Konsa and Gabriel sink Everton as Arsenal close gap on Man City

Manchester City's first league defeat of the season did not go unanswered. Arsenal made sure of that with a comfortable 2-0 win over Everton at a rain soaked Emirates Stadium, moving level on points with the leaders, separated only by goal difference.

Ezri Konsa opened the scoring after just seven minutes, bundling in from a corner for his first goal since joining the club. It also ended Arsenal's wait for a first non-penalty set piece goal of the season. Gabriel then sealed the win with a second half header on his 200th Premier League appearance for the club, shrugging off a worrying injury scare just 13 minutes earlier to do so.

The win made it seven victories from eight in the league for Mikel Arteta's side, who remain unbeaten and now sit level with City on 21 points.

Gyokeres and Merino return, Gabriel's scare

Viktor Gyokeres and Mikel Merino were both given their first Premier League starts of the season as Arteta made four changes from the win at Nottingham Forest. Gyokeres did not get off the mark himself but turned provider, teeing up Konsa's opener to register an assist in back to back matches following his role in Declan Rice's equaliser at Bayern Munich in midweek.

There was concern in the second half when Gabriel went down clutching his right knee after an awkward fall, but he was able to continue and went on to head home from Ben White's cross on the hour mark. Everton were handed their best chance to level before the break when Thierno Barry failed to capitalise on a loose headed back pass from White, but the visitors could not find a way through.

David Moyes' Everton side, already without Jarrad Branthwaite through concussion protocol and Jack Grealish due to illness, slipped to a second straight defeat and remain winless in 14 league trips to the Emirates.

Arteta hails Konsa and Gabriel's mentality

Speaking after the match, Arteta praised the character shown by his side across a demanding week of fixtures. “We're very happy with the victory, with the performance and with the week, because we were given a terrible schedule,” he said. “We have overcome every hurdle, on top of some injuries. I love the mentality of the team and the quality we've shown.”

On Gabriel's response to his injury scare, Arteta added: “Gabi is a great example of that, because we were all scared. Not because of the way he went down, but the reaction of the players that we're next to him. Immediately he says that he wants to continue and then he scores a goal to help us to win the game. That's what we need from our players.”

He also singled out Konsa's quick adaptation since arriving at the club without a pre-season: “To position yourself in that manner, with that naturality, and performing at the level that he's doing and building already a chemistry and a partnership with Gabi that seems so solid is very difficult to do and we are lucky to have him.”

Moyes, meanwhile, conceded his side never reached the level required. “We didn't really get to a level which I think would have been good enough to win on the day. We gave away a goal very early which meant we were chasing,” he said.

Arsenal now sit poised to keep pace with Manchester City as the title race continues to tighten, with Arteta's squad showing few signs of fatigue despite a congested schedule.