3 takeaways from Arsenal's rain-soaked victory over Everton

A sluggish affair marred by a relentless North London deluge saw Arsenal move top of the Premier League with a 2-1 win over Everton Saturday at the Emirates.

Arsenal was far from its typically clinical self Saturday, as Arsene Wenger's men appeared to be fatigued from Tuesday's brilliant performance against Bayern Munich. That's not to take away from Everton's efforts, as it threatened on the counter thanks to numerous runs from Ross Barkley and Gerard Deulofeu.

First-half headed goals from Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny were enough to see Arsenal move into top spot for the first time this season, one point clear of Manchester City before Sunday's derby.

Here are three takeaways from Arsenal's victory over Everton in the Premier League's late match:

Everton are useless at set pieces

Whether it be defending free-kicks or taking advantage of its own, Everton has been absolutely terrible at set pieces during the 2015-16 Premier League campaign.

Olivier Giroud's 36th-minute close-range headed flick on a sublime pass from Mesut Ozil foreshadowed Koscielny's tally two minutes later, as Santi Cazorla swung a free-kick in that eluded all but the French international defender to double Arsenal's lead.

Toffees defender Phil Jagielka was a passenger to Koscielny's emphatic finish, adding insult to injury by leveling Everton shot-stopper Tim Howard in the process, as both collapsed to the rain-soaked pitch.

Jagielka and centre-back partner John Stones continue to look out of form and off the pace, with the former being substituted in the 52nd minute for Ramiro Funes Mori after suffering an apparent leg injury.

Mesut Ozil has quieted his critics

Often criticised for appearing to lack the will or ambition to keep pace with the speedy nature of Premier League football, Ozil has been the English top flight's best passer this season.

The World Cup-winning German's assist on Giroud's opener was his seventh of the season, tops among all Premier League players, and his 11th in the calendar year - also the most in the English top flight.

Ozil has been a vital component of an Arsenal side that has won 20 matches in 2015, two more than second-best Manchester City.

Santi Cazorla's passing skills continue to impress

Much like his colleague Ozil, the pint-sized Spanish international has been a midfield maestro whose influence cannot be limited to a stats sheet.

His first-half heat chart, seen below, indicates that the former deep-lying midfield threat is willing to roam while teammate Francis Coquelin sits in front of the back four, giving the 30-year-old the liberty to alternate spraying passes around the pitch with Ozil.

(Courtesy: @Squawka)

His curling free-kick effort found a leaping Koscielny in the 38th minute to double Arsenal's lead, as Wenger's men continue to show an attacking impetus among the best in Europe.

With passing from the likes of Cazorla and Ozil, Arsenal's attack duo of Giroud and Theo Walcott continues to shine, with seven league goals among them, muffling critics who mocked Wenger for failing to pull a striker from a hat during the summer transfer window.