Gunners comfortably see off Everton at Emirates

ARSENAL eased their way past Everton 2-0 at a soaking wet Emirates Stadium to go level on points with Manchester City.

Ezri Konsa scrambled his side ahead after only seven minutes before Gabriel’s wrapped up victory midway through the second half.

Mikel Arteta made a handful of changes from Wednesday’s 2-2 Champions League draw in Munich.

There were starts for Ben White, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Mikel Merino, Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres.

Bukayo Saka missed out through injury while Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori, Bruno Guimaraes and Kai Havertz all dropped to the bench.

They were joined among the substitutes by youngster Max Dowman, who memorably scored in Arsenal’s 2-0 over the Toffees in March.

Everton’s bench included former Gunners duo Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Christian Norgaard.

Jake O’Brien had to be alert to put behind Eze’s low early delivery with Gyokeres poised to connect as the hosts racked up the first of a trio of corners in quick succession.

And it was from one of them that they got their noses in front on seven minutes.

Martin Odegaard’s set piece caused chaos in a packed box and the ball was flicked on by Gabriel onto the bar before Konsa scrambled home the rebound from close range.

Everton responded well to the setback and forced a save from David Raya with James Garner’s deflected attempt testing the Gunners stopper.

Tyrique George cut inside on the left and unleashed a 17th minute curling shot which was deflected behind for a corner, from which Gabriel eventually hacked clear.

Martin Rohl did well to clear Gyokeres’ delivery and a decent attacking move ended with Eze sweeping a low shot well wide of the target.

There was nobody to get on the end of Thierno Barry’s flicked on header after the Everton attacker was picked out by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s cross and then Noni Madueke drilled an attempt wide.

Merino’s shot was well blocked by O’Brien and then Madueke had a crack from the edge of the area which hit the side-netting.

Another string of Arsenal corners rained in on the visiting box, which in fairness they managed to deal quite well with.

James Tarkowski made a timely challenge to prevent Gyokeres bursting through on goal and the Vitalii Mykolenko threw his body in the way to put behind Odegaard’s shot.

Barry latched onto White’s attempted header back to Raya but the Everton striker’s first-time shot was saved by the home keeper.

Mykolenko went into the book for a trip on White, with Merino heading just over from the resulting free-kick in what was the final action of an entertaining first half.

There was an early scare for the hosts four minutes after the restart when Rohl’s cross into the box almost flew into the top corner with Raya back peddling.

Gabriel landed awkwardly in his own area and required a spell of treatment, although the Arsenal ace was quickly able to rejoin the action after coming back on.

Pickford did well to gather Eze’s cross into the six-yard box and Merino saw his shot deflected behind by Tarkowski just before he was replaced by Guimaraes.

That formed part of a triple change as Lewis-Skelly made way for Calafiori and Gyokeres for Kavertz.

Within moments the Gunners doubled their advantage as Gabriel got in just behind Havertz to head home White’s cross and make it 2-0.

There was still time for Dowman to make a late cameo when he came on alongside Martin Zubimendi with 10 minutes remaining.

Dewsbury-Hall glanced an 83rd minute header inches wide to almost get his side back in the contest and substitute Hayden Hackney had a long range strike easily saved by Raya.

Eight minutes of time were added on, not exactly what anybody needed in the relentless heavy rain.

The outcome was never in doubt as Arsenal went level on points with Manchester City and into second spot on goal difference.

Next up is a midweek Carabao Cup tie at Fleetwood before next Sunday’s trip to Anfield.

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Raya; White, Konsa, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly (Calafiori 68); Rice (Zubimendi 80), Merino (Guimaraes 68); Madueke, Odegaard, Eze (Dowman 80); Gyokeres (Havertz 68).  Subs not used: Arrizabalaga, Hincapie, Mosquera, Timber.

Everton (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Rohl, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Mykolenko (Hackney 74); Armstrong, Garner; Johnson (Dibling 72), Dewsbury-Hall (Alcaraz 86), George; Barry. Subs not used: Travers, King, Maitland-Niles, Keane, Norgaard, Graham.