Arteta reveals Konsa's goal has 'unlocked something' in Arsenal

Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal have rediscovered a weapon that was central to last season's title charge, crediting Ezri Konsa's scrappy opener against Everton with reigniting the team's belief at set pieces.

Konsa bundled in the opener from a corner in Arsenal's 2-0 win at the Emirates on Saturday, before Gabriel Magalhaes headed home a second from a Ben White cross in open play. The result moved Arsenal level on points with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table.

Arteta admitted it had been a source of frustration that Arsenal had gone without a set piece goal until that point this season, despite being one of the most dangerous sides in Europe from dead balls last term.

Arteta on Konsa's breakthrough

'I'm sure that's going to unlock something and that belief of the players,' Arteta said. 'So they are really convinced. You have to see them when we train the level of attention and how much they believe in what we do and what Nico [Jover, set piece coach] does as well.'

'There's no question about that, but at the end he has to come through and he has to make the difference and we know that that is a massive welcome for us.'

The Arsenal boss also pointed to missed opportunities in midweek as further proof of the quality of chances being created from those situations. 'We hadn't scored from a set piece, which we were disappointed with because we had generated so many chances as well,' he said. 'I think in midweek we should have scored at least two in Munich and we didn't and that would probably win us the game.'

'We know that in every phase of play we want to be the best and we're not going to stop until we do it.'

Gabriel praised for battling through injury scare

There was a nervy moment for Arsenal early in the second half when Gabriel went down appearing to be in discomfort, only minutes before he rose to head home the second goal.

Arteta praised the Brazilian's response after the match. 'He is a clear example of when I talk about the mentality of the team,' Arteta said. 'The mentality of the team is the mentality of the players. And he is a great example of that. We were all scared not only for the way he went down but for the reaction of the players that were next to him.'

'Immediately he says he wants to continue and he scores the goal that helps us win the game.'

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown went further in his praise of the centre back on BBC's Match of the Day, calling him a club legend. 'Gabriel is into his sixth season at Arsenal now and this guy is just a machine,' Keown said. 'You rarely see a striker get the better of him. I've seen him mature a lot and become the leader at the back. He was immense again today. He just loves defending and the fans just buzz of him. He's a legend of the football club now.'

With Arsenal level on points at the top of the table and set piece threat now showing signs of returning, Arteta will be hoping Konsa's goal proves to be the catalyst for more productive afternoons from dead ball situations as the season progresses.