Arsenal held by Everton, Fulham win

Arsenal FC passed up the chance to extend their lead at the Premier League summit to seven points after being held at home by in-form Everton FC.

Buoyed by their impressive midweek win against Manchester United FC at Old Trafford, Everton started brightly but failed to capitalise in a goalless first half. The league leaders came back into the contest either side of the interval but had to wait until the 80th minute to break the deadlock. Mesut Özil converted from close range after Olivier Giroud had missed his kick from Theo Walcott's headed lay-off.

The Toffees responded within four minutes, though, as substitute Gerard Deulofeu, on loan from FC Barcelona, rifled a shot past Wojciech Szczęsny. Giroud's fierce strike which came back off the angle of crossbar and post in added time was the closest either side came to a winner as the spoils were shared.

In the day's other game, Fulham FC ended a run of six straight Premier League defeats with a 2-0 victory against Aston Villa FC. Dimitar Berbatov produced an inspired display and, after Steve Sidwell had opened the scoring, the Bulgarian striker converted a penalty to give the west London club their first win under recently appointed manager René Meulensteen.