LONDON -- Winners usually become unpopular pretty quickly because everybody wants to see the best knocked off their perch, but after capitalizing on Manchester City 's first defeat of the season to move level on points with the Premier League leaders, Arsenal proved they can be people's champions as well as Premier League champions.

A routine 2-0 home win against Everton thanks to goals from defenders Ezri Konsa and Gabriel Magalhães in each half enabled the Gunners to close a three-point gap on City to just goal difference, following Aston Villa's 2-1 win against Enzo Maresca's side earlier in the day.

Who knows if we are in for an epic title race or an Arsenal procession due to the uncertainty surrounding City and the outcome of their appeal against the guilty verdict in their case against the Premier League?…