Arsenal made an early corner count and a later one settle the issue, beating Everton 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League’s eighth round on Saturday 24 October 2026. Ezri Konsa struck after seven minutes, while Gabriel Magalhães headed in a second shortly after the hour, with VAR confirming the goal and Everton’s resistance finally giving way.
Arsenal seize control from the first set-piece
The home side began with the sort of pressure that leaves a visiting defence counting corners before it has settled into its afternoon. Declan Rice had an early effort blocked, and Everton survived further deliveries before Arsenal broke through.
Gabriel headed Martin Ødegaard’s cross towards goal from close range, forcing a save, before the ensuing attacking sequence produced the opener. Viktor Gyökeres helped on a corner and Konsa finished from close range, his right-footed effort finding the bottom-left corner.
- Rice, Mikel Merino, Ødegaard and Eberechi Eze all had attempts blocked as Arsenal kept Everton pinned back.
- Noni Madueke went close twice from the right, first shooting wide and then missing the far post narrowly.
- Eze also passed up a good opening after Myles Lewis-Skelly’s delivery, sending his effort just off target.
- Merino headed narrowly over from Rice’s free-kick in first-half stoppage time.
Everton did create moments amid the siege. James Garner tested David Raya from range in the 11th minute, while Tyrique George had a shot blocked after being found by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Thierno Barry also forced a low save before the interval, but the visitors went in at the break one down.
Gabriel’s header puts the match beyond Everton
Arsenal resumed on the front foot. Ødegaard’s low strike was saved, Madueke had another attempt blocked and Merino saw efforts repelled as Everton continued to defend their box in numbers.
The decisive second arrived in the 68th minute. Ben White supplied the cross and Gabriel met it from close quarters, directing a header low inside the left post. There was a VAR check, but the finish stood and Arsenal had the breathing room their possession had long suggested.
That goal came amid a triple Arsenal change. Riccardo Calafiori replaced Lewis-Skelly, Kai Havertz came on for Gyökeres and Bruno Guimarães took Merino’s place. Later, Martín Zubimendi replaced Declan Rice and Max Dowman entered for Eze.
Everton’s changes and injury concerns
- Tyler Dibling replaced Brennan Johnson in the 72nd minute.
- Vitalii Mykolenko was forced off through injury two minutes later, with Hayden Hackney introduced.
- Charly Alcaraz took over from Dewsbury-Hall in the 86th minute.
- Gabriel required treatment during the second half, while Zubimendi also received attention after coming on, though both incidents allowed play to continue.
Visitors find chances but no route back
Everton had their best spell after Arsenal’s second, without ever quite turning it into a finish that might have changed the mood. Dewsbury-Hall headed a James Garner cross narrowly wide in the 83rd minute. Harrison Armstrong then headed too high after George’s pass, while Hackney’s late long-range shot was saved to the right of the goal.
Barry had an attempt blocked following Armstrong’s through ball in added time, and Alcaraz missed the final opening, firing wide from the middle of the penalty area after Dibling’s assist.
Arsenal might have added another themselves. Ødegaard twice sent left-footed shots over in stoppage time, with White and Guimarães supplying the passes, but the scoreline stayed at two.
Bookings and the closing stages
There was no shortage of hard-running work as the game stretched, and the referee produced three yellow cards.
- Mykolenko was booked for a dangerous challenge in first-half added time.
- Lewis-Skelly received a caution for dangerous play in the 58th minute.
- Garner was shown yellow in the 66th minute, with James Tarkowski booked later for another dangerous challenge.
Everton had eight minutes of added time in which to make something happen, but Arsenal saw out the clean sheet with relative comfort. The hosts had made their set-pieces tell at either end of the contest; Everton had competed, pressed and found a few late openings, yet left north London without the goal their afternoon required.
