MATCH SPY: Wenger's confidence rewarded by second-half onslaught

Arsenal 3-1 Everton Premier League Saturday October 18 Emirates Stadium Att: 60,064 Arsenal fought back from a goal down to record their 200th Premier League home win to get their title challenge back on track. Leon Osman gave the Toffees a ninth-minute

Arsenal 3-1 Everton

Premier League

Saturday October 18

Emirates Stadium

Att: 60,064

Arsenal fought back from a goal down to record their 200th Premier League home win to get their title challenge back on track.

Leon Osman gave the Toffees a ninth-minute lead from close range as Arsenal stared at a second successive home loss for the first time in nearly 11 years.

But Samir Nasri levelled three minutes after the break with a shot from the edge of the box and Arsenal were in the lead shortly afterwards when Robin van Persie reacted quickly after Tim `Howard parried Cesc Fabregas' shot to head home from close range.

Substitute Theo Walcott - who had earlier replaced the injured Kolo Toure - added some gloss in injury time when he drilled the ball past Howard for his second league goal of the season.

Arsene Wenger said his side had shown "personality and mental strength" to fight back from their early setback.

"I was not nervous at half-time because I had confidence and belief we would change the game," said the manager.

"Everton had a good start, but in the last 20 minutes of the first half we were on top.

"We played our season today. We could not afford to drop points and the way we responded was vital."

Everton boss David Moyes added: "It was a bit cruel to lose the game, but they are a very good side and they can be hard to keep out."

"Everyone has their own design on how to come here and play. We were more of an attacking force in the first half, but that was more down to Arsenal playing well after the break.