Konsa and Gabriel sink Moyes again as Arsenal close gap on Man City
Ezri Konsa's first goal for Arsenal and a trademark Gabriel Magalhães header were enough to see off Everton at the Emirates, moving the Premier League champions level on points with Manchester City after City's defeat to Aston Villa earlier in the day.
It was far from a vintage display from Mikel Arteta's side, who made five changes following the midweek exertions against Bayern Munich, but Everton offered little going forward even as they threw bodies behind the ball for long periods.
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Set piece threat returns
Arsenal took the lead in the seventh minute from a third successive corner. Gabriel won the first contact at the near post, Jordan Pickford did well to tip the effort onto the crossbar, but Vitaliy Mykolenko could only parry the loose ball into the path of Konsa, who rammed it home under pressure from Viktor Gyökeres. According to Opta, it was Arsenal's first set piece goal, excluding penalties, since May against Crystal Palace, ending a run of 13 games without one after a record breaking 25 such goals last season.
Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke both passed up good chances to extend the lead in front of watching England head coach Thomas Tuchel, with Madueke particularly lively and unlucky not to score with a right footed effort from the edge of the box. Arsenal piled on the pressure with ten corners in the first half alone, though Everton's defence held firm, and Ben White's momentary lapse almost gifted Thierno Barry an equaliser before half time.
Gabriel doubles the lead
Gyökeres, making his first Premier League start of the season, struggled to make an impact and remains without a goal for the club this term. He was booked for a foul on James Tarkowski that referee Tony Harrington awarded, prompting a frustrated Arteta to pick up a yellow card of his own for protesting. Gyökeres was substituted shortly after.
Within a minute of the change, Gabriel headed in at the back post from a brilliant White cross to make it 2-0, a timely reminder of the full back's quality with Tuchel watching on. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's header flashed just wide late on as Everton pushed for a way back in, but the visitors could not find a breakthrough.
For David Moyes, it was a 14th visit to the Emirates without ever winning, and his 400th defeat across a managerial career in which 31 have now come against Arsenal, more than any other opponent, according to Opta. Speaking afterwards, Moyes said: “It was always going to be hard after conceding the early goal. I want us to challenge the top teams but it's difficult when you see the strength of their bench.”
Asked about the title race shaping up alongside the uncertainty over Manchester City's punishment following their guilty verdict on 115 charges, Arteta said: “[We are] just focusing on what we can do. We are very pleased with 90% of the results and performances that we have.”
Arsenal sit level on points with City at the top as the season's early pace continues to be relentless, with both sides winning at least seven of their opening eight matches, a feat last achieved over a century ago.
