Everton player ratings after they go down to a 2-0 defeat to defending champions Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium

After going unbeaten for their first eight matches of this season in all competitions, Everton have now suffered back-to-back defeats as Premier League champions Arsenal cantered to a 2-0 victory over them at the Emirates Stadium.

The Blues – who were without Jarrad Branthwaite due to concussion protocol and Jack Grealish through sickness – fell behind after just seven minutes when Ezri Konsa bundled the ball home from close range following a corner-kick.

The Gunners then doubled their lead on 68 minutes when their other centre-back Gabriel headed in at the back post from Ben White’s cross and a miserable afternoon in north London was completed for David Moyes’ men as their only recognised left-back Vitalii Mykolenko was forced off.

And here's how we rated the Everton players...

Jordan Pickford 5

Made some decent punches in tricky conditions but was left flailing at his back post as Arsenal doubled their lead with a header off Gabriel’s face. He earlier got off to an awful start with England manager Thomas Tuchel watching on, failing to deal with Arsenal’s seventh-minute corner as he and Harrison Armstrong went for the same ball, allowing his international team-mate Konsa to bundle the home side ahead from close range.

Merlin Rohl 6

Moved from right-wing to right-back with former Arsenal man Ainsley Maitland-Niles dropped to the bench, he hung in there against the tricky Eberechi Eze and made an acrobatic clearance to cut out a floating cross from Noni Madueke before almost catching David Raya out with a curling cross-shot.

James Tarkowski 7

Described by David Moyes as Everton’s anchor ahead of this game and a leader who “trains like a monster” every day, the captain marshalled things well at the back – winning a key headed duel with Viktor Gyokeres – but it’s a pity he couldn’t have been more dominant from the corner that Arsenal scored from and was booked for a tackle on Kai Havertz late on.

Jake O’Brien 5

Brought into the side because Branthwaite was ruled out, the Republic of Ireland international got a rare opportunity in his favoured central defensive role in a Premier League game and was certainly kept busy, losing Gabriel at the back post for the second goal.

Vitalii Mykolenko 4

Has done well here in the past against Bukayo Saka, who was injured today, but this was a nightmare afternoon for him. He took a swipe at thin air when trying to clear his lines, allowing Konsa to pounce and score, seemingly had Madueke laughing at him when he accidentally dribbled the ball out for a corner, was booked for a challenge on White and then after allowing the cross from the same opponent to meet Gabriel for the second goal, Everton’s only recognised left-back went off injured. James Garner 6

Tested Raya with a low drive that the Spaniard struggled to keep hold of in the wet conditions, he kept plugging away in the engine room but it would be nice to see more moments of inspiration and after being booked for a challenge on Merino, he ended the game at left-back following Mykolenko’s exit. Harrison Armstrong 6

Collided with goalkeeper Pickford when both of them tried to deal with a loose ball from a corner that led to Konsa’s goal, he nevertheless continues to learn at the highest level and had some decent forays forward in what was a testing environment. Brennan Johnson 4

Quiet again, so far we’ve seen that while he can be a threat in the final third, large periods of games can pass him by and Everton can’t really afford that. After a largely anonymous display, it was no surprise to see him hooked.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall 6

Passionate and probing, he combined well with Tyrique George at times and offered some testing deliveries from corners without much coming off.

Tyrique George 7

Handed his chance back on the left wing with Grealish out due to sickness, he was more energetic and direct than the Brummie who is over a decade his senior and flashed in a shot that was deflected wide by White.

Thierno Barry 5

His best opportunity came when he almost intercepted a White back header late in the first half. He won some flick-ons and produced some decent lay-offs but it was a difficult afternoon for him in terms of getting on the end of chances.

SUBSTITUTES

Tyler Dibling (on 72 for Johnson) 6

Had a bit of a go when he replaced the ineffective Johnson but the damage was done.

Hayden Hackney (on 74 for Mykolenko) 6

Got his chance when Garner had to fill in for Mykolenko at left-back.

Charly Alcaraz (on 86 for Dewsbury-Hall) n/a

Cameo towards the end.