The first after 18 minutes was a shot on the turn by Steven Davies that was thwarted by Gary Naysmith’s run from the left flank. That was followed by McFadden denying Gabriel Agbonlahor and then Cahill appearing behind him when Davies thumped in a follow-up.It was tough for Villa and it got worse just before half-time. Jlloyd Samuel, a left-back operating on the opposite wing when he had to replace the injured Aaron Hughes, looked like a man in an alien environment when a long pass from Cahill looped beyond him. In came Cahill with the force of a mighty wave to thump home.This was no more than Everton deserved – some of their passing was exemplary – yet the goals had sandwiched an extraordinary 90-second spell when Villa had the ball cleared off the line three times. His aim was low and his half-volley skidded past the diving Thomas Sorensen.After 22 minutes it was 2-0 when Beattie flicked on Phil Neville’s throw-in and McFadden’s shot from a narrow angle went under Sorensen’s body before lapping against the post. The first arrived after 16 minutes when a long free-kick was headed down by the bustling centre-forward and, like last week against Fulham, McFadden was the beneficiary. “Long balls, set plays, we don’t deal with them, and for all our good football going forward, that kicks you in the teeth.”It soon became apparent that Villa had problems with James Beattie, and Everton’s first two goals came from his absolute command of the air.

Everton are on the rise, Villa, who have suffered three defeats in eight days, cannot stagger to the end of the season soon enough.”We’ve been conceding soft goals all season,” the Villa manager David O’Leary moaned. The sad and disillusioned are suddenly hungry and eager again.
They played well, scoring through Tim Cahill (twice), James McFadden and Leon Osman, but Aston Villa were so feeble that they could have been seriously under the weather and still got three points. This was their sixth successive home Premiership win and they are closing in on a Uefa Cup place that seemed an unlikely prospect when two exits from Europe made such an unedifying mess of their start. There were fewer more sorrowful sagas than Everton’s campaign in Europe last autumn, but like a moth spotting a lighted candle, they are being drawn again towards potential pain Masochists everywhere can only look and admire. There was time for another Perry blunder, but this time Hreidarsson blocked to stop Van Persie adding a fourth.. Straight away the latter whistled a drive just over.Arsenal took a breather and a gap opened for Dennis Rommedahl. He slammed his shot way over while Van Persie was twice crowded out before Gilberto Silva’s goal-bound shot struck the Dutchman.

On came Robin Van Persie and Dennis Bergkamp with Hleb departing to the most enthusiastic of ovations This was cruel. One mesmeric passing move led to a Pires shot, which Myrhe pushed on to the post.Henry then checked and checked again, toying with Perry, like a cat with a mouse, before sending a curling shot narrowly wide. The intensity of Arsenal’s attacks grew with Cesc Fabregas prominent and Hleb darting here and there while Henry decided to drop deeper and have a go at being the play-maker. Arsenal poured forward, Hleb ran at the heart of defence and found Adebayor, who had two shots blocked before the ball ran to the Belarussian who thrashed it in. Soon it was extended target practice which, perversely, led to overelaboration by Arsenal.Slow to emerge for the second half – as they been throughout the first, Charlton threw on a second striker It made no difference. Another error, this time by Hermann Hreidarsson, ridiculously delaying by the penalty spot, and Adebayor whisked the ball away and instantly rolled it beyond Myhre.

Henry burst beyond Luke Young and pulled back for Robert Pires to side-foot home Wonderful.It allowed Arsenal to cut loose Soon the full repertoire was being played Henry nestled a free-kick on to the roof of the net Charlton, fatally, continued to stand off Inevitably, Arsenal scored again. Henry continued his run, arcing into the area and the pass was returned. Hleb dispossessed Jerome Thomas in his own half and charged forward, feeding Henry who instantly ferried it on to Adebayor. Henry was unmarked and made his frustration all too clear.It did not last long.