Arsenal close gap on Manchester City with convincing Everton win

Arsenal moved level on 21 points with Premier League leaders Manchester City after a 2-0 victory over Everton at Emirates Stadium, with City’s 2-1 defeat by Aston Villa giving Mikel Arteta’s side a significant boost in the title race.

Arsenal made a fast start and took the lead in the seventh minute after Everton failed to deal with a corner. Jordan Pickford was unable to control the ball, allowing Ezri Konsa to drive it into the net for his first Arsenal goal.

The strike ended Arsenal’s run of 13 matches in all competitions without scoring from a set-piece, excluding penalties. It also brought an end to Everton’s record of not conceding from a corner this season.

Everton threatened an immediate response, with James Garner forcing a save from David Raya before Vitalii Mykolenko sent in a cross that briefly unsettled the home defence. Arsenal continued to create openings through Eberechi Eze, Martin Odegaard and Noni Madueke.

Terryke George went close for Everton in the 17th minute after beating Ben White on the left, but White recovered to deflect his shot behind. A minute later, Raya failed to deal with an Everton corner, though Gabriel Magalhaes cleared the ball before it crossed the line.

Eze shot wide in the 24th minute and Madueke missed another opportunity four minutes later. Pickford then denied Declan Rice, while Everton’s defence blocked a Mikel Merino effort before Madueke sent another attempt narrowly wide.

Everton had their best chance to equalise just before half-time when White’s attempted pass back to Raya fell short. Thierno Barry ran through on goal, but Raya made a quick save. Merino headed over from Rice’s free-kick as Arsenal went into the interval 1-0 ahead.

Arsenal had managed 13 shots in the first half, but only two were on target, while Everton had exposed occasional weaknesses in the hosts’ defence.

Eze saw a shot deflected wide in the 50th minute and Pickford saved from Odegaard two minutes later. Everton struggled to build enough sustained pressure, although Arsenal were concerned when Gabriel fell while attempting to deal with a cross in the 56th minute. The Brazilian defender received treatment and continued.

Miles Lewis-Skelly was booked for fouling Brennan Johnson, while Garner was also cautioned in the 66th minute. Two minutes later, Arsenal doubled their advantage when White delivered an excellent cross from the right and Gabriel headed in at the far post.

The goal came in Gabriel’s 200th Premier League appearance.

Arteta responded by bringing on Bruno Guimaraes for Merino, Riccardo Calafiori for Lewis-Skelly and Kai Havertz for Viktor Gyokeres. Everton manager David Moyes replaced Johnson with Tyler Dibling before the injured Mykolenko was withdrawn for Hayden Hackney.

Gabriel blocked Barry’s effort in the 78th minute, while James Tarkowski was booked for a late challenge on Havertz. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall headed wide in the 83rd minute and Raya saved from Hackney late on.

Arsenal negotiated eight minutes of added time to secure three points and draw level with Manchester City, who remain top after their defeat by Aston Villa.