Arsenal Beat Everton to Move Level With Manchester City
Arsenal beat Everton 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium, with defenders Ezri Konsa and Gabriel Magalhães scoring in either half to pull the champions level on points with Premier League leaders Manchester City.
What we know
- City lost 2-1 at Aston Villa earlier on Saturday, ending a seven-match league winning run. Arsenal now trail only on goal difference after eight games.
- Mikel Arteta’s side have responded to last month’s 3-0 defeat at Brighton with three straight league victories over Leeds, Nottingham Forest and Everton.
- Arsenal have scored 13 league goals, fewer than City, Brighton and Chelsea, but have conceded only five times — the joint-best defensive record with Brighton.
- The win came in torrential rain and Storm Austen winds, with Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Christos Tzolis injured. Jurriën Timber, Kai Havertz, Riccardo Calafiori, Bruno Guimarães and Martin Zubimendi began on the bench.
- Ben White, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Mikel Merino, Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyökeres were handed rare starts. Everton were without Jack Grealish and Jarrad Branthwaite.
- Arteta praised the mentality of a rotated team after a demanding week, while David Moyes said Arsenal’s year-on-year recruitment had left them with a powerful squad.
Next step: City showdown looms
Arsenal’s next major title-race marker is the visit of Manchester City to the Emirates on November 29. The meeting comes as City appeal after an independent commission found them guilty on 114 of 115 charges connected to alleged serious Premier League financial-rule breaches.
The disciplinary outcome remains unresolved. City have continued to contest the verdict, but an unsuccessful appeal could carry severe consequences, including relegation. For Arsenal, the immediate task is simpler: maintain their momentum and turn level points into a lead before City arrive in north London.
