Despite seeing his Arsenal side slip to a 1-0 defeat that cost them the chance to move up to third in the Premier League, Unai Emery claimed that goalkeeper Bernd Leno had put in a "perfect" performance for the Gunners.
Phil Jagielka's early goal from a Lucas Digne throw-in was enough to earn the Toffees all three points at Goodison Park in a match where Arsenal were utterly lacking in either imagination or organisation throughout.
Indeed the result could have been far more debilitating than it was but for the five saves Leno made, particularly in a second half where Gylfi Sigurdsson might have had a hat-trick.
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Whilst Leno was keeping hopes of an unlikely fightback alive his team-mates were creating next to nothing at the other end. At full-time their expected goals tally was 0.4, among Arsenal's lowest this season, whilst Everton's was 2.4.
"I think Leno was perfect to save us," Emery said. "We had three good chances but didn't score."
The defeat at Goodison Park extended Arsenal's away struggles. Since the turn of the year they have won just two matches away from the Emirates Stadium - against relegated Huddersfield and League One Blackpool - and lost five times.
Indeed they have only beaten a quintet of teams in the Premier League since January 1, 2018: Huddersfield, Cardiff City, Newcastle United, Fulham and Bournemouth.
Asked what was behind Arsenal's inability to win on the road Leno said: "To be honest, I don't know."
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However he insisted that Arsenal, who still occupy the fourth and final Champions League qualification spot, ought not to abandon hope.
"We are still in a good position and still in a good atmosphere," he said. "It's not a problem to lose one game.
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"We have to keep working hard, work harder and play our style. I think today wasn't too bad a game, I think it was okay.
"But the goal at the beginning of the game was much better for Everton. I think if the game went longer at 0-0, it would have been much easier for us. It was more difficult.
"We keep going, we are still in a good position."
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