Arsenal and Manchester City level on points after Arsenal beat Everton

Arsenal's win at the Emirates and City's defeat at Villa Park leave both clubs on 21 points after eight games.

By Felo News Desk · Published Sat, 24 Oct 2026 21:04:24 GMT

Arsenal defeated Everton 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, while Manchester City fell 2-1 to Aston Villa at Villa Park, leaving both clubs level on 21 points after eight Premier League matches, according to Al Jazeera and News18.

What happened

In torrential rain at the Emirates, Arsenal opened the scoring in the seventh minute when defender Ezri Konsa headed in Martin Ødegaard's corner. Gabriel added a second goal later in the first half, securing a comfortable win. Meanwhile, at Villa Park, Aston Villa took the lead through a Nicolas Jackson brace, overturning City’s early dominance and handing the champions their first defeat of the season.

What the reports add

Al Jazeera noted that Arsenal’s set‑piece goal was the club’s first since May, ending a 13‑game run without a goal across all competitions. The outlet also highlighted Tottenham Hotspur’s 2-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, their second league victory there in 36 years. News18 emphasized that City manager Enzo Maresca had become the first Premier League manager to win his opening seven matches at a new club, a record ended by the Villa loss. Both sources reported that the results bring Arsenal level with City on 21 points, tightening the title race.

What was said

Al Jazeera quoted Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta saying, "I’ve come to this stadium for many seasons; I know how tough it is to play against…" (partial quote). News18 reported that City’s Enzo Maresca, after the Villa defeat, acknowledged the challenge of the financial case surrounding the club, though the exact wording was not provided in the excerpt.

How it came about

The latest shift in the title race follows earlier coverage by Felo News on the season’s opening weeks, where Arsenal and Manchester City each amassed 12 points after four games (Arsenal and Man City Lead Premier League Title Race). Subsequent reports highlighted City’s off‑field financial case and Arsenal’s potential interest in high‑profile signings (Arsenal could chase Haaland if Manchester City relegated). The recent defeats and victories therefore occur against a backdrop of both on‑field competition and off‑field uncertainty for City.

Key facts

Arsenal beat Everton 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium. (aljazeera.com)
Manchester City lost 2-1 to Aston Villa at Villa Park. (news18.com)
Both Arsenal and Manchester City are on 21 points after eight league games. (aljazeera.com)
Ezri Konsa scored Arsenal's first goal of the season from a corner. (aljazeera.com)
Nicolas Jackson scored twice for Aston Villa. (news18.com)