Everton have now beaten Chelsea and Manchester United in successive Premier League matches, and both victories were well deserved.

The home side were not favourites here after losing Marouane Fellaini and Tim Cahill to injury, yet they did most of the attacking in the second half and Dan Gosling’s late goal was fair reward even before Jack Rodwell added a third in the last minute.

United brought Dimitar Berbatov back to partner Wayne Rooney in attack and, all too predictably, the England striker’s roaring run of form came to a whispering halt, although that could simply have been because Rooney is generally subdued on visits to his old club.

Everton, too, had a striker facing his former club, though Louis Saha was up front on his own and, when he tested Edwin van der Sar from 30 yards out, his effort produced a decent save –though it seemed to sum up the home side’s lack of attacking options.

United went in front a minute after that, Sylvain Distin failing to cut out Antonio Valencia’s cross from the right and making rather a present of it to Berbatov, who scored off the underside of the bar, with Rooney a foot behind him practically pointing the way.

An ominous hush descended on Goodison, yet it took Everton only three more minutes to equalise in spectacular fashion. Johnny Heitinga’s hoofed clearance from the back was disputed by Saha and Jonny Evans, and the ball ran clear to Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, who controlled it, looked up and struck a left-foot shot so cleanly that Van der Sar never even moved in its direction, despite being beaten from well outside the area.

Patrice Evra made a brave block to deny the Russian again when Leighton Baines crossed from the left, though Rooney wasted a good chance by taking the ball too wide around Tim Howard after being played in by Berbatov.

Everton, too, could have had another goal by half-time had Landon Donovan been quicker to react to another Baines cross. The American seemed surprised when the ball landed at his feet off Wes Brown and, from an excellent position in front of goal, managed only to pass the ball straight to Van der Sar.

Substitute Gosling’s goal came after a period of Everton pressure, when Donovan slipped Steven Pienaar down the left to pull the ball back from the byline.

Just to prove it was no fluke, Everton repeated the move two minutes later, only for Mikel Arteta to supply an air shot rather than a slick finish.

No matter. Rodwell’s solo run and clean strike in the final minute emphasised Everton’s superiority.

Premier LeagueEvertonManchester UnitedPaul Wilsonguardian.co.uk

So who’s bright idea was it for the anti-freeze experts of north London to work like the clappers to ensure this game went ahead? For all Arsène Wenger’s desperation to play some football, in the swirling snow, Arsenal glimpsed their opportunity to climb to within a point of the Premier League summit and froze.

They were mightily relieved to get anything from this game, a point salvaged when the substitute Tomas Rosicky’s stoppage-time shot brushed off Lucas Neill and the change of direction beat Tim Howard. It was Arsenal’s second deflected equaliser of the game. It led to a frenetic climax, in which Manuel Almunia managed to clobber two players as he rushed out of his penalty area like a man in a total panic.

Arsenal’s reprieve was Everton’s frustration, for they had done enough to merit three points. Ten minutes from the end, the best part of 60,000 hardy souls could barely dare to take an icy breath as they watched Steven Pienaar, released courtesy of an exquisite pass from Tim Cahill, baring down on Almunia’s goal. Without a defender in sight, it was a straight duel between the combative South African and the over-anxious Spaniard. Pienaar showed wonderful composure to chip the ball gently into the net. The impressive contingent from Merseyside tucked into a corner of Emirates Stadium did not appear to feel the cold one jot.

From another one-on-one moments later, Almunia prevented James Vaughan from securing what would have been an unassailable lead.

Although the gritty nature of David Moyes’s team provided the foundation, there was much to admire, too. With Louis Saha’s clever runs and Tim Cahill’s waspish presence augmented extremely well by the expert dribbling of Landon Donovan on an eye-catching debut, Everton caused Arsenal serious concern from the off.

They started with far more conviction than in their earlier match against Arsenal this season, when they were left reeling by a 6-1 home hammering. Here they had the appetite and the organisation, and they looked surprisingly comfortable.

They took the lead in the 12th minute. Donovan floated in an enticing corner, and Leon Osman leapt prodigiously above William Gallas and thumped in a header.

Lacking driving force in midfield with Cesc Fábregas still recuperating and Alex Song in Angola, Arsenal were desperate for some inspiration from somewhere, and it came from one of the midfield understudies, Denílson. The Brazilian showed the hunger to chase down a loose ball out from Everton, and when the play came back to him after neat touches from Andrey Arshavin and Samir Nasri, Denílson took a pot shot. With the aid of a deflection off Osman, Arsenal were – fortuitously – back in it.

Premier LeagueArsenalEvertonAmy Lawrenceguardian.co.uk