Arsenal achieved a 2‑0 victory over Everton at the Goodison stadium, taking advantage of Manchester City's moment of vulnerability after their defeat against Bayern. The win puts the Gunners in second position in the Premier League, equal with the leader on points but trailing behind on goal difference.
The match was played on October 24, 2026, on the eighth day of the season. Mikel Arteta, after the Champions League clash, made changes to his lineup. In addition to the injuries that forced the departure of Bukayo Saka, the coach chose to give minutes to Mikel Merino, who started the game and showed a good participation, and Martín Zubimendi, who had very few minutes and made it clear that he is not the first option in the central zone. The London defense was solid and controlled the pace of the game, closing the door on Everton from the beginning.
The first goal came in the first half, when Arsenal took a very tight corner that the visiting team could not clear. The ball went to the far post, where Gabriel Magalhães, the Brazilian defender, pushed the ball with his head and managed to score. The play demonstrated Arsenal's effectiveness in set pieces and the ability of their defenders to attack the rival area.
In the second half, Arsenal continued to press. Players such as Gyökeres, Merino, Eze and Madueke kept the pressure on the Everton defence, although goalkeeper Pickford did not suffer any major difficulties. David Raya also stood firm in his bow. The second goal came when Gabriel Magalhães stood out again. Following a cross from White, the Brazilian rose above the defenders and headed into the goal, sealing the final result.
With 21 points, Arsenal are just behind the leader in the table, although goal difference puts them in second position. The victory gives them a boost in the fight for the title and allows them to continue putting pressure on Manchester City. The next challenge for the team will be to maintain performance and consolidate its position at the top of the table, while Everton will try to recover from the defeat and look for points in their next games.