Arsenal's seventh win from eight league games lifts them level on 21 points with the leaders after City's defeat at Aston Villa.
Ezri Konsa and Gabriel Magalhães scored as Arsenal beat Everton 2-0 at the Emirates on Saturday, moving level on 21 points with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League. City had lost 2-1 at Aston Villa earlier in the day, and Arsenal have now won seven of their opening eight league games.
England defender Ezri Konsa scrambled home from a corner in the seventh minute, his first goal for Arsenal since joining from Aston Villa in the summer. The strike was Arsenal's first set-piece goal this season, with penalties not counting. Noni Madueke went close to a second, striking the side netting with a first-time shot.
Everton's best chance came just before half-time, when a loose headed pass from full-back Ben White reached Thierno Barry. Barry could not get enough on his flick past goalkeeper David Raya. Arteta made several changes after the 2-2 draw at Bayern Munich on Wednesday, and Viktor Gyökeres made his first league start of the season. He is credited with the assist for Konsa's goal but has yet to score for the club this term.
Gabriel Magalhães doubled the lead in the 68th minute, heading home at the far post from White's cross. It was his 200th Premier League appearance, and White was making his 200th appearance for the club. Earlier in the second half Gabriel had gone down after an awkward fall on his right knee, and he returned to the pitch after treatment.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta pointed to the squad's response to a hard week, with injuries on top of a tough schedule:
"I love the mentality of the team and the quality we've shown."
Manchester City have been found guilty of 115 charges by the Premier League, and the punishment they will receive is still uncertain. Asked about that, Arteta said: "just focusing on what we can do. We are very pleased with 90% of the results and performances that we have."
Arteta was booked for the second time this season for stepping out of his technical area, which leaves him one booking from a suspension. He said other Premier League managers do the same without being booked: "Thirty-six times in 10 minutes they leave the touchline. No yellows [for them]."
Everton manager David Moyes had watched his side go unbeaten in the league until last weekend's 2-0 home defeat by Chelsea. This was his 400th defeat as a manager across all competitions, and 31 of those have come against Arsenal, more than against any other opponent. Everton were also without Jack Grealish (sickness) and Jarrad Branthwaite (concussion protocol). Moyes said: "We didn't really get to a level which I think would have been good enough to win on the day." He added: "I didn't feel we'd done enough on the attacking part of the game." Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's late header also flew just wide of a post.
Arsenal's next game is a Carabao Cup tie at fourth-tier Fleetwood Town on Tuesday.
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