Arsenal defeated Everton in a tough match, moving to the top of the Premier League table level on points with Manchester City. The win came after goals from Ezri Konsa and Gabriel Magalhaes, and took advantage of City’s surprise 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa the previous day. Both teams now have 21 points, but City, the Gunners’ main rival in recent seasons, hold the advantage on goal difference.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was forced to change his lineup after Bukayo Saka suffered a muscle injury in the midweek Champions League match against Bayern Munich. He chose Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze as wide players, given other absences such as Christos Tzolis, who remains sidelined, and the sales of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard during the summer transfer window. These changes showed the depth of the squad and Arteta’s ability to adapt his strategy.
The home side started the match at pace and took the lead in the seventh minute from a corner kick. After a scramble in the box, a pass from Martin Odegaard was deflected by Gabriel. Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford got a touch on the ball, but it fell to Konsa, who pushed it into the net from the back post. It was Konsa’s first goal for the club since his transfer from Aston Villa in August, and also Arsenal’s first non-penalty set-piece goal in all competitions this season, restoring their reputation as “kings of set pieces” from last season when they won the Premier League title.
Everton responded positively after the goal, with a shot from Tyrique George that was deflected by Ben White, but Arsenal kept control of the game. Madueke, who was recently considered surplus by England manager Thomas Tuchel, put in an impressive display on the right wing, creating chances and hitting the side netting around the 30th minute. Arsenal had a moment of concern just before halftime, when a careless header back from Ben White towards goalkeeper David Raya was intercepted by Everton’s Thierno Barry, but the striker failed to direct his shot accurately and Raya made the save.
Midfielder Mikel Merino headed over the bar in the closing minutes of the first half, which ended with 13 shots and 10 corner kicks for the home side, but only one goal. Gabriel fell in pain 10 minutes after the restart, stretching to intercept the ball, but was able to continue after treatment on the pitch. Arteta made a triple substitution in the 68th minute, bringing on Kai Havertz, Bruno Guimaraes and Riccardo Calafiori, refreshing the team and adding pressure.
Moments later, Arsenal scored their second goal, when Gabriel rose high to head in a cross from White following a well-organised move down the right. Teenager Max Dowman, who became the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history in the same match last season, came on for the final 10 minutes. Everton almost reduced the deficit when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall headed narrowly wide of Raya’s post, but that was the last dangerous chance in a satisfying day for Arsenal, who secured three important points in the title race.
Source: France 24 Live News