Arsenal 2-0 Everton: Konsa and Gabriel draw Gunners level with Man City
Defenders Ezri Konsa and Gabriel scored as Arsenal beat Everton 2-0 at the Emirates on Saturday, pulling level on 21 points with Manchester City hours after City's first league defeat of the season.
At a glance
- Arsenal beat Everton 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium in London on Saturday, October 24, 2026, in the eighth round of the Premier League.
- Ezri Konsa scored in the 7th minute, his first goal since joining from Aston Villa in the summer; Gabriel headed the second in the 68th minute on his 200th Premier League appearance.
- Arsenal and Manchester City are now level on 21 points after eight games, following City's 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa earlier on Saturday.
- It was Arsenal's seventh win in eight league games and their 11th in 13 matches in all competitions; Everton have lost two in a row and dropped to ninth.
Arsenal beat Everton 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, October 24, 2026, and drew level on points with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League. Two defenders did the damage: Ezri Konsa scored his first goal for the club in the seventh minute, and Gabriel headed the second midway through the second half on his 200th Premier League appearance. The win came only hours after City lost 2-1 at Aston Villa, their first league defeat of the season.
How the match unfolded
Arsenal started fast. Martin Odegaard's first corner was pushed onto the crossbar by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. From the next set piece, Odegaard's corner dropped in the six-yard box and Konsa prodded the ball home from close range after a scramble.
Everton grew into the game before half-time. A powerful shot from Tyrique George was deflected behind, and striker Thierno Barry's glancing header was saved by Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.
The second goal arrived in the 68th minute. Ben White swung in a cross to the far post and Gabriel rose to head it in, putting the result beyond doubt on a landmark afternoon for the Brazilian centre-back.
Everton's best chance to get back into the game came late on, when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall met a cross from James Garner but angled his shot just wide. The visitors also lost left-back Vitalii Mykolenko to injury, with Garner moving into the back four.
| Arsenal 2-0 Everton | |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, October 24, 2026 |
| Venue | Emirates Stadium, London |
| Competition | Premier League, round 8 |
| Arsenal goals | Ezri Konsa 7', Gabriel 68' |
| Assists | Martin Odegaard (corner), Ben White (cross) |
| Everton | Vitalii Mykolenko off injured |
The title race after Saturday
The afternoon changed the shape of the early table. Arsenal started the day three points behind City, who had won all seven of their opening league games. City's defeat at Villa Park, where Nicolas Jackson scored twice, opened the door, and Arsenal walked through it.
| Team | Played | Points | Last result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | 8 | 21 | Won 2-0 v Everton |
| Manchester City | 8 | 21 | Lost 1-2 at Aston Villa |
Both teams have won seven and lost one of their eight matches. Chelsea and Liverpool, who began the weekend fourth and fifth, can close some of the gap with their own results this weekend.
Background
Konsa's goal had extra meaning. The England defender spent several seasons at Aston Villa before moving to north London in the summer, and he scored his first Arsenal goal on the same day his old club ended City's perfect start.
Gabriel's milestone underlines how central he has become to Arsenal since joining from Lille in 2020. Set pieces have been one of the team's most dangerous weapons in recent seasons, and both goals on Saturday came from dead-ball situations or crosses.
The victory was Arsenal's fourth league win in a row, their seventh in eight league games and their 11th in 13 matches in all competitions. Everton, managed by David Moyes, have now lost two straight league games and slipped to ninth.
Reactions
Everton's own match report pointed to the chances that got away, through Barry before half-time and Dewsbury-Hall late on, and to the injury that forced Mykolenko off. For Arsenal, a clean sheet and two goals from defenders summed up a controlled afternoon rather than a spectacular one, and the result mattered more than the performance on a day when their main rival dropped points.
Why it matters
After a season in which City set the pace from the opening weekend, Arsenal are now level at the top. With the two clubs separated by nothing on points, the coming weeks, including Arsenal's trip to Anfield, could decide who leads the league into the busy winter period.
For fans in Pakistan, India and across South Asia, where Arsenal have a large following, Saturday's 3pm kick-off was shown in the evening, and the title race now promises a closer fight than City's early run had suggested.
What happens next
| Team | Next match | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | Fleetwood Town (away), Carabao Cup fourth round | Week of October 26, 2026 |
| Arsenal | Liverpool (away), Premier League | Sunday, November 1, 2026 |
| Everton | Newcastle United (home), Carabao Cup fourth round | Thursday, October 29, 2026, 7.45pm GMT |
Arsenal's cup trip to League Two side Fleetwood Town gives Mikel Arteta a chance to rotate before the league visit to Liverpool, the biggest test of their season so far.
Questions people are asking
What was the score in Arsenal vs Everton?
Arsenal won 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium on October 24, 2026. Ezri Konsa scored in the 7th minute and Gabriel headed in the second goal in the 68th minute.
Are Arsenal top of the Premier League?
Arsenal are level with Manchester City on 21 points after eight games. They closed the gap after beating Everton 2-0 on the same day City lost 2-1 at Aston Villa.
When do Arsenal play Liverpool?
Arsenal visit Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League on Sunday, November 1, 2026. Before that they play Fleetwood Town away in the Carabao Cup fourth round.
