Premier League: Arsenal 2 Everton 1

Arsenal produced a stirring comeback at the Emirates, surviving a controversial opener from Louis Saha to beat Everton 2-1.

Saha handed Everton the lead after 24 minutes in north London even though he looked well offside, but second half goals from substitute Andrey Arshavin and defender Laurent Koscielny handed Arsenal a hard-fought and deserved victory.

The result keeps Arsene Wenger’s side second in the Premier League table, five points adrift of Manchester United but still very much in the title race.

The Gunners started the game in lively fashion with Cesc Fabregas shooting wide from a Robin van Persie back-heel when perhaps he should have done better.

Saha was offside when Seamus Coleman tried to find him when a through-ball but, perhaps unaware of that fact, Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny attempted to clear it anyway.

That proved a big mistake because his miss-hit effort deflected straight to Saha who fired home left-footed with Arsenal’s defence nowhere to be seen.

Referee Lee Mason struggled to control proceedings as the game grew tetchier, making a string of questionable decisions to draw the ire of the home crowd.

He booked six players in all as tackles flew in from both sides, especially when Arsenal poured forward in the second half in search of an equaliser.

Theo Walcott and van Persie had both gone close when it eventually came in the 70th minute, Arshavin latching onto a fine Fabregas through-ball and firing home sweetly.

Van Persie then forced Tim Howard into a fine save from a free-kick before the Dutchman sent over a corner for Koscielny to head home in the 76th minute.

The goal was greeted with delirium by the home crowd and it was hard to say Arsenal did not earn it given their pulsating second-half display.