Ian Wright says Arsenal must take their surprise defeat at Everton on the chin, after Sean Dyche provided the new manager bounce the Blues so desperately needed.
Sitting five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, the high-flying Gunners were widely expected to swat aside an Everton side who were without a win since October 22 last year.
But with Dyche stepping into the home dugout at Goodison Park for the first time, the Toffees looked a completely different prospect and a second half-header from James Tarkowski was enough to clinch all three points for the hosts, moving them out of the bottom three ahead of the later games.
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Tweeting after the match, Arsenal's all-time record goalscorer Wright wrote: "Everton deserve that. We have to learn from it and move on. Top of the league, everyone is going to be up for playing us. Half chances key in these type of games. Lots for the team to take away from that defeat. We go again boys! Give Sean Dyche his flowers."
Everton demonstrated the type of work rate and attitude that had been conspicuous in its absence for the majority of the season. Former Burnley centre-back Tarkowski - who worked with Dyche when he was manager at Turf Moor - chose an opportune moment to score his first goal in the Blue shirt of Everton, helping to secure the most precious of morale-boosting victories as a consequence.
Next up for the Blues is a trip across the park to face old foes Liverpool in the Merseyside derby. How the Goodison faithful will be hoping that Dyche's instant impact isn't a one-off.
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