught badly out of position as Mykhailo Mudryk’s delivery from the left flew over his head for Chelsea’s second. Raya almost made matters worse when he passed the ball straight to Cole Palmer in front of goal shortly afterwards, but Chelsea let him off the hook. Arteta appears to have backed Raya but certainly needs the keeper to start performing better – and quickly – to deliver any sort of convincing case that he is a genuine upgrade on Ramsdale.

Gabriel Martinelli scored a dramatic late winner as Arsenal earned a statement victory over defending Premier League champions Manchester City at Emirates Stadium. A largely disappointing game was given a stunning finale four minutes from time just as both sides looked certain to have to settle for a point. Making his return from a hamstring injury as a substitute, Martinelli’s strike deflected in off Nathan Ake to earn Arsenal a first league win over City since December 2015. It was a moment that sparked wild celebrations and put the Gunners level on points with north London rivals Tottenham at the top of the table.

The biggest talking point until the goal was how Manchester City’s Mateo Kovacic somehow stayed on the pitch after successive late tackles on Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice. City had the better early opportunities when Rice cleared off the line from Josko Gvardiol before Ake scooped a shot over the bar from close range. Arsenal keeper David Raya, who had an uncertain time, was twice almost caught in possession on his line by Julian Alvarez. But it was the home side who were elated as Martinelli, introduced off the bench for the second half, made that vital contribution. Arsenal seemed gripped with nerves early on against a City team who have maintained such a stranglehold on them in the Premier League in recent years.

Raya was hesitant, especially with the ball at his feet, and even the Arsenal fans who have been so supportive of Mikel Arteta’s side were showing signs of impatience. The introduction of Martinelli for Leandro Trossard after the break made a huge difference as the Brazilian ran at the City defence and finally posed problems – even though visiting keeper Ederson was initially largely untroubled. Arsenal were organised and resilient in defence, keeping Erling Haaland at bay, and all their hard work was rewarded with the winner, albeit with it coming through that crucial deflection off Ake. City and Pep Guardiola have cast a shadow over Arsenal in recent years, not least when they hauled them in at the critical point of last season’s title race, but this victory will surely give the Gunners huge self-belief.

Elye Wahi starred as French side Lens came from behind to shock Arsenal in the Champions League. Wahi’s first-time finish into the bottom left corner from a Przemyslaw Frankowski cross in the 69th minute saw the home side seal a notable success. The below-par Gunners rode some early pressure from Lens before Gabriel Jesus claimed a 14th-minute opener from a through-ball from Bukayo Saka, who went off injured with a muscular problem. Lens levelled 11 minutes later as Adrien Thomasson curled a superb finish into the far corner.

As Arsenal suffered their first loss of the season on a difficult night, they were dealt another blow before Sunday’s crunch Premier League meeting with Manchester City as England forward Saka went off after just 33 minutes. But Lens were worthy of a win that took them to the top of Group B on four points, with Mikel Arteta’s side second on three. The hosts threatened from the start with Kevin Danso shooting just wide and Thomasson’s header going close before the offside flag was raised. Jesus’ finish into the bottom left corner did not dampen the spirits of the home crowd who were experiencing their first Champions League game at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis since 2002. The Brazilian striker has now been involved in 16 goals in his last 16 Champions League starts, scoring 13 and assisting three.

But Lens hit back following a poor clearance from Arsenal keeper David Raya out to the left. Wahi, a summer signing from Montpellier, provided the assist, expertly controlling a long ball before laying off the pass for Thomasson to finish. Gabriel was also caught out of position when given a loose pass in the Lens half and the hosts carved an opening with a well-struck effort from Salis Abdul Samed which rippled the side-netting. The 20-year-old Wahi had the final say when he swept home the winner. In doing so, he became the youngest Frenchman to score and assist in a Champions League match since a 19-year-old Kylian Mbappe did so for Paris St-Germain in December 2018.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta praised “exceptional” Aaron Ramsdale on his return to the team as the Gunners won at Brentford in the Carabao Cup third round. Reiss Nelson scored the decisive goal in the eighth minute after a mistake in defence by the hosts. But the display of goalkeeper Ramsdale, benched in favour of David Raya in Arsenal’s last three games, proved pivotal in ensuring Arteta’s side booked a fourth-round meeting at West Ham.

He caught the eye when he made a crucial second-half save from Yoane Wissa as Brentford put the visitors under heavy pressure in the second half. Arsenal will travel to Premier League rivals West Ham United in the week commencing 30 October for a place in the quarter-finals. Ramsdale had started the season as Arsenal’s first-choice, but Arteta caused a stir by replacing him with Raya for the 1-0 win against Everton on 17 September. It was a quiet start for him as Brentford struggled to create opportunities in a first half where they didn’t manage a shot on goal.

But the hosts were much improved after the break and Ramsdale was called upon to superbly push Wissa’s shot on to the post before the rebound was cleared. It proved a crucial intervention as Arsenal weathered the storm to stretch their unbeaten start to eight games.

Tottenham came from behind twice to secure a hard-earned point in the north London derby against Arsenal in a thriller at Emirates Stadium. In a relentless encounter, Arsenal took the lead after 26 minutes when Bukayo Saka’s shot was deflected into his own goal by Spurs defender Cristian Romero. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had made the big decision by keeping David Raya in of goal ahead of Aaron Ramsdale and he justified that faith with two fine saves from Brennan Johson as Spurs went in pursuit of an equaliser. Raya should have done better, however, when Spurs levelled three minutes before half-time. He could only claw away a cross allowing an attack to continue, ending with James Maddison crossing for Son Heung-min to equalise with a deft finish.

Arsenal restored their lead after 54 minutes when Romero was penalised for handball following the intervention of the Video Assistant Referee, Saka scoring from the spot. Spurs, illustrating their new positive approach under manager Ange Postecoglou in his first north London derby, were back on terms almost instantly when Jorginho, as a half-time substitute for the injured Declan Rice, lost possession to Maddison, who played in Son for another cool finish. The headline news before kick-off was Mikel Arteta’s decision to stay with Raya in goal, a move that surely ends the debate about who is Arsenal’s number one keeper, the Spaniard getting the nod ahead of England’s Ramsdale. It was a mixed afternoon for Raya, who made two important interventions but was also culpable for Spurs’ first equaliser when he should have held a cross, allowing Spurs to maintain pressure and score.

For Arsenal, there will be real frustration in being held to a point and one of the key moments came when they were leading 1-0 and Gabriel Jesus caught James Maddison in possession, only to shoot wildly over the top with just Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario to beat. Arsenal were never at their most fluent, not helped by losing Rice to injury at half-time, and paid the price when his replacement Jorginho was robbed by Maddison for Spurs’ second goal. The Gunners staged a late show to beat Manchester United but there was no repeat here, even in 10 minutes of added time, and Arteta’s side had to settle for a point against their great rivals.

Arsenal returned to the Champions League in style as they started their first campaign in six years with an impressive win over PSV Eindhoven at Emirates Stadium. The Gunners wrapped up victory in their opening Group B game with a scintillating first half display that saw them race into a 3-0 lead on a rain-soaked night in north London. Bukayo Saka opened the scoring after eight minutes, pouncing on a rebound when PSV keeper Walter Benitez could only push Martin Odegaard’s into the England winger’s path. Saka was involved again when Arsenal doubled their advantage 12 minutes later, laying the ball perfectly into Leandro Trossard’s pass for a smooth low finish after Gabriel Jesus had broken clear.

Jesus was outstanding and thoroughly deserved to add Arsenal’s third seven minutes before half-time with a rising drive that gave Benitez no chance. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta made a host of second-half changes with Sunday’s derby at home to in-form Tottenham in mind, but his side still retained complete control, and Odegaard made it 4-0 with a powerful 20-yard strike with 20 minutes left. Elsewhere in Group B, French side Lens held Sevilla to a 1-1 draw in Spain as they played in their first Champions League match in 20 years. Arsenal had been waiting for this day since 2017, and the home crowd celebrated their return to the Champions League with a thunderous roar before kick-off as the tournament’s anthem rang around Emirates Stadium.

And manager Arteta could hardly have wished for a better outcome as Arsenal dominated from the outset, those two early goals emphasising their superiority over PSV and a giving them a control they never looked like relinquishing. Striker Jesus was a perfect leader of the line, scoring one, helping to create another with a surging break, and also forcing a superb diving save out of keeper Benitez after some outstanding footwork. David Raya was again chosen ahead of Aaron Ramsdale in goal, and while he was hardly examined, he showed again why Arteta rates him so highly by demonstrating safe handling in conditions difficult as well as some excellent distribution with the ball at his feet.

The added bonus for Arteta was that Arsenal’s victory was so comfortable that he was able to make changes early to keep players fresh for that fixture against Spurs on Sunday. Saka, Jesus, Trossard, Declan Rice, and Oleksandr Zinchenko were all given an early night to conserve energies for what is shaping up as one of the biggest games of the Premier League season. The Gunners’ spirits could not be higher after following up their vital win at Everton last weekend with a display full of enough of their trademark fluency to outclass their Dutch opponents.

Arsenal dug deep to secure a narrow but well-deserved win over struggling Everton at Goodison Park. The Gunners – who replaced England goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale with David Raya – have suffered away at Everton in recent years, losing on four of their past five visits. But the Toffees, still without a Premier League win this season, were desperately short of quality and Arsenal substitute Leandro Trossard broke the deadlock with a classy side-foot finish after 69 minutes. Arsenal had Gabriel Martinelli’s sweeping first-half finish narrowly ruled out for offside against Eddie Nketiah in the build up, but the home side could not hold out in the second period as Trossard finished off some patient Gunners probing around the box.

Manager Mikel Arteta was clearly elated as his side maintained their unbeaten start to the season and moved back to within two points of leaders Manchester City. The home side, meanwhile, look destined for a season of relegation struggle and were a far cry from the side who overpowered Arsenal in manager Sean Dyche’s first game in charge in February. Arteta’s beaming smile in front of the visiting fans after the final whistle said it all. The Spaniard was celebrating a vital victory at a venue where he was adored as a player but where he has endured painful experiences as a coach. The Gunners have cracked in the past in the hothouse atmosphere of Goodison Park, notably last season when they suffered a damaging defeat on Dyche’s introduction as Everton boss.

There were no such problems here as they controlled matters against a desperately poor Everton side who gave Raya the most comfortable of games on his Premier League debut for the club. The new signing from Brentford looking at ease with ball at his feet and was able to indulge in some pretty tame catching practice from a succession of aimless Everton crosses. The early departure of Martinelli, who went off with a hamstring injury moments after seeing his goal ruled out for offside, was a blow but Trossard made his mark with a clever side-foot finish following neat build-up from Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka.

Arsenal’s former club record signing Nicolas Pepe has joined Turkish side Trabzonspor on a free transfer, ending a disappointing four-year spell at Emirates Stadium. The Gunners paid £72m to sign the Ivory Coast winger from Lille in 2019.

Pepe scored 27 goals in 112 games for Arsenal and spent last season on loan with French side Nice. The 28-year-old was not involved in any of the club’s matchday squads this season. Pepe had one year left on his Arsenal contract and had been their record signing until the £100m arrival of West Ham midfielder Declan Rice this summer. After a proposed move to Saudi Arabia this summer fell through, Arsenal agreed to terminate the 28-year-old’s contract a year early so that he could move to Turkey’s Super Lig.

Trabzonspor – who won the Turkish Super Lig title in 2021-22 and are currently seventh in the standings – announced Pepe’s arrival late on Thursday evening. In a video posted on the club’s social media accounts, Pepe said he has joined the club “to become a champion and achieve success.”Pepe’s relationship with Arsenal and manager Mikel Arteta soured somewhat towards the end of his time at the Emirates, with the player failing to earn pitch time and then training away from the first-team squad. The winger lost his squad number when Leandro Trossard was given the number 19 shirt upon his arrival from Brighton in January.