Arsenal secured a 2‑0 victory over Everton at Goodison Park, keeping their unbeaten start to the Premier League intact and narrowing the gap to league leaders Manchester City. The win, driven by goals from Ezri Konsa and Gabriel Magalhães, highlighted Arsenal’s continued strength from set pieces and added another chapter to David Moyes’s challenging season.
Everton, managed by former Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta, had been hoping for a turnaround on his 14th visit to Goodison. The visitors had a difficult night, missing key players such as Jarrad Branthwaite and Jack Grealish due to illness. Arsenal capitalised early, with Konsa scoring in the seventh minute after a series of corners. The goal came from a close‑range finish following a mis‑clearance by Everton’s Viktor Gyökeres, and it was the first set‑piece goal for the Gunners since May against Crystal Palace.
Arsenal’s dominance from dead‑ball situations continued throughout the match. They were involved in ten corners in the first half alone, and the team’s set‑piece routine proved effective against a defence that had struggled to contain the Gunners’ attack. Despite the heavy rain, the Gunners maintained pressure, with Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke missing chances in front of the Everton goalkeeper. The weather did not deter the Arsenal players, who wore dark‑blue baseball caps to shield themselves from the downpour.
In the second half, Gabriel Magalhães sealed the win with a header from a cross by Ben White. The goal cemented Arsenal’s advantage and put them within a point of City after their earlier defeat to Aston Villa. Everton’s attempts to level were thwarted by a combination of disciplined defending and moments of individual brilliance from the Gunners, including a near‑miss from Thierno Barry and a cross from Merlin Röhl that almost deceived David Raya.
The match also marked a milestone for David Moyes, who recorded his 400th defeat across all competitions in his managerial career, with 31 of those coming against Arsenal. The defeat adds to the concerns surrounding his tenure, especially after the club’s American owners indicated a desire to depart. Meanwhile, Arsenal’s continued success from set pieces and their ability to maintain an unbeaten run has kept them in close contention with Manchester City, setting the stage for an intense title race as the season progresses.