Arsenal moved level on points with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League on Saturday, beating Everton 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium. They did it a few hours after City suffered their first league defeat of the season.

Ezri Konsa broke the deadlock inside seven minutes with his first goal for the club. Martin Odegaard’s third delivery of an early corner sequence was flicked across goal by Gabriel Magalhaes, and Konsa pushed it over the line. It was Arsenal’s first goal from a corner this season.

The hosts dominated the first half, with 58 per cent of possession and a heavy shot count, but could not turn that into a second goal. That kept Everton in the contest.

David Moyes’s side had their moments, mostly on the counter. Thierno Barry nearly levelled after a loose pass back from Ben White, but David Raya blocked it with his leg.

Tyrique George also threatened down the left, and Gabriel had to clear off the line from a corner. Mikel Arteta was shown a yellow card for dissent, and he demanded more intensity from his players.

Gabriel settled it in the 68th minute, shortly after an injury scare. He met a delivery from White with a header past Jordan Pickford. Arsenal had Bukayo Saka missing and rotated heavily, with Everton’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall heading narrowly wide late on.

The result left Arsenal on 21 points from eight games, matching City, who lost 2-1 to Aston Villa earlier in the day. Nicolas Jackson scored twice for Villa, and Erling Haaland’s ninth league goal of the season was not enough to save City. City still hold the edge on goal difference.

Everton, who went into the game unbeaten away from home, stay on 10 points after back-to-back defeats following their loss to Chelsea. Arsenal turn their attention to a difficult league trip against Liverpool, before the visit of City on November 29.

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