Arsenal 2-0 Everton: Konsa ends the set-piece drought as the champions draw level with City

Manchester City's first league defeat of the season opened a door on Saturday, and Arsenal walked straight through it in the most Arsenal way possible. A corner, a scramble and a centre-back's first goal for the club set the champions on their way to a 2-0 win over Everton at a rain-soaked Emirates Stadium, lifting them level with City on 21 points and behind only on goal difference.

The more telling detail sat inside the opening goal. Arsenal led the league with 25 set-piece goals last season, excluding penalties, and set a record of 19 from corners, according to BBC Sport. After seven league games this season they had none. Ezri Konsa ended that wait after seven minutes.

The drought ends with a scramble

Arsenal forced three corners in a row from the start. From the third, Martin Ødegaard's delivery reached Gabriel at the near post, and Jordan Pickford clawed the flick onto the crossbar. As The Guardian described it, Vitaliy Mykolenko's clearance failed under pressure from Viktor Gyökeres, and Konsa rammed the loose ball home from close range for his first Arsenal goal.

The club's own report said it was their first non-penalty set-piece goal since May against Crystal Palace, ending a run of 13 games without one. Sky Sports credited Gyökeres, handed his first league start of the season, with the assist, even though the Sweden striker is still waiting for his first goal of the campaign.

Everton nearly punished Arsenal for not adding to the lead. Just before half-time, Ben White's weak header back left Thierno Barry with a sight of goal, but David Raya got to the ball first. Noni Madueke, Arsenal's liveliest attacker, had earlier gone close twice in front of watching England head coach Thomas Tuchel.

Gabriel's landmark and Arteta's relief

The second goal belonged to Gabriel. Early in the second half he landed awkwardly on his right knee and needed treatment, yet he stayed on and, on 68 minutes, headed in White's cross at the back post. The goal came on his 200th Premier League appearance, and the club noted it was his 21st in the competition and the first not to come from a set piece.

"Gabi is a great example of that, because we were all scared," Mikel Arteta told Sky Sports. "Immediately he says that he wants to continue and then he scores a goal to help us to win the game. That's what we need from our players."

Arteta was just as warm about Konsa, who he said had arrived "with no pre-season" and was "building already a chemistry and a partnership with Gabi that seems so solid". He added: "We are lucky to have him."

The Arsenal manager was booked during the game, and told Sky Sports he had been collecting footage of other managers leaving their technical areas without punishment. "I have a massive storage of images," he said. Sky reported that one more yellow card would bring a suspension.

Moyes still waiting, and a historic title race

For David Moyes, the wait for a first win at this ground as Everton manager goes on. Everton arrived without Jarrad Branthwaite and Jack Grealish, who was ill, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's late header flew just wide. "It was always going to be hard after conceding the early goal," Moyes said afterwards, as quoted by The Guardian. "I want us to challenge the top teams but it's difficult when you see the strength of their bench."

Everton had started the season with six league games unbeaten, but this was a second straight defeat. Their next fixture is a Carabao Cup tie at home to Newcastle on Thursday, according to Everton's official site.

The bigger picture belongs to the top of the table. Both Arsenal and City have won seven of their first eight league games, and Arsenal's club statisticians noted that only two previous top-flight seasons, 1892-93 and 1913-14, had two teams make such a start. The Guardian made the same point.

Arteta kept his focus narrow. "We are very pleased with 90% of the results and performances that we have," he said. Arsenal go to Fleetwood Town in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday before a trip to Liverpool next Sunday.