Goals from Bacary Sagna and Cesc Fabregas proved decisive as Arsenal held off an Everton fightback to claim second place in the Premier League with a 2-1 win.
Sagna opened the scoring after 35 minutes at Goodison Park with a ferocious strike from a tight angle and Fabregas doubled the lead early in the second half.
Samir Nasri and Marouane Chamakh spurned glorious chances to add to the lead but Everton produced a thrilling finish and deservedly pulled one back through Tim Cahill late on.
The Gunners also had Lukasz Fabianksi to thank for their three points, the goalkeeper having produced fine saves to deny Jermaine Beckford, Steven Pienaar and Louis Saha.
Jack Rodwell also blazed a fine chance over as Everton refused to surrender their seven-match unbeaten run without a fight.
The Toffees had their first chance of the afternoon from a set-piece as Mikel Arteta swung in a corner but Saha, impeded as team-mate Cahill jumped for the same ball, headed wide.
Nasri broke clear for Arsenal but opted not to pass as he reached the box and Sylvain Distin stuck out a leg to block his shot.
Everton countered swiftly from the resulting corner as Cahill released Coleman down the right. The exciting Irishman beat Fabregas as he raced into the box but Cahill headed over.
Jack Wilshere almost found a way through for Arsenal after intricate play involving Chamakh and Nasri but Phil Jagielka slid in at the cost of a corner.
Everton probed forward and Saha curled a shot over after Cahill failed to control the ball on the edge of the area.
After a subdued period, the game came to life as Sagna opened the scoring with a ferocious strike in the 35th minute.
Nasri first tested Tim Howard as he cut in from the right and unleashed a powerful left-foot shot from outside the area. The American saved well to his left but Andrei Arshavin retrieved the ball and teed up for Sagna to rifle into the top corner from a tight angle.
Webb courted controversy on the stroke of half-time when he refused Pienaar a free-kick just outside the area after an apparent push by Alex Song.
Saha then headed against the post from a corner but Webb caused further ire when he pulled up play to give a goal-kick having apparently felt the initial cross swung out of play.
Rodwell made a welcome return for Everton in the second half after 11 weeks out with an ankle injury, the midfielder replacing John Heitinga.
Arsenal also made a change with Denilson coming on for Wilshere and the Brazilian was soon involved.
Denilson won the ball after Arteta was fed a poor pass in the centre circle and broke forward. Fabregas then worked the ball on to Chamakh in the box and the Spaniard took a quick return pass to swivel and shoot beyond Howard.
Everton attempted to hit back and Arsenal were fortunate not to be reduced to ten men as Saha was hacked down by last man Sebastien Squillaci.
Fabregas was booked after a challenge on Distin which left both players on the ground but the incident appeared accidental, then Rodwell shot over.
Arsenal should have had a third after Nasri broke the length of the field but Howard stood up until the last moment to block the Frenchman's shot.
Chamakh then put another glorious chance over from a Fabregas cross but Saha was unlucky at the other end when Song got in the way of a fierce shot.
Everton sensed the need to attack and manager David Moyes went with three up front as he replaced Arteta and captain Neville for Yakubu and Beckford, who immediately went close as he turned sharply in the area but Fabianski tipped around the post.
Yakubu then picked out Pienaar with a low cross but again Fabianski was alert - and the goalkeeper did brilliantly to tip away a Saha shot.
Everton finally got on the scoresheet with two minutes remaining when Saha jumped high to reach a cross at the back post and Cahill fired past Fabianski - but four minutes of injury time did not produce an equaliser.
Cesc Fabregas believes his goal came at a vital time for Arsenal as they claimed a 2-1 victory over Everton at Goodison Park to stay in touch at the top of the Premier League.
Fabregas told Sky Sports News: "The second goal was an important goal early in the second half. We knew they would push hard at us and at the end they scored and we were a bit nervous.
"It was a good performance. Defensively we looked solid, our only regret is that last minute goal. We played very well, we were in control. We knew their game was long ball but we did well against it.''
Fabregas now wants to see the team build on the win as they look to rein in leaders Chelsea. "We want to do well until the end, this is just one more step until the end,'' he said. "It's good we're in second position, we're improving, We just need Chelsea to drop some points now.''
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger felt his side were rewarded for their hard endeavour. Wenger said: "The most important qualities we showed were discipline, commitment, honest desire, 100% focus for 90 minutes.
"That got us the three points - if you come here without that you don't get the three points. We've had two difficult away games, Wolves and here, but we have got six points and that puts us in a good situation. The team has shown great spirit.
"We could have scored more but we were nearly punished and we needed a few good saves from the keeper because we became a bit too conservative. We were hanging on a bit at the end but overall I am satisfied with 2-1.
Wenger allayed fears midfielder Jack Wilshere, who is due to join up with England this week, was removed at the interval because of injury.
The Frenchman said: "He is not injured. I wanted a second holding player to win the second balls from the headers and I thought he looked a bit tired today. He will be all right to go with England.''
Everton could also feel aggrieved that a number of crucial decisions from referee Howard Webb went against them. David Moyes chose not to highlight those incidents and was generally disappointed with his side's performance.
He said: "I have not looked back at any of the incidents. All I have got is the first view I had at the time. Could it have been a sending off? Some referees would have but I haven't seen it again so I can't comment.
"My view from the dugout was it was a decision for the referee. He may have got it right, I don't know.
"I can't really feel as if we deserved an awful lot. I don't think we played all that well. I didn't think there was much in the game before the first goal. I didn't think Arsenal were great and I don't think we were.
"Losing a goal just before half-time was crucial to them and the one just after half-time made it really difficult. We tried to keep going, we'd wanted to do that from the first minute but I never felt we got into the tempo or speed of the game.
"There were things which on another day may have gone in Everton's favour but didn't. I thought we created one or two chances which on another day we might have scored. If we'd got the goal a bit earlier then who knows?''
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