Arsenal clinch 2-0 win over Everton to reclaim third spot in PL table

Arsenal climbed back to the third place in the Premier League table with a 2-0 win over Everton, thanks to Olivier Giroud's first-half goal to reward Arsene Wenger for supporting him.

Wenger kept the striker in his starting line-up even though he missed several chances during Wednesday's 3-1 Champions League defeat by Monaco, and Giroud paid off the support by volleying in Mesut Ozil's corner six minutes before half-time.

Keeper David Ospina denied Everton's Romelu Lukaku before Tomas Rosicky's late goal sealed the win for Arsenal, the BBC reported.

The visitors were the better side for most of the second half but struggled to create clear chances, aside from Lukaku's near-post shot from Ross Barkley's cross, which Ospina tipped over brilliantly.

Roberto Martinez's side once again failed to transfer impressive European results to the Premier League, in which they have taken 11 points from their last 15 matches and could yet be dragged into a relegation battle, the report added.