Arsenal beat Everton 2-0 to join Man City at summit
Arsenal beat Everton 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday to move level with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League. Centre-backs Ezri Konsa and Gabriel Magalhaes scored the goals as the reigning champions rediscovered their set-piece threat on a rainswept afternoon in London.
Konsa opens the scoring
Ezri Konsa bundled the ball into the net in the opening minutes for his first goal for the club since joining from Aston Villa in August. The goal came from a corner and was Arsenal’s first set-piece goal since May, ending a surprisingly long wait for a team that had built its reputation on dead-ball excellence.
Arsenal dominated the first half with 13 shots and 10 corners, but Everton nearly snatched an equaliser before the break. A careless header back from Ben White was intercepted by Everton forward Thierno Barry, but he could not make clean contact and goalkeeper David Raya made the save.
Gabriel also came to Arsenal’s rescue in the first half, clearing the danger off the line after Raya failed to deal convincingly with an Everton corner. It was an early sign of the Brazilian’s influence on both ends of the pitch.
Gabriel seals it on his 200th appearance
Gabriel went down in pain ten minutes after the restart while stretching to intercept the ball, but he was able to resume after treatment on the pitch. In the 68th minute, after manager Mikel Arteta made a triple substitution bringing on Kai Havertz, Bruno Guimaraes and Riccardo Calafiori, Gabriel rose to head home White’s floated cross from the right and make it 2-0.
The goal capped a remarkable personal afternoon for Gabriel, who was making his 200th Premier League appearance. With his regular defensive partner William Saliba still absent through injury, Gabriel’s importance to Arsenal was underlined throughout the match as he repeatedly got the better of Barry, who endured a frustrating afternoon on the slick surface.
Arteta praised his defender afterwards, saying: “He’s one of the best centre backs in the world, no question, with the impact he has in both boxes. His leadership, his presence, what he offers to the rest of the boys is unique and we’re very happy to have him.”
Teenager Max Dowman, who became the youngest-ever Premier League goalscorer in the same fixture last season, was introduced for the final ten minutes. Everton almost pulled a goal back when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall flashed a header just wide of Raya’s post, but that was the last scare on a satisfactory day for the home side.
What it means for the title race
The victory put Arsenal level on 21 points with Manchester City at the Premier League summit, after City’s perfect start to the season was ended by Aston Villa earlier on Saturday. Arsenal’s set-piece goals, defensive solidity and Gabriel’s leadership will encourage Arteta as the champions look to stay at the top through the busy winter schedule.
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Sources: Reuters, Channels Television, 24 October 2026.