I began to think about why Koscielny seems a lot less eye catching this season compared to previous campaigns and it could be because of our approach to games. We are a compact unit now so the strength is the team who defend small spaces together. In the past we played a high line and left dangerous gaps for the opposition to exploit. We relied on Koscielny to sprint and make last ditch tackles which made him standout. Our midfield, our greatest strength was off the pace. Probably due to a combination of tiring legs and Everton’s excellent play. I was a little surprised that Ramsey and or Özil were not rested against Hull City the week previous given the fixtures coming up but the boss knows far more than I do. Given the importance of the Champions League I wonder if Arsene will rest any against Napoli.

It wasn’t Arsenal’s best performance but it was the best Arsenal game that I’ve seen this season. There might not have been endless chances created or even sublime attacking play but it was a real good battle of two top Premier League teams.

I found myself in a rather unusual position of applauding the away team during the first half even in my incredibly nervous state.

Everton looked like an experienced Champions League side who were bullish and sure of themselves. Roberto Martinez has seen Arsenal pass teams to death in recent weeks yet he instilled belief in his players to go out and express themselves, to go toe to toe with I believe the best midfield in the league and play us at our own game.

They were the better team during the early exchanges but what has been underplayed in many of the reports that I’ve read is that they struggled to create anything of note against what is currently the best defence in the league.

It is a line that has been thrown at us so many times in the past. What use is a load of possession when the opposition team create better chances. As the half grew we finally got our Arsenal in gear and carved them apart with some quick one touch passes around the penalty box.

They have Tim Howard to thank for not going behind early on.

Ross Barkley is rightly getting plenty of praise but it wasn’t the first time that he had performed at the Emirates. In our 0-0 draw at the home last season towards the end of the season he had another fantastic game. I remember hearing about him when he was 16 in the Everton youth system, he has been massively rated for some time and I believe injury set him back.

Everton could have an almighty struggle to keep him away from predators if he continues to improve like you’d imagine he will.

Laurent Koscielny was phenomenal at the back for Arsenal. Defensively, starting attacks, keeping possession, the lot. Much was made of Lukaku before the game but as I hoped before kick off he was halted by the impressive Frenchman.

I began to think about why Koscielny seems a lot less eye catching this season compared to previous campaigns and it could be because of our approach to games. We are a compact unit now so the strength is the team who defend small spaces together. In the past we played a high line and left dangerous gaps for the opposition to exploit. We relied on Koscielny to sprint and make last ditch tackles which made him standout. He doesn’t need to do that so much these days.

Our midfield, our greatest strength was off the pace. Probably due to a combination of tiring legs and Everton’s excellent play. I was a little surprised that Ramsey and or Özil were not rested against Hull City the week previous given the fixtures coming up but the boss knows far more than I do. Given the importance of the Champions League I wonder if Arsene will rest any against Napoli.

It was a good feeling to see three substitutes of that quality enter the pitch, although I did worry that three changes at once would have a negative impact to our play as we had got back into the game but I needn’t have feared. Both Rosicky and then Theo Walcott made excellent contributions to our goal. I was surprised to see Walcott have the awareness and technique to cushion that header back in the danger area. Giroud been teaching him a thing or two perhaps. Özil crashed in a finish after Giroud was fouled.

It was good to see Özil trying to push us on in the second half. He was our best attacking player and he got himself involved trying to create something for the team. We still have not seen the best from him as yet and that can only be a very positive thing. I wouldn’t mind more of these performances in the next few weeks.

That was the winner, we had won such a difficult game. I had become so used to us winning after going a goal up that I had no concerns about conceding an equaliser. I’ve been truly spoilt by our results it seems. Minutes later substitute Gerard Deulofeu rifled a shot above Szczesny and into the roof of the net. Where did that shot come from? It wasn’t even on.

That ache in your body when you concede a late goal hasn’t been experienced for a while and because we haven’t felt it for a while, it only made the pain worse.

But you know what? What makes this result even worse is that we were robbed of possibly the highest high of the season so far. If Giroud’s snap shot in injury time from outside the box flew into the top corner we’d still be talking about it today and probably next week. It would have been an incredible high but the post robbed us of that emotion. That hurts.

Not that I care in the slightest but Everton would have been highly unfortunate to have left the Emirates without a point.

I would like to congratulate an old traditional club like ourselves for a top quality game of football. Roberto Martinez is earning his corn and it makes me appreciate good football even more with dinosaurs like Pulis still lurking around the game.

Football snobbery? Probably.

I hope Everton can play like that against the rest of the teams around us this season. Good luck to them apart from when we next play them of course. As for us we have to prepare for Napoli. It will require yet another high level defensive display. Perhaps we will see a team suited to winning the ball back and breaking. Flamini, Rosicky and Walcott should all start. I will write more on that on Wednesday.

We had the chance to go seven points clear at the top but I guess the flip side is, if you are to drop points better to do so when those around you have done just that. Five points clear in December is nothing to be sniffed at. I don’t want to be greedy and ask for three victories in our next three games so a 0-0 draw in Italy followed by 6 classy points against City and Chelsea would be ok.

Greedy? Probably.

Catch Iron Man’s match thoughts here.

’till the next time