Arsenal beat Everton 2-0 to join Manchester City atop Premier League
Arsenal beat Everton 2-0 at the rainswept Emirates in a Premier League match on October 24, 2026, moving level on points with Manchester City at the top of the table.
Mikel Arteta made enforced changes after Bukayo Saka suffered a muscle injury in the midweek Champions League draw at Bayern Munich, selecting Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze on the wings. Arteta’s options were already limited with Christos Tzolis sidelined and both Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard sold in the summer. Earlier on Saturday, Manchester City lost 2-1 at Villa Park, the first time Enzo Maresca’s side had dropped points this season.
Arsenal took the lead in the seventh minute from their third corner when Martin Odegaard’s inswinging delivery was flicked on by Gabriel and, after Jordan Pickford got a fingertip to the bouncing ball, Ezri Konsa poked it home at the back post. It was Konsa’s first goal for the club since joining from Aston Villa in August and Arsenal’s first non-penalty set-piece goal in all competitions this campaign.
Everton responded after the early setback, with Tyrique George forcing a deflection off Ben White for a corner, but Arsenal largely controlled possession and territory. Madueke impressed down the right, spinning and striking the side netting on the half-hour, while a riskier pass from White back to goalkeeper David Raya was intercepted by Thierno Barry, who could not get clean contact and allowed Raya to gather. Mikel Merino headed over late in the half; the interval arrived with Arsenal having registered 13 shots and 10 corners but only the solitary goal to show for them.
Ten minutes after the restart Gabriel went down in apparent pain stretching to intercept a ball but was able to continue after treatment. Arteta then made a triple substitution in the 68th minute, introducing Kai Havertz, Bruno Guimaraes and Riccardo Calafiori, and moments later Gabriel doubled the lead by heading in White’s cross following a move down the right.
Teenager Max Dowman was brought on for the final 10 minutes; Dowman had become the youngest-ever Premier League goalscorer in the same fixture last season. Everton came closest to a way back when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall flashed a header just wide of Raya’s post, but that effort proved the visitors’ last major opening.
The victory allowed Arsenal to take full advantage of City’s defeat earlier on Saturday; both clubs now sit on 21 points, with Manchester City maintaining a superior goal difference.
