Arsenal moved level on points with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League after a 2-0 victory over Everton on Saturday, rediscovering their threat from set pieces in a rain-soaked Emirates Stadium.
Ezri Konsa opened the scoring in the seventh minute, scrambling home his first goal for the club since joining from Aston Villa in August, before fellow centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes sealed the win with a second-half header.
The Gunners capitalised on City’s earlier 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa, which saw Enzo Maresca’s side drop points for the first time this season. Both teams now have 21 points, although City remain ahead on goal difference.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was forced to reshuffle his attack after Bukayo Saka suffered a muscle injury during Wednesday’s Champions League draw against Bayern Munich. Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze were handed starts on the wings.
Arteta was already short of wide options, with Christos Tzolis sidelined and Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard having departed during the summer transfer window.
Arsenal make early breakthrough
The hosts made a strong start and took the lead in the seventh minute from their third corner of the match after a scramble inside the Everton penalty area.
Martin Odegaard’s inswinging delivery was flicked on by Gabriel. Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford got his fingertips to the bouncing ball, but it fell to Konsa, who poked it home at the back post.
It was Arsenal’s first non-penalty set-piece goal in all competitions this season, offering a reminder of the threat from dead-ball situations that helped establish their reputation as set-piece specialists last term, when they won their first Premier League title in a generation.
Everton responded positively, with Tyrique George forcing a deflection off Ben White that sent his effort behind for a corner, but Arsenal largely remained in control.
Madueke impressed on the right flank, turning sharply before firing into the side netting in the 30th minute.
The Gunners survived a scare approaching half-time when White’s careless header back towards goalkeeper David Raya was intercepted by Thierno Barry. However, the Everton forward failed to make clean contact, allowing Raya to save.
Arsenal continued to press, with midfielder Mikel Merino heading over in the closing moments of the first half. The hosts went into the break having registered 13 shots and 10 corners, but with only Konsa’s goal to show for their dominance.
Gabriel seals the points
Gabriel briefly caused concern 10 minutes after the restart when he went down in pain while stretching to intercept the ball, but he was able to continue after receiving treatment.
Arteta made a triple substitution in the 68th minute, introducing Kai Havertz, Bruno Guimaraes and Riccardo Calafiori.
The changes soon paid dividends. Arsenal doubled their lead moments later when Gabriel rose above the Everton defence to head home White’s cross, capping a neatly constructed move down the right.
Teenager Max Dowman, who became the youngest-ever Premier League goalscorer in the same fixture last season, came on for the final 10 minutes.
Everton threatened a late consolation when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall sent a header narrowly wide of Raya’s post, but Arsenal held firm to secure a comfortable victory.
The result puts the Gunners firmly back in contention at the top of the table, level on points with City after their rivals’ earlier slip-up.
AFP
