WHAT HAPPENED
Aaron Ramsey scored a hat-trick and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang marked his debut with a goal as we delivered a slick, clinical performance to overwhelm Everton.
Our record signing’s first significant contribution was a slide-rule pass to his old friend Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who in turn laid on our opening goal for Ramsey.
Laurent Koscielny got the next one, putting his head in among the boots to nod past Jordan Pickford after Shkodran Mustafi flicked on Mesut Ozil’s corner.
Alex Iwobi laid on our third for Ramsey, a powerful shot from distance that Pickford could only tip into the roof of the net after a deflection off Eliaquim Mangala.
It brought up an impressive milestone for Ramsey. He’s now been directly involved in 100 goals for us - 52 goals and 48 assists.
So that was pretty much game over - but the fun wasn’t over.
We’ve heard a lot about the understanding between Mkhitaryan and Aubameyang - a partnership forged at Borussia Dortmund - and now we got to see it first-hand.
Mkhitaryan spotted the striker lurking on the shoulder of the last Everton defender and slipped a pass into the area for him to run onto.
Aubameyang looked offside but the flag stayed down and the finish was impudent - a dink over the diving Pickford. That was something of a trademark for Aubameyang in the Bundesliga; expect to see it a lot more in the Premier League.
Everton were outclassed but an Arsenal old boy almost threw them a lifeline. Theo Walcott got past Nacho Monreal and looked certain to score, but Mustafi raced back to block brilliantly.
Walcott left to a standing ovation in the second half and his replacement - Dominic Calvert-Lewin - did reduce the deficit.
But a crisp finish from Ramsey completed his hat-trick - and a hat-trick of assists for Mkhitaryan - to put the seal on an emphatic win.
WHAT IT MEANS
This win keeps us in sixth place in the Premier League - one place and three points behind Tottenham having played a game more.
WHAT’S NEXT
It’s the big one - Tottenham at Wembley. Stay close to Arsenal.com for all the build-up to next weekend’s north London derby.
AUBA WATCH
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang started his first game for us three days after completing his move from Borussia Dortmund. These were his best moments:
6 - Auba’s first meaningful touch is a delightful ball to Mkhitaryan, who crosses low for Ramsey to score
13 - Ramsey beats the offside trap and controls Iwobi’s ball down the line. Auba gives his marker the slip to find space in the area and Ramsey picks him out, but Auba’s shot is blocked
15 - Auba gets ready to convert Mustafi’s header down from Ozil’s corner, but Koscielny gets there first to score our second goal
32 - Ozil sets Auba clear and he races clear of the Everton defence to get a left-foot shot away, but it’s saved by Pickford
37 - GOAL! Mkhitaryan spots Auba’s run and, although there are suspicions off offside, the striker sinks the ball over Pickford for a fine debut goal
Attendance: 59306
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