Konsa and Gabriel Strike as Gunners Move Level on Points with Manchester City

Arsenal join Manchester City with 21 points at the top of the Premier League table with a 2-0 win over Everton at a rain soaked Emirates. Ezri Konsa and Gabriel complete the score sheet for the hosts.

The Premier League champions' trademark weapon opened the game in the seventh minute with Konsa scoring his first Arsenal goal. This also marked Arsenal's first goal from a set piece this season, something we have become used to seeing from them, and a big moment given how central they were to last season’s title win. Everton, to their credit, did not retreat. James Garner tested David Raya from distance, George forced a deflection just wide, and Kieran Dewsbury-Hall’s corner almost brought an equaliser, only for Gabriel to clear off the line after Raya’s punch caused panic in the Arsenal box.

Arsenal came out for the second half with more tempo and intent. Rice’s corners kept causing problems, though Everton’s Barry and Tarkowski were there to clear the danger.

Settling into the second half, then came the afternoon's biggest scare for Arteta. 56th minute, Gabriel went down clutching his knee. After a few tense minutes of treatment, the Brazilian shrugged it off, returned to the pitch, and promptly added his name to the score sheet.

Overcoming the injury scare earlier in the half, Gabriel doubled Arsenal’s lead in the 68th

minute, heading home Ben White’s cross. It was a fitting way to mark Gabriel’s 200th Premier League appearance for Arsenal, while White celebrated his own milestone, making his 200th appearance for the club. Moyes looked for a way back into the game with changes to his team, bringing on Dibling, Hackney and later Alcaraz. But Everton struggled to find the composure needed in the final third.

Their best chance of the second half arrived on 82 minutes, when Garner delivered a fine ball

from wide and Dewsbury-Hall flashed a header the wrong side of the post with Raya beaten.

This summed up Everton’s afternoon; competitive, willing, but ultimately lacking the cutting edge when it mattered most.

Arsenal sits in 2nd place level on 21 points with Manchester City, while Everton occupy 9th

place with 10 points.

Both teams now quickly turn their attention away from league football as they pivot to the

Carabao Cup Fourth Round for their upcoming midweek fixtures. Mikel Arteta's side will travel to face League Two underdogs Fleetwood Town on Tuesday, 27 October, before bracing themselves for a massive Premier League showdown away at Liverpool

the following weekend. Meanwhile, David Moyes and his Everton squad return to Goodison.