Champions Arsenal capitalised on Manchester City’s defeat at Aston Villa to move level on points with the Premier League leaders thanks to a 2-0 win over Everton at a rain-soaked Emirates Stadium.

Ezri Konsa poked in at the back post from a corner to score a scrappy first goal for the club to end Arsenal's wait for a first set-piece goal of the season before Gabriel overcame a second-half injury scare to seal the victory with a header on his 200th Premier League appearance.

Arsenal, buoyed by the news of City's first league defeat this season, were as relentless as the north London rain as they picked up a seventh win from their first eight league matches to keep up with their rivals on 21 points, behind only on goal difference.

Viktor Gyokeres, handed his first league start of the season, failed to get off the mark for the campaign but was credited with the assist for Konsa's opener, making it two from two after setting up Declan Rice's equaliser in the 2-2 Champions League draw at Bayern Munich in midweek.

Everton, who are winless in 14 league trips to Arsenal, were handed a big chance to equalise at 1-0 just before half-time but Thierno Barry failed to make the most of Ben White's weak headed back pass to goalkeeper David Raya.

David Moyes' side, unbeaten in the league until last weekend, have now suffered back-to-back defeats and the search for their first away win of the season in this competition goes on after a difficult afternoon for the Toffess in north London.