Arsenal 2-0 Everton Player Ratings: The Gunners Go 10 Points Clear With 2-0 Win Over Everton at the Emirates

Arsenal secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Everton at the Emirates Stadium on 14th March 2026, with substitute Viktor Gyokeres breaking the deadlock in the 89th minute before 16-year-old Max Dowman capped a stunning cameo with a goal of his own in the 90+7th minute to seal three points and keep the Gunners' Premier League title charge firmly on course. The victory opens up a potential 10-point lead at the top of the table and serves as a timely reminder of Arsenal's ability to grind out results when performances are far from their best. Jurrien Timber's injury casts an early shadow as Arsenal were forced into an unplanned defensive reshuffle as early as the 38th minute when Timber was forced off, having felt something earlier in the half.

It was far from a comfortable evening for Mikel Arteta's side, with Everton more than matching their hosts for large portions of the contest. Dwight McNeil twice came agonisingly close to giving the Toffees a deserved lead, rattling the upright and seeing a goal-line block from Riccardo Calafiori deny him in the same passage of play. Arsenal were indebted to David Raya on multiple occasions throughout, and it took the introduction of Dowman and the predatory instinct of Gyokeres to finally break Everton's stubborn resistance, before Dowman himself put the result beyond all doubt deep into stoppage time to cap one of the most memorable cameos the Emirates has witnessed in recent memory. Here are Sportsdunia's Arsenal vs Everton player ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Arsenal's title credentials were tested but ultimately held firm, with the Gunners demonstrating the capacity to win ugly, a hallmark of genuine champions, even when operating well below their best.
• The emergence of Dowman as both creator and goalscorer is the story within the story; a 16-year-old providing a decisive assist before scoring himself in stoppage time is the kind of individual cameo that seasons and careers are built upon.
• Everton's defeat stings in the context of their European push, as their inability to convert a string of clear opportunities at the Emirates will linger as a painful what-if for David Moyes and his players.

Arsenal Player Ratings vs Everton

Here are the Arsenal player ratings for the Arsenal vs Everton Premier League fixture.

Goalkeeper

David Raya - 7.0: A quiet game for long spells, but he was alert when called upon. Made a crucial save to deny a close-range shot from Beto in the second half. He also did well to stop Idrissa Gueye's effort from distance. His distribution was decent, though not perfect. Overall, a reliable performance that kept his team on level terms when they were vulnerable.

Defenders

William Saliba - 8.5: What a monster performance. From our perspective, he was the clear man of the match. He was simply immense, winning a staggering 11 duels and making 8 clearances. His 128 touches show just how involved he was, dictating play from the back with an incredible 95% pass accuracy. He was composed, strong, and read the game like a book. A truly world-class display.

Gabriel Magalhães - 7.5: A very strong partner for Saliba. He won all but one of his 10 duels and was a dominant force in the air, winning five aerial battles. Like his partner, he made a number of crucial clearances to snuff out danger. He was a rock at the back and his aggressive style complemented Saliba's composure perfectly.

Jurriën Timber - 6.0: A shame to see his afternoon cut short by injury. In the 38 minutes he was on the pitch, he was tidy and efficient in possession. He didn't do anything spectacular, but he also didn't put a foot wrong. Hopefully, the injury isn't too serious as he was just settling into the game.

Riccardo Calafiori - 7.0: An active and encouraging performance. He was a constant outlet on the flank, completing 93% of his passes and getting forward to support the attack. He had four shots, showing his intent to make things happen. Defensively, he was mostly solid before being substituted for a fresher pair of legs.

Midfielders

Declan Rice - 7.5: The heartbeat of the midfield. He was everywhere, linking defence and attack with his usual energy. He completed 72 passes, created three chances, and was constantly driving the team forward. His work rate is just phenomenal, and he never stopped trying to find a way through the Everton wall.

Martín Zubimendi - 6.5: A tidy but ultimately quiet game from the Spaniard. He kept the ball moving with an 88% pass accuracy, but we felt he could have been more incisive. He missed a decent headed chance in the first half.

Eberechi Eze - 7.0: He was a constant threat, always looking to take players on and shoot. He had a game-high seven shots, though his accuracy let him down on a few occasions. Despite the misses, his willingness to take risks and be direct was important in putting Everton under pressure. He never hid.

Bukayo Saka - 6.5: A frustrating outing for the captain. He saw a lot of the ball but struggled to find a way past the stubborn Everton defence, losing possession 20 times. He had a few shots and created a couple of chances, but it just wasn't his day. The effort was there, but the final product was missing.

Noni Madueke - 6.5: Showed some bright sparks during his hour on the pitch. He was direct, created two chances, and looked dangerous when running at his man. However, his influence faded a little before he was substituted.

Forwards

Kai Havertz - 5.5: A very anonymous performance. He really struggled to get into the game, managing only 26 touches in 61 minutes. He was a passenger for large parts and it was no surprise to see him taken off.

Substitutes

Cristhian Mosquera - 6.5: Came on for the injured Timber and slotted in seamlessly. He looked composed and handled the pressure well, contributing to the clean sheet.

Viktor Gyökeres - 8.0: The game-changer. His introduction provided a focal point and a clinical edge that was sorely lacking. He was in the right place at the right time to stab home the opening goal. A perfect impact sub.

Gabriel Martinelli - 8.0: What an impact. His pace and direct running immediately caused problems for a tiring Everton defence. He had a shot saved before eventually sealing the victory with a cool finish in stoppage time. He turned the game on its head alongside Gyökeres.

Piero Hincapié - N/A: Brought on late to see the game out.

Max Dowman - N/A: Not on long enough to make a significant impact.

Manager

M. Arteta - 8.0: His substitutions won the match, plain and simple. He saw that the initial plan wasn't working and made bold, decisive changes. Bringing on Gyökeres and Martinelli was a tactical masterstroke that broke Everton's resistance and secured a vital three points.

Everton Player Ratings vs Arsenal

Check out the Everton player ratings vs Arsenal.

Goalkeeper

Jordan Pickford - 5.5: This is a harsh rating, but it's a game of fine margins. He made four saves, including a good one to deny Saka. However, the stats show an error leading to a goal, which proved incredibly costly. For 89 minutes he was part of a heroic effort, but a single mistake undid it all.

Defenders

Michael Keane - 8.0: An absolutely heroic performance. He threw his body in front of everything, racking up four blocked shots and five clearances. He was a true warrior at the back and did not deserve to be on the losing side. An immense defensive display that frustrated Arsenal for so long.

Jake O'Brien - 7.5: Almost as impressive as his partner. He read the game superbly, making a massive 12 clearances. He was composed under immense pressure and formed a formidable barrier alongside Keane.

Vitaliy Mykolenko - 5.0: A very difficult evening for the left-back. He was targeted by Arsenal's wingers and was dribbled past five times. He struggled to cope with the pace and trickery of Saka and then Martinelli, and lost possession far too often.

James Garner - 6.5: A tireless worker on the right flank. He stuck to his defensive duties diligently, making five clearances and three interceptions. He supported the attack when he could but this was primarily a defensive role for him, and he did it well for the most part.

Midfielders

Idrissa Gueye - 7.0: A classic performance from the veteran midfielder. He was a tenacious presence in the middle of the park, breaking up plays with tackles and interceptions. He even forced a good save from Raya with a shot from distance. His energy was key to Everton's defensive structure.

Tim Iroegbunam - 7.5: What stood out to us was his incredible duel success rate. He won 8 of his 12 duels and made five tackles, acting as a brilliant shield for the back four. He was a dominant physical presence and one of Everton's best performers on the day.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall - 6.0: He worked hard and had a shot on target, but struggled to impose himself on the game. He was often outnumbered in midfield and found it difficult to link up with the attack consistently.

Dwight McNeil - 6.5: So, so unlucky not to have scored. His brilliant first-half strike that hit the woodwork was the closest Everton came. He looked their most dangerous player in the first 45 but his influence waned as Arsenal ramped up the pressure in the second half.

Iliman Ndiaye - 6.0: A frustrating game for the attacker. He missed a big chance in the box, which he should have done better with. He worked hard defensively but couldn't provide the spark needed in the final third.

Forwards

Beto - 5.5: He had a golden opportunity to give his side the lead but was denied by a good save from Raya. He provided a physical presence up front, but lost 10 of his 14 duels and his touch let him down too often. He struggled to hold the ball up and bring others into play.

Substitutes

Thierno Barry - N/A: Came on with little time to make an impact.

Merlin Röhl - N/A: A late change with the game already gone.

Harrison Armstrong - N/A: Brought on in the final few minutes.

Tyrique George - N/A: Introduced deep into stoppage time.

Manager

D. Moyes - 6.5: His game plan was nearly perfect. He organized his team into a formidable defensive unit that frustrated a top side for 89 minutes. He was let down by individual moments, not by his tactical approach. It's hard to criticize him when his side came so close to a massive result.

Man of the Match

William Saliba was the man of the match.

Worst Performer

Vitaliy Mykolenko was the worst performer.