Arsenal seized the chance to go level at the top of the Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Everton at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday. Goals from defenders Ezri Konsa and Gabriel secured the three points after Manchester City had surprisingly lost at Aston Villa earlier in the day. This result, Arsenal's fourth win and a draw in their last five matches, leaves them second in the Premier League with 18 points from seven games, a record of six wins and one loss.
Mikel Arteta’s side now have 21 points from eight games, matching City’s total at the summit. The win was their seventh in the league this season and an 11th from 13 matches in all competitions, underlining their strong early form. Their overall defensive record this season shows 11 goals scored and just five conceded. “We’re very happy with the victory, with the performance and with the week, because we were given a terrible schedule,” Arteta said afterwards.
How the goals were scored
Konsa broke the deadlock with his first goal for the club since arriving from Aston Villa in the summer, heading home from a corner in the 26th minute. Gabriel then doubled the lead on his 200th Premier League appearance for Arsenal, converting a cross from Ben White in the 58th minute for his 21st league goal. Everton rarely threatened, with Thierno Barry failing to capitalise on a loose back-pass from White, and they remain without an away win this season.
The result extends Arsenal’s unbeaten run to five matches across all competitions, a sequence that includes a 2-2 draw at Bayern Munich in the Champions League where Eberechi Eze and Declan Rice were on the scoresheet. It follows other recent results including a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest and a 3-0 victory over Lille. They now sit second in the Premier League <a href="/standings">standings</a> with 18 points from seven games, three points behind Manchester City. Bukayo Saka remains the team’s top scorer this season with three goals in seven appearances.
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Mikel Arteta revealed he is collecting evidence of other managers stepping out of their technical areas. The Arsenal manager, booked against Everton, said, "I'm clipping all of that. I have a massive storage of images." He is one yellow card away from a touchline suspension. The win, Arsenal's seventh in eight league games, leaves them second with 21 points, behind Manchester City only on goal difference. Their recent form is now four wins and a draw from the last five matches.
Ezri Konsa revealed his first Arsenal goal, which came in the seventh minute against Everton, ended a specific drought. The defender said, "The set-piece goal was our first since May, ending a run of 13 games across all competitions without one." The 2-0 win leaves them second with 21 points.
Mikel Arteta said his side must ignore the uncertainty around Manchester City's appeal against financial charges. The Arsenal manager stated, "We have to just focus on what we can do." He added they are pleased with 90% of their results and performances. The Gunners, second with 21 points, have scored 13 goals and conceded just five this season. David Moyes praised Arsenal's squad depth after they beat his Everton side despite several injuries. "They have built the squad and strengthened year on year," the Everton manager said.
