FA PREMIER LEAGUE 

ARSENAL 2 (Konsa 7, Gabriel 68)

EVERTON 0 

THE goals came from two of last season’s most reliable sources: bundled in from a corner and the forehead of captain Gabriel.

But Arsenal are playing a subtly different style right now, less conservative and a little more easy on the eye.

Some of the play was supremely tidy.

Captain Martin Odegaard continues to look like a new signing while Noni Madueke also had probably his best full game in an Arsenal shirt, seizing an opportunity in Bukayor Saka’s abscence.

But there is no doubt the two goal scorers Ezri Konsa and Gabriel were the stars of the show.

Both were formidable at the back and you actually felt a little sorry for the visitor’s lone strike Barry, bashed about and edged away from the ball like a small child.

It is hard to imagine the new recruit Konsa displacing injured William Saliba, widely considered the best centre back in the world.

But Arsenal certainly haven’t missed him and he has slipped in effortlessly to Arteta’s defender dynasty.

On Konsa, the manager said: “To come to a club like Arsenal with no pre-season, Saliba is here and other players, and to position yourself in that manner with the naturality he has and put in the performances he has – the chemistry with Gabi that is so solid – is so difficult to do.

“We’re lucky to have him”, he said before hastily adding of the unfit Saliba “we’re desperate to have him back because we know what Wilo does for us”.

The prematch had been all about tributes to Ken Friar OBE and the players wore black arm bands in the first home match since life long club servant’s death.

A large tifo was unveiled saying “My Life and My Heart Remains with Arsenal” and the Gunners started like they meant business.

It was after all Invincibles Day – which has come early this season thanks to Man City losing away to Villa in the early kick off.

Madueke did well to work a few clear chances for himself, one he shanked wide and the other – hit on the turn – was just off target.

Perhaps Arsenal should hire England manager Thomas Tuchel to come and watch every home match.

On Madueke, Arteta said: “To have that availability with him is really necessary because of the injuries to Bukayo and Christos, two players who give us so much threat in the final third. I like him, and if he continues to transform his capacity to be more consistent in actions, he’s an unbelievable player.”

The match was not completely one-sided and Everton did carve out a handful of decent chances.

James Garner and Tyrique George both had efforts at goal as Everton chased an equaliser, but they could not find a way past ever-reliable David Raya.

The danger was enough to see Arteta booked for straying out of his “technical area”.

In the post match press conference, he made a mischieveous response.

He said: “There are managers that have the record in the league, 36 times in 10 minutes they leave the touchline, no yellows.

“I’m clipping all of that, I have a massive storage of images, I don’t have the record yet. Let’s see – then it’s 36 yellow cards in 10 minutes for managers, where are we going to be then? Let’s see.”

Eberechi Eze, playing on the left, looked a threat all game and Max Dowman got ten minutes at the end.

Zubimendi also came on and is back from his injury, although Timber is clearly being kept in cotton wool and remained an unused sub.

Former Gunners Noorgard and Maitland-Niles did not get subbed on for the visitors.

Next up in the league its Liverpool away.

ARSENAL: Raya, Lewis-Skelly (Calafiori 68), Gabriel, Konsa, White, Merino, (Guimarães 68), Rice (Zubimendi 80), Eze (Dowman 80), Ødegaard, Madueke, Gyökeres (68).
Subs not used: Kepa, Hincapié, Mosquera, Timber

EVERTON:  Pickford, Mykolenko, Hackney (O’Brien 74), Tarkowski, Röhl. Garner, Armstrong, George, Dewsbury-Hall (Alcaraz 86) Johnson (Dibling 72),  Barry
Subs not used: Graham, Keane, King, Maitland-Niles, Nørgaard, Travers,