Arsenal beat Everton 2-0 to draw level with Manchester City on 21 points

Konsa and Gabriel decide the game

Arsenal beat Everton 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, 24 October, to move level on 21 points with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League. Ezri Konsa opened the scoring in the seventh minute, bundling the ball home at the back post from a corner. It was his first goal for the club since he arrived from Aston Villa in the summer, and it was Arsenal's first set-piece goal of the season, ending a run of 13 matches without one. Gabriel Magalhaes doubled the lead in the 68th minute, heading in Ben White's cross on his 200th Premier League appearance. Gabriel stayed down clutching his leg after a clearance, but he was able to continue.

Arsenal dominant before the break

Arsenal controlled the opening 45 minutes, taking 13 shots and winning 10 corners in that spell, according to the BBC's match report. Early pressure brought three corners in a row before Konsa's goal. Everton's James Garner and Tyrique George both tested David Raya, but neither could find a way past the Arsenal goalkeeper. Thierno Barry and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall wasted Everton's best openings, and Dewsbury-Hall flicked a header just wide late in the game. Evening Standard's ratings credited Raya with a sharp save that denied Barry and with distribution that launched attacks.

Title race and the table

The win was Arsenal's seventh from eight top-flight fixtures this season and their 11th from 13 games in all competitions, according to the Independent. Manchester City lost 2-1 at Aston Villa in the early kick-off on Saturday, 24 October, which left Arsenal level with them on 21 points. Everton, beaten for the second successive time, remain on 10 points in ninth place. Arsenal's form has been strong at the start of the season, with the side moving to the top of the table on the same afternoon.

Moyes and Everton under pressure

David Moyes was at the Emirates for his 14th visit to the stadium as Everton's manager, and his luck did not change. Everton had gone six matches unbeaten to start the season, so this second successive defeat adds to his concerns. The Guardian described Mikel Arteta as Moyes's former captain, and the match was hardly a vintage performance from Arteta's side. The club's American owners have confirmed they want out, which adds to the pressure around Everton.

Ratings and reaction

Evening Standard's player ratings gave Gabriel 9 out of 10 and Konsa 8, with Odegaard also rated 8 and Ben White 7. Declan Rice created four chances, more than any other player on the pitch, and Myles Lewis-Skelly won all four of his first-half duels. Noni Madueke caused Everton's Mykolenko real problems in the opening 45 minutes, dragging one shot wide and drilling another into the side netting. The Guardian judged that the performance did not need to be vintage against opponents who offered little in attack.