Arsenal Joins Manchester City at the Top Thanks to Defensive Goals Against Everton

Arsenal capitalized on Manchester City’s first Premier League defeat to draw level with the Skyblues in the standings. The Gunners dominated Everton 2-0 at Emirates Stadium on Saturday, thanks to two goals from their defenders.

In driving rain and without injured Bukayo Saka, Mikel Arteta’s side opened the scoring in the 7th minute from a corner — a first of the season. New signing Ezri Konsa bundled the ball into the net at the end of a confused passage of play to mark his first goal in a Gunners shirt.

In the second half, Gabriel Magalhaes doubled the lead with a header from a Ben White cross (68th minute), after appearing to have been touched moments earlier. Kai Havertz remained on the bench for the entire match.

Arsenal can thank its defense: both goals of the evening bear the signature of players for whom this is not their primary role, a sign of a team that knows how to draw on all its resources when its attacking leaders are absent.

With 21 points, the Gunners are now co-leaders with Manchester City, who lost 2-1 at Aston Villa earlier in the day. The showdown between the two teams is already scheduled for November 29 at Emirates Stadium, exactly one month away. Before then, Arsenal will travel to Liverpool next Sunday for a major test.