Olivier Giroud answers critics as Arsenal beat Everton to go third

Arsenal bounced back from their shock 3-1 loss to Monaco in the Champions League with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Everton which sends the Gunners back up to third in the Premier League.

The home side made a predictably cagey start and David Ospina had to be alert to close down Romelu Lukaku when the Belgian beat Gabriel to a long ball over the defence.

The home side grew into the game and predictably it was under-fire striker Olivier Giroud who opened the scoring, volleying home sharply from a Mesut Ozil corner.

Everton pressed at the start of the second-half and Ospina was forced into two excellent saves, first from Lukaku at the near post and then Aaron Lennon after Seamus Coleman’s cutback.

Substitute Tomas Rosicky sealed win two minutes from time, controlling a Mesut Ozil pass and then drilling a shot, which deflected off Phil Jagielka, into the net from just outside the area.

17’ – CHANCE: Ospina to the rescue as Lukaku bursts clear after stealing a long ball from Gabriel's toes. The Colombian goalkeeper comes out sharply and parries it away from the Belgian before chasing down the loose ball and knocking it out for a throw.

39’ – GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Everton. Arsene Wenger backed Olivier Giroud after Wednesday's horror-show and he has been rewarded. The Frenchman is given the freedom of the penalty area by John Stones from Mesut Ozil’s corner and he sends the ball into the far corner with a smart right-footed volley.

65’ – CHANCE: Everton break at speed and Ross Barkley drives a cross to the near-post for Lukaku, whose fierce shot is excellently tipped over by Ospina.

67’ – OUCH: Coquelin's hard-man image is increasing by the minute as he gets a Giroud header right in the mouth when they both go for a looping ball in midfield. There is plenty of blood but the midfielder is now sitting up.

87’ – GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Everton: Substitute Tomas Rosicky seals the win, controlling a Mesut Ozil pass and then drilling a shot, which deflects off Phil Jagielka, into the net from just outside the area.

Arsenal have now won seven consecutive home matches in the Premier League for the first time since 2005.

Everton have no wins in their last 21 matches away to Arsenal.

Everton have only managed one win in their last 11 Premier League games.

Can Arsenal catch Manchester City? Despite all the negativity around the club after their midweek defeat to Monaco, Arsenal are back into third place in the Premier League table and now just four points behind reigning champions Manchester City. Could the Gunners get second and give London one-two finish in the Premier League?

Olivier Giroud (Arsenal): With so much of the criticism for Wednesday’s shock defeat aimed at the French striker, it seemed almost inevitable that he would score today to bring some perspective to proceedings. The Frenchman has now scored seven in his last nine league games and has developed a real knack of scoring from the near-post at corners.

Arsenal: Ospina 8, Bellerin 7, Gabriel 7, Koscielny 7, Gibbs 7, Coquelin 8, Cazorla 7, Oxlade-Chamberlain 7, Ozil 7, Alexis 7, Giroud 8… SUBS: Chambers 6, Rosicky 7, Welbeck 6.

Everton: Howard 6, Coleman 7, Jagielka 7, Stones 6, Garbutt 7, McCarthy 7, Besic 6, Barry 6, Mirallas 6, Barkley 6, Lukaku 6... SUBS: Gibson 6, Naismith 6, Lennon 6.