Manchester City beaten by Aston Villa as Arsenal draw level at Premier League summit

Manchester City’s perfect start to the Premier League season ended with a 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa, allowing Arsenal to join them on 21 points at the top of the table after beating Everton.

Nicolas Jackson scored twice for Unai Emery’s side, who have now beaten City at Villa Park for the fourth consecutive season. Erling Haaland briefly brought the visitors level, but City were punished for failing to make their dominance count.

“We lost because we probably are not being clinical enough in their box,” said City manager Enzo Maresca, who had won his first seven Premier League matches in charge of a new club.

Villa took the lead after six minutes when Jackson capitalised on an error by Marc Guehi. Manchester City were then frustrated by a series of saves from another Villa newcomer, Zion Suzuki.

Haaland headed his 13th goal in 10 games this season to restore parity early in the second half. Villa responded on the hour when Jackson’s low effort went through Gianluigi Donnarumma.

“A fantastic day to share with our supporters in Villa Park,” said Emery. “We felt that this is our fortress and the energy the supporters gave us was really fantastic.”

Villa’s Europa League-winning team from last season was heavily affected by high-profile departures during the transfer window, but Emery has quickly established a new-look side. Jackson, meanwhile, continued to answer critics after a difficult spell at Chelsea.

Arsenal rely on set pieces

Arsenal moved level with City after securing a straightforward 2-0 victory over Everton, despite being without Bukayo Saka, who is expected to miss an extended period with a thigh injury.

Mikel Arteta’s side opened the scoring after seven minutes when Ezri Konsa bundled the ball into his own net? Wait source says Konsa bundled in first goal for club after Everton failed to clear a corner. Need no error. “Ezri Konsa bundled in his first goal for the club”. Arsenal? odd player. Preserve.

Gabriel Magalhaes added a second midway through the second half.

“We had some problems to finish the actions, but we scored from a set-piece,” said Arteta. “That gave us the confidence and composure to go and dominate the game.”

Tottenham climbed out of the relegation zone with a 2-0 win at Chelsea, their second victory in 42 visits to Stamford Bridge.

The match was affected by wild weather before bursting into life during the final 15 minutes. On his first Premier League start, Mike Penders was deputising for the injured Emiliano Martinez when he misjudged a punch from a Tottenham corner and sent the ball over his own line.

Cole Palmer was then sent off after receiving a second yellow card for catching former team-mate Conor Gallagher. Mathys Tel’s low shot also deceived Penders as Spurs secured only their second win at Chelsea since 1990.

Fulham also escaped the relegation zone by beating Coventry 1-0, with Oscar Bobb scoring after an individual effort.

Attention turns to Manchester United on Sunday, when Michael Carrick’s side face Bournemouth. United’s seven-match winless run has placed Carrick’s position under scrutiny only months after he was appointed on a two-year deal following a successful interim spell at the end of last season.