What Mikel Arteta did to fans as Arsenal players watched on after thrilling Everton win

ARSENAL 2-0 EVERTON: Viktor Gyokeres and Max Dowman both scored for the Gunners in stoppage-time to keep their Premier League title bid on track

Last season, a goalless home draw with Everton wrecked Arsenal's Premier League title bid before Christmas.

But this time around, they refused to let history repeat itself as Viktor Gyokeres' 90th-minute tap-in and Max Dowman's first-ever professional goal sent the Emirates Stadium into raptures.

Come the full-time whistle, the ecstatic home crowd were dancing and chanting they "are going to win the league" as Mikel Arteta's applied Jurgen Klopp-esque fist pumps.

Just moments prior, before three of the Spaniard's substitutes combined for the opener, perhaps supporters were not so sure.

Jordan Pickford came flying out to claim Dowman's deep cross, missed the ball and it hit Piero Hincapie before rolling perfectly into the pathway of the grateful Gyokeres to turn in.

How Arsenal, who have been to hell and back during their long-winding pursuit of Premier League glory, needed a moment like that to inject fresh belief into their title bid.

Still, they were not done there as Dowman broke away following a last-gasp Everton corner and rolled into an empty net to cap a statement victory.

Prior to kick-off, only Arsenal (32) and Chelsea (25) had claimed more Premier League points on their travels than Everton (24) this season.

David Moyes' robust Toffees appear to relish the freedom that comes with playing on the road and after Jordan Pickford kept out England team-mate Noni Madueke, the visitors almost forced themselves ahead.

First Riccardo Calafiori acrobatically blocked Dwight McNeil's close-range strike after David Raya had parried a cross before McNeil then bent a stunning 20-yard curler off the inside of the post. Iliman Ndiaye somehow squandered the rebound, though was later flagged offside.

Kai Havertz was the grateful recipient of Arsenal's controversial late penalty in Leverkusen on Wednesday evening, however, he was denied what looked a clear spot-kick after being brought to ground by Michael Keane on his return to the starting XI.

VAR said contact was "minimal" which felt somewhat dubious and up the other end, the Gunners survived yet another scare when Raya beat away Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's drive at goal.

Expressive Everton continued to disrupt the Premier League leaders, who also lost right-back Jurrien Timber to an ankle injury and shortly after the restart, Raya spread himself excellently to deny Beto following a corner.

But Arsenal then began to turn the screw as the tension and anxiety within the stands at the Emirates Stadium threatened to reach boiling point. Every forward pass and every dribble was met with a roar of anticipation.

Equally, there was an undeniable nervousness and unease every time Everton bought a cheap foul to run down the clock.

Over the past few seasons, when the going gets tough, Arsenal have endured notable struggles keeping their emotions in check.

And when Arteta thumped the air in frustration and furiously turned his back on the pitch with his head in his hands as Everton won themselves a rare corner, it became clear the visitors were under his skin.

Eberechi Eze went close with a looping left-footed shot that flew fractionally wide before Arteta called upon 16-year-old gem Dowman in a desperate bid to unlock the door.

Effectively, he did exactly that, first playing a part in Gyokeres' goal before writing his very own piece of history with the clinching second.