Everton stuns Arsenal as Dyche starts with a bang
Sean Dyche's Everton reign got off to a flying start as James Tarkowski's header handed Premier League leader Arsenal a surprise 1-0 defeat at Goodison Park.
Everton looked revitalised in its first outing under the former Burnley boss and it was two of his former Clarets players who combined for the winner, Tarkowski powering Dwight McNeil's corner home on the hour.
Arsenal was kept at arm's length by Everton during an unusually disjointed display with the deserved victory dragging the Toffees – at least temporarily – out of the relegation zone.
Having suffered just a second league defeat of the season, the Gunners could see their lead at the summit cut to two points when title rival Manchester City faces Tottenham Hotspur on Monday (AEDT).
Despite Everton starting strongly at a boisterous Goodison Park, Arsenal missed the first clear chance on the half-hour mark, Eddie Nketiah firing wide after excellent work from Bukayo Saka.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin somehow failed to slide home Amadou Onana's low delivery three minutes later as Everton threatened, before the unmarked Abdoulaye Doucoure headed McNeil's cross wide.
Conor Coady then made a vital goal-line clearance from Saka's volley, before Calvert-Lewin almost found the top-left corner with a looping header as an entertaining first half ended level.
Visiting captain Martin Odegaard blazed over from a good position after 59 minutes and Arsenal was punished a minute later as Tarkowski found the bottom-right corner with a fine header from McNeil's right-wing corner.
Arsenal introduced January additions Jorginho and Leandro Trossard in search of a leveller, but the latter's 20-yard attempt, saved by Jordan Pickford, was as close as it came as its title hopes suffered a huge blow.