Mikel Arteta said Arsenal’s return to the top of the Premier League at Christmas has strengthened his confidence that the team can finally turn that position into success. It is the third time in four seasons the Gunners have led the table on December 25, a familiar scenario that has not yet resulted in a title, but Arteta believes the consistency of performances shows real progress.
Arsenal moved back above Manchester City after a 1-0 win away at Everton, with Viktor Gyokeres converting a first-half penalty to decide the match. City had briefly gone top earlier in the day, but Arteta pointed to the difficulty of maintaining standards in the Premier League and praised his side for repeatedly putting themselves in contention.
Arteta was also pleased with his players taking responsibility on the pitch, singling out Gyokeres for stepping up. The Swedish striker has faced scrutiny in recent weeks, particularly with competition returning from Gabriel Jesus, Mikel Merino and Kai Havertz, but his display at Goodison Park suggested a step forward.
Beyond the goal, Gyokeres showed signs of settling into Arsenal’s system, linking better with teammates and producing more of the physical, direct running expected of him. His teammates’ willingness to help him score echoed past examples at the club, and with five goals now to his name, there are signs that understanding and confidence are starting to build.
