Arsenal move level with Manchester City after victory over Everton

Arsenal took advantage of Manchester City’s defeat by Aston Villa to move level with the Premier League leaders after a 2-0 win over Everton at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Ezri Konsa opened the scoring in the seventh minute, with Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford unable to deal with a corner. The ball fell to Konsa, who drove it into the net for his first Arsenal goal.

The strike ended Arsenal’s 13-match run without scoring from a set-piece in all competitions, excluding penalties. It also brought Everton’s run of avoiding goals from corners this season to an end.

Everton threatened an immediate response when James Garner forced a save from David Raya, while Vitaliy Mykolenko also sent in a dangerous cross. Arsenal continued to control much of the play through Eberechi Eze, Martin Odegaard and Noni Madueke.

Terryك George went close for Everton in the 17th minute after beating Ben White, but the Arsenal defender diverted his shot behind for a corner. Arsenal then survived a scare at the other end when Raya failed to claim an Everton corner, with Gabriel Magalhaes clearing before the ball crossed the line.

Eze shot wide in the 24th minute and Madueke missed another opportunity four minutes later. Pickford saved from Declan Rice before Everton’s defence blocked a Mikel Merino effort, while Madueke sent another attempt narrowly wide.

Everton had a major chance to equalise just before half-time when White’s attempted pass back to Raya was intercepted, allowing Thierno Barry to run through on goal. Raya reacted quickly to make the save.

Merino headed over from a Rice free-kick as Arsenal went into the interval 1-0 ahead. The hosts had taken 13 shots, but only two had been on target, while Everton had threatened through Arsenal’s defensive mistakes.

Arsenal continued to apply pressure after the restart, with Eze’s effort in the 50th minute deflecting behind and Pickford saving an Odegaard shot from outside the area two minutes later.

Gabriel briefly required treatment after falling while attempting to deal with a cross, but the Brazilian defender continued. Miles Lewis-Skelly was booked in the 58th minute for bringing down Brennan Johnson, while Garner received a yellow card eight minutes later for a strong challenge.

Two minutes after that, Gabriel doubled Arsenal’s lead in his 200th Premier League appearance. White delivered an accurate cross from the right and Gabriel rose at the far post to head past Pickford.

Mikel Arteta then replaced Merino with Bruno Guimaraes, Lewis-Skelly with Riccardo Calafiori and Viktor Gyokeres with Kai Havertz. David Moyes sent on Tyler Dibling for Johnson before Mykolenko, who was injured, was replaced by Hayden Hackney.

Everton pressed for a way back, but Gabriel blocked Barry’s effort in the 78th minute. James Tarkowski was booked for a late challenge on Havertz, while Kieran Dewsbury-Hall headed wide and Raya saved from Hackney in the 89th minute.

Arsenal saw out eight minutes of added time to secure three points and move to 21 points, level with Manchester City after their leaders lost 2-1 to Aston Villa.