Arsenal 2 Everton 0: Arsenal had enough panache to replenish a English Premiership that seemed to have run out of verve. Everton - crushed 5-1 by Dinamo Bucharest last Thursday - must have craved another spell of domestic tedium to soothe their jangling nerves, but probably dreaded an outing to a ground where they had gone down 7-0 last season.
Even if the damage was far less severe this time, it was galling for them to concede two goals to the Sol Campbell. After so many problems with his Achilles tendon the defender, captaining the side, could prove his fitness by outjumping markers. Everton boss David Moyes may also have felt overpowered and there is no hint of a revival.
The drubbing in Bucharest was just one of the six defeats suffered by Everton this season. By comparison, Arsenal - losers at Chelsea and Middlesbrough - have encountered just minor inconveniences and they were full of anticipation for this fixture. The satisfaction of two goals before the interval was enhanced by the fact that Campbell, who turned 31 on Sunday, had scored both.
Everton aimed to be as abrasive as Moyes wished and Robert Pires had to be substituted after being caught on the leg by a challenge from Phil Neville that referee Alan Wiley viewed as accidental.
A generous lead had mollified the Arsenal fans who sang, "you're worse than your brother" at the former Manchester United player. They trusted in an eventual booking, which duly arrived for him shortly before half-time for a foul on Robin van Persie. This sort of adversity on the pitch is alien to Neville and the bad results must be hindering his adjustments to a new and more chastening life.
Arsenal, despite ruing the away defeats in the Premiership, have not had any cause to doubt their creativity. The goals had been flowing, with a total of six lodged against Newcastle and Fulham at Highbury.
Everton anticipated the bright current of Arsenal's build-up, but were flabbergasted to be overwhelmed at set-pieces. This is, after all, an aspect of football which is thought inapplicable to a team who normally waste their own time when going to the bother of, say, taking a corner-kick.
Campbell himself must generally advance for them out of a mere sense of duty, but there was a pay-off for all that diligence here. Reyes, frothing with animation throughout, curled a free-kick from the right in the 11th minute and the defender, acting as captain in Thierry Henry's absence, headed in without hindrance.
As if to keep their passing style in good condition, Arsenal also tore Everton open after 27 minutes when a beautifully guided Reyes pass put Van Persie beyond David Weir for a drive that cracked against the post. The lead therefore stayed slender, but there was no apprehension for Wenger's team since Everton had never hinted at a threat. Even a good effort from Darren Bent in the sixth minute had flown a couple of yards wide.
Arsenal added to their lead after half an hour. This time the Reyes free-kick was flighted from the left and Campbell got above the troubled Matteo Ferrari to steer another header into the net. The defensive system of Everton was in a state of collapse and they had no means of heartening themselves through attacks.
With Arsenal's confidence and style high, it was as well for Moyes that Henry is sidelined at present. Without that finishing power, Arsenal played exhibition football that was not utterly ruthless.
ARSENAL: Lehmann, Lauren, Toure, Campbell, Cole, Ljungberg, Fabregas, Silva, Pires (Hleb 29), Reyes (Song Billong 86), Van Persie (Bergkamp 67). Subs not used: Senderos, Almunia. Booked: Fabregas, Reyes. Goals: Campbell 11, 30.
EVERTON: Martyn, Hibbert, Yobo, Weir, Ferrari, Osman, Cahill (Ferguson 67), Neville, Arteta (Davies 85), McFadden, Bent (Kilbane 81). Subs not used: Wright, Nuno Valente. Booked: Cahill, Neville, Hibbert.
Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).
