Johnny Heitinga alongside him was another, as was Marouane Fellaini who put in a performance as good as any he has produced for the club.
“I have been saying for some time, he is the best midfielder in the Premier League,” said Moyes afterwards.
It is too early for such bold statements, but if Fellaini can perform like this with any consistency, the idea may warrant serious consideration.
Returning to a holding midfield role, it was the Belgian’s positional play and will to win the ball that helped prevent Arsenal get into their usual, free-flowing rhythm.
Andriy Arshavin – back from a foot injury – was a virtual passenger, while Samir Nasri and Aaaron Ramsey’s typically potent attacking threat soon diminished when it emerged Fellaini and company where not going to afford them the kind of space that saw Arsenal run riot in the last meeting between the two sides.
Moyes’ decision to bolster his midfield paid dividends and, other than the goal, Arsenal’s only threat of any note in the opening 45 minutes came from an Abou Diaby ball over the top that saw Howard spread himself well to thwart William Gallas.
In comparison Louis Saha – in from the start for Vaughan – had the ball over the line after just six minutes, only to be ruled offside before firing over the bar moments later.
The scene had been set though and it was no great surprise when Everton took the lead through Osman who rose superbly to head Donovan’s corner past Almunia.
As Arsenal pressed to get back into it, Donovan played a part in the equaliser however, when he failed to clear on the edge of the area. That allowed Arshavin to nudge the ball to Eduardo who rolled it into Denilson’s path, the Brazilian’s shot ricocheting off the unfortunate Osman to wrong-foot Howard just before the half hour mark.
The conditions took a turn for the worse after the break. With snow swirling around the stadium it was only when Rosicky replaced Ramsey on 65 minutes that Arsenal upped their game.
Seemingly content to hold on to what they had, Everton retreated deeper. It was a dangerous ploy that invited Arsenal forward.
Howard got just enough on Bacary Sagna’s cross to flick the ball off Rosicky’s head before Arshavin and then Eduardo went close, the second attempt requiring a timely block by Neville.
Cahill then reminded Arsenal of Everton’s threat when the Aussie winger cut inside from the left before pulling a pass back across the penalty area when testing Almunia appeared a better option.
But as Arsenal continued to throw bodies forward, Everton hit them on the break.
Cahill was again involved, threading the ball to Pienaar who went one-on-one with Almunia.
Where lesser players would have lost their heads, the South African displayed clinical composure to chip the ball over the Spaniard with nine minutes remaining.
Almunia’s save from Vaughan five minutes later would come back to haunt Everton and handed Arsenal a glimmer of hope.
It was Rosicky who capitalised three minutes into the allotted five of injury time when he found space on the left and, despite Neill’s best efforts, Everton were dealt the cruellest of blows.
