Moyes: Better side lost

Everton boss David Moyes has claimed the better side lost after Arsenal went back to the top of the Premier League with a 4-1 win over the Toffees.

Tim Cahill’s scrambled goal had put the hosts ahead at Goodison Park but second-half strikes from Eduardo (two), Emmanuel Adebayor and Tomas Rosicky handed the Gunners a comfortable win in a match which also saw Nicklas Bendtner and Mikel Arteta sent off.

Eduardo’s brace represented his first league goals after playing a marginal role following his summer move to the Emirates Stadium.

“What impressed me was the way we played. I thought we played very well and I thought we were better than Arsenal today and it’s incredible that we’ve lost 4-1,” he told Setanta.

“We were the better team for most of the game. We gave Arsenal a really tough game and I thought the better team lost.

“It was Everton who passed the ball today and tried to score good goals and it was Arsenal who scored off long balls.

“The result was more to do with our defending than Arsenal playing well. We gave away poor goals.”

Moyes also felt aggrieved that referee Martin Atkinson had spotted what he felt was a handball by Eduardo before he scored his second goal to fire Arsenal into a 2-1 lead.

“We made mistakes and some things didn’t quite go for us. On the first (Arsenal) goal there was a free-kick on the far side and on the second goal there was a handball.

“The second goal changes it. The decision not to give the handball affects the way the game goes. You need to get the right shouts at the right time.”

Moyes was also unhappy that Bendtner had only received a yellow card for his lunge at Andrew Johnson (he was sent off as it was his second yellow card of the match) while Arteta received a straight red after his flailing arm caught Fabregas in the face.

“Come and have a look at Andrew Johnson’s shin and tell me if that warrants a yellow card compared to the Arteta red card,” said Moyes.

“I am sure the boy (Bendtner) didn’t mean to do any really harm, but he has. Are you telling me that that tackle (Bendtner’s) is the same as what Arteta has done?

“I’ve had a whinge about it and if you could see his (Johnson’s) shin you would have a whinge about it too.”

Cesc Fabregas hailed Eduardo da Silva after the Croatia striker fired two past Everton.

And midfielder Fabregas said afterwards: “We went for it and of course Eduardo deserves it because he has been working really hard and not had many chances.

“He had an opportunity today and took it.”

Fabregas added on Setanta Sports: “The second half felt very calm out there.

“It was difficult but I think it was a very good performance and we are happy.”

Fabregas admitted Manchester United’s defeat at West Ham earlier today was an “extra motivation”.

But he added: “We have to wait a little bit. It’s just another performance from Arsenal, a very good one, but nothing is done. We are at the top but it means nothing if we are not top at the end of season.”

Fabregas also had little room for sentiment after playing a central role in the dismissal of countryman and friend Arteta.

“He is my friend but this is football,” he said. “He put his elbow in my face, so red card.”

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admitted he had gambled and won after leaving out Adebayor and Rosicky against the Merseysiders.

Both eventually came off the bench and scored after Wenger decided to give them a rest from the hectic festive schedule.

“It was a slight gamble because they are two important players, but they gave a lot at Portsmouth (on St Stephen's Day) and needed a breather,” Wenger said on Setanta Sports.

“That’s the advantage of having a big squad.”

Wenger also admitted it was his fault that Bendtner had remained on the pitch to be sent off, after an initial move to substitute him had been postponed.

“I wanted him (to come off) because he started to have tired legs,” he said. “I delayed the substitution and I was punished for that.”

Wenger, who revealed he would not look to add new faces in next month’s transfer window, claimed he asked his men to be more positive at the interval.

“We were too nervous and they didn’t play enough, but Everton made a real battle of it and won most of the duels,” he said.

“We needed to play more and be more positive.”