Arsenal 2-0 Everton: Konsa and Gabriel set-pieces do the damage at the Emirates

Arsenal did not need long to get going. Seven minutes in, Viktor Gyökeres picked out Ezri Konsa, and the defender finished from close range. Everton, who had taken points off Manchester United, Hull City and Ipswich Town already this campaign, were made to work for everything that followed.

Jordan Pickford kept the scoreline respectable for long spells. Arsenal had 20 shots to Everton's 8 across the match, and it took until the 68th minute for the second goal to arrive — Ben White's delivery met by Gabriel Magalhães, rising above the Everton back line to head home and settle the contest.

Arteta's afternoon, almost entirely

The only blemish on an otherwise comfortable Arsenal afternoon came from their own technical area: Mikel Arteta was shown a yellow card for leaving it during the second half, a reminder of how little the home side needed to raise its voice on the pitch to make the same point. Myles Lewis-Skelly picked up Arsenal's only player booking, in the 58th minute.

Everton's afternoon was closer to damage limitation. James Garner and James Tarkowski were both booked chasing a game that, for an hour, they were at least competitive in — Thierno Barry and Tyrique George offering occasional threat in behind — before Arsenal's control of possession and the ball started to tell in the final third.

• 7' — Ezri Konsa (Arsenal), assist Viktor Gyökeres
• 68' — Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), assist Ben White

Level at the top, for now

Arsenal came into the weekend three points behind Manchester City, having played the same number of games; this win and City's defeat at Aston Villa on the same afternoon close that gap entirely. Both sides sit on 21 points after eight matches, with City's superior goal difference the only thing keeping Arsenal out of top spot. It is the first time all season the two have been level on points.

Arsenal's own week had included a draw away at Bayern Munich in the Champions League, so bouncing back with a seventh league win in eight — and another clean sheet — says plenty about the squad's depth: Kai Havertz, Bruno Guimarães and Martín Zubimendi were all introduced from the bench without the performance ever looking like it needed rescuing. It is Arsenal's fifth clean sheet in eight league games this season.

A defence that keeps its shape

What stands out as much as the goals is how rarely Arsenal are troubled at the other end. They have conceded in only three of their eight league matches this season so far — Chelsea, Brighton and Leeds United the only sides to get the ball past David Raya — and Everton's 8 shots, only 3 of them on target, fit the same pattern. It was Gabriel, rather than a recognised striker, who got the second goal here, a reminder that this Arsenal side scores from more positions on the pitch than most teams can plan for.

What's next

Arsenal, now level on 21 points but 2nd on goal difference, return to Champions League action in midweek before their next league fixture. Everton stay 9th on 10 points and will look to respond before the international break.