Arsenal are level at the top of the Premier League. The defending champions beat Everton 2-0 in torrential rain at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, moving on to 21 points from eight games — the same total as Manchester City, who had lost their perfect start earlier in the day. And in the late game, Tottenham Hotspur produced the shock of the weekend, beating 10-man Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.
It was a Saturday that reshaped the early title race. By the evening, a season that had briefly threatened to become a procession was a contest again, with two teams locked together at the summit and a chasing pack sensing that the champions, for all their firepower, can be beaten.
Contents
- Arsenal seize their chance against Everton
- The set-piece drought ends
- City's door, left open at Villa Park
- Spurs stun Chelsea at Stamford Bridge
- Fulham climb out of trouble
- What the table looks like now
- Key takeaways
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Sources
- Chronicle further reading
Arsenal seize their chance against Everton
Arsenal knew exactly what was at stake when they kicked off against Everton. Manchester City's defeat had handed them an opening, and champions are judged by whether they take those openings. Mikel Arteta's side did, and they did it without fuss.
The home side made their strong start count inside seven minutes. A corner from Martin Odegaard caused chaos in the Everton box: goalkeeper Jordan Pickford kept out the initial danger after a flick-on at the near post, but Everton could not clear, and Ezri Konsa bundled the ball home from close range for his first goal for the club since joining from Aston Villa at the start of the season.
The second goal arrived midway through the second half, when fellow centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes doubled the lead. In soaking conditions, with the rain hammering down in north London, Arsenal controlled the game after that and saw out a comfortable win — the kind of win that title-winning teams collect almost without noticing.
The set-piece drought ends
Konsa's opener carried a significance beyond the three points. It was Arsenal's first goal from a set-piece since May, ending a run of 13 games in all competitions without one, excluding penalties. That will have pleased Arteta more than most, because last season's title victory was built in large part on Arsenal's efficiency from corners in particular.
"A goal from a set-piece has felt like it has been coming. Today was the day," Konsa said afterwards. "I've come to this stadium for many seasons; I know how tough it is to play against us. We are champions and to be champions you've got to win games consistently. This is our home, and we want to win as many games here as possible."
Arsenal had to find a way without Bukayo Saka, who is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a thigh injury. Without their most creative player, the champions leaned on structure, set-pieces and defensive solidity — and it was enough, comfortably.
City's door, left open at Villa Park
The day had begun in Birmingham, where Aston Villa ended Manchester City's perfect start with a 2-1 win at Villa Park. Nicolas Jackson scored twice, either side of an Erling Haaland header, to hand City their first league defeat of the season and end new manager Enzo Maresca's run of seven straight wins in charge.
City remain top only on goal difference, and the defeat changes the complexion of the race. A three-point gap, with a game in hand in psychological terms, is one thing; a level points total after eight games, with Arsenal's confidence restored, is quite another. City's off-field cloud has not gone away either: the club are appealing a guilty verdict on more than 100 charges of breaking financial rules between 2009 and 2018, a case that could yet bring severe sanctions.
For Villa, the win was a sixth in seven games in all competitions and lifted Unai Emery's rebuilt side up to sixth. Villa Park, it seems, remains a uniquely unhappy hunting ground for the champions.
Spurs stun Chelsea at Stamford Bridge
If Arsenal's win was efficient, Tottenham's was dramatic. Spurs arrived at Stamford Bridge with only one league win all season until Monday's victory over Coventry, and with a miserable record at Chelsea: this was only their second league victory there in 36 years, and their first since 1990 by some counts of the fixture's history.
For most of the evening, the London derby was short on chances and long on tension, played out in wild weather. Then the final 15 minutes exploded. On his first Premier League start, Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders — deputising for the injured Emiliano Martinez — miscued an attempted punch from a Spurs corner and sent the ball into his own net in the 77th minute.
Moments later, Chelsea's evening unravelled completely. Cole Palmer was dismissed for a second yellow card after catching former team-mate Conor Gallagher, leaving the hosts down to 10 men. Roberto De Zerbi's side pounced on the advantage: Mathys Tel led a counter-attack and finished it with a low strike from distance that deceived Penders to seal a 2-0 win.
It was Chelsea's first home defeat of the season under Xabi Alonso, and it ended their six-match winning streak against Tottenham. Chelsea remain fourth, but the manner of the defeat — an own goal, a red card, a late counter — will sting. Spurs, meanwhile, climbed to 12th with nine points from eight matches, and suddenly a season that looked bleak has back-to-back wins in it.
Fulham climb out of trouble
Earlier in the day, Fulham also moved out of the relegation zone, beating Coventry City 1-0 thanks to an individual effort from Oscar Bobb. It was Fulham's second league victory of the season, and it underlined how tight the middle and bottom of the table already are: a single win can lift a team several places, and a single defeat can drag one back into trouble.
What the table looks like now
After eight games, the headline is simple: Manchester City and Arsenal are level on 21 points, with City ahead on goal difference. Behind them, the chasing pack has been given encouragement. Villa's win moved them into the top six, Chelsea stayed fourth despite defeat, and Spurs' late surge at Stamford Bridge reminded everyone that no fixture in this league can be taken for granted.
There is a long way to go — 30 games remain — but Saturday mattered because it broke a pattern. City had won everything. Arsenal had not scored from a set-piece in months. Spurs had not won at Chelsea in a generation. All three patterns ended on the same day, and the title race is more open for it.
Key takeaways
- Arsenal beat Everton 2-0 at the Emirates to join Manchester City on 21 points from eight Premier League games.
- Ezri Konsa scored after seven minutes and Gabriel Magalhaes doubled the lead, ending Arsenal's 13-game run without a set-piece goal.
- Manchester City's perfect start ended earlier on Saturday with a 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa, where Nicolas Jackson scored twice.
- Tottenham beat 10-man Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge, only their second league win there in 36 years.
- Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders scored an own goal in the 77th minute and Cole Palmer was sent off, before Mathys Tel sealed Spurs' win.
- Fulham beat Coventry City 1-0 through Oscar Bobb to climb out of the relegation zone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who scored as Arsenal beat Everton 2-0?
Ezri Konsa opened the scoring in the seventh minute from a corner, his first goal for Arsenal, and Gabriel Magalhaes doubled the lead midway through the second half.
How did Manchester City lose their perfect start?
Aston Villa beat City 2-1 at Villa Park, with Nicolas Jackson scoring twice either side of an Erling Haaland header. It was City's first league defeat of the season and Enzo Maresca's first defeat as City manager.
Why was Tottenham's win at Chelsea so rare?
It was only Tottenham's second league victory at Stamford Bridge in 36 years. Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders punched a corner into his own net in the 77th minute, Cole Palmer was sent off for a second yellow card, and Mathys Tel sealed the 2-0 win late on.
Who is top of the Premier League after Saturday's games?
Manchester City and Arsenal are level on 21 points from eight games, with City top on goal difference. Arsenal sit second, also on 21 points.
Sources
- Al Jazeera: Arsenal's 2-0 win over Everton, City's defeat at Villa and Tottenham's 2-0 win at Chelsea.
- Sportsnet: Premier League roundup of Saturday's matches, including Jackson's double and Spurs' win over 10-man Chelsea.
