Vieira shows strength of Arsenal's resolve

Arsenal 2 Everton 1

It was an ugly, scrappy bit of workmanship. More Dulux than Picasso, more busker than Beethoven. With its combination of route one and rolling maul, it was a goal reminiscent of the days when "Fash the Bash" was battering defences at Plough Lane. It probably was not even legal. In short, it was the sort of goal which Arsenal normally disdain as beneath them.

Yesterday, though, Highbury celebrated Patrick Vieira's 64th-minute goal with a delirium usually reserved for Thierry Henry's most artistic flourishes. When you are without a win in four matches, and have been displaced from the Premiership summit, no one cares if the winning goal is fashioned from dirt or diamonds.

Having taken an early lead though the unlikely figure of Pascal Cygan, Arsenal had seemed on course to edge back in front of Manchester United when Wayne Rooney again detonated their defence.

Then Stuart Taylor hoisted a goal-kick forward which Vieira, then Henry, headed on. As Dennis Bergkamp and David Unsworth wrestled for the knock-down, the ball ran to Fredrik Ljungberg. His shot was blocked but his body fell into an offside position. There it tripped up Richard Wright as Vieira followed up to thump the ball in and restore Arsenal's slender lead. "We wanted to win, no matter how," their manager Arsène Wenger said.

The one worrying note for Arsenal was the prospect of another FA charge for Dennis Bergkamp, who has already been fined for stamping on Nils Eric Johansson and elbowing Lee Bowyer this season. He appeared to stamp on Alan Stubbs, though Wenger said: "It didn't look much to me."

Everton had come determined to defend deep and funnel Arsenal's attacks into a congested central area. This reflected both Arsenal's pace and potential and the recent slowing of Everton's challenge for a Champions' League place. The knowledge that they had conceded four on each of their last three visits to Highbury may also have nagged at their minds.

David Moyes' plan appeared to be undone after just seven minutes, however, when Cygan, cursorily marked by Kevin Campbell, rose at the near post to head in his first goal for Arsenal from Thierry Henry's corner. Cygan exulted. Having been heavily criticised for his role in Arsenal's defeats at Blackburn and Valencia, his celebration was as much relief as joy.

Until then it had seemed he would produce another nervous performance, having already given away a dangerous free-kick, which Rooney shot into the wall, with a rash tackle on Kevin Campbell. Instead, lifted by his goal, he played the rest of the half with more assurance than of late.

Everton, meanwhile, were undaunted. They worked hard, defended the penalty area, and hoped Rooney and Campbell could engineer a reply on the break. The pair did trouble Arsenal, but not until the 39th minute. By then the game might have been beyond Everton. Henry missed two chances while Bergkamp, having turned Stubbs with a glorious flick, released a shot which Richard Wright, on his old ground, fumbled before recovering to make a brave save from Henry.

Shortly before the break the flow of the match changed when Thomas Gravesen released Rooney down the right. With little space the teenager whipped over a fine cross but Mark Pembridge was unable to convert. That, a Pembridge free-kick which drifted just over, and another opening Kevin Campbell fashioned for Rooney, gave Moyes something to build on during his half-time talk.

One aspect was for Rooney to target Arsenal's left, where Giovanni van Bronckhorst kept drifting out of position. Eight minutes after the break, Stubbs drilled a pass out to Rooney, who had stolen behind Cygan. Though Campbell only hit the side netting from his cross, the route had been marked out. Two minutes later, Campbell released Rooney inside Van Bronckhorst, Cygan backed off and Rooney lashed a shot between his legs and inside the far post.

Arsenal were rattled and Rooney went close again. Then Vieira settled their nerves with his messy but conclusive winner.

Goals: Cygan (7) 1-0; Rooney (55) 1-1; Vieira (64) 2-1.

Arsenal (4-4-2): Taylor 5; Lauren 6, Campbell 8, Cygan 6, Van Bronckhorst 4; Ljungberg 6, Vieira 8, Gilberto Silva 5, Pires 5 (Parlour 6, 68); Bergkamp 7 (Touré, 85), Henry 6. Substitutes not used: Jeffers, Wiltord, Warmuz (gk).

Everton (4-4-2): Wright 5; Yobo 6, Stubbs 6, Weir 5, Unsworth 4; Watson 6 (Ferguson, 79), Gravesen 5, Li Tie 5 (Gemmill 4, 74), Pembridge 4; Campbell 6, Rooney 7. Substitutes not used: Simonsen (gk), Naysmith, Carsley.

Referee: A Wiley (Burntwood) 6.

Bookings: Arsenal: Lauren, Henry. Everton: Li Tie.

Man of the match: Vieira.

Attendance: 38,042.