Premier League Standings: Arsenal and City Share Top Spot at 21
Arsenal defeated Everton in heavy rain while Aston Villa ended Manchester City's unbeaten run, placing both leaders at the same point total after eight matchdays.
By Petra Murphy ·
Arsenal now holds the top position in the Premier League alongside Manchester City, with both teams accumulating 21 points after eight games. The change in the standings occurred on Saturday after Arsenal won 2-0 at home against Everton while City fell to a 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa.
The match in north London featured heavy rain. Ezri Konsa opened the scoring in the seventh minute after failing to clear the ball following a corner kick taken by Martin Odegaard. This goal marked Konsa's first for the club and ended a 13-game drought for set-piece goals. In the 68th minute, Ben White crossed to Gabriel, who headed the ball into the net on his 200th Premier League appearance.
Konsa noted the importance of consistent victories at their home ground. "We are champions and to be champions you've got to win games consistently," Konsa said. "This is our home, and we want to win as many games here as possible."
At Villa Park, Nicolas Jackson scored twice for Aston Villa against Manchester City. Jackson's first goal came in the sixth minute after John McGinn set him up following a touch from Marc Guehi. Erling Haaland equalized shortly after halftime by heading in a free kick from Iliman Ndiaye. Jackson secured the win in the 60th minute with a shot that went under goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The result gave Aston Villa its first home league victory of the season and a third consecutive win over City. Unai Emery's side moved to sixth place with 11 points. Jackson told TNT Sports, "It's just the beginning; we're trying to work game by game."
Manchester City continues to deal with an ongoing financial dispute. An independent commission previously found the club committed 114 breaches of Premier League financial rules. The club is currently appealing the decision while maintaining that it has not committed wrongdoing.
Tottenham Hotspur defeated Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge, marking their second league win at that venue in 36 years. Mike Penders, making his first league start for Chelsea, scored an own goal in the 77th minute. Cole Palmer received a second yellow card in the 80th minute, and Mathys Tel added a goal in the 87th minute. Spurs now sit in 12th place with 12 points.
