- Eberechi Eze netted his first Premier League goal for Arsenal in a 1-0 victory against his former club Crystal Palace.
- Arsenal now lead the Premier League by four points after rivals Liverpool and Manchester City both suffered defeats.
- The Gunners’ strong set-piece form continued, with Eze’s strike coming from a well-executed free-kick routine.
- Declan Rice and William Saliba suffered injuries, raising slight concern for Mikel Arteta despite Arsenal’s dominance.
Eberechi Eze finally opened his Premier League account for Arsenal, scoring the decisive goal in a 1-0 win over his former club, Crystal Palace, on Sunday. The result at the Emirates Stadium strengthened Arsenal’s position at the top of the Premier League table, following unexpected defeats for both Liverpool and Manchester City.
Eze, who joined Arsenal from Palace in a £60 million move last summer, produced a moment of brilliance late in the first half to hand the Gunners their seventh win in nine league games. It was a fitting way for the midfielder to announce himself to the Arsenal faithful after netting just once in his previous 10 appearances across all competitions.
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Mikel Arteta’s side now sit four points clear of second-placed Bournemouth, six ahead of Manchester City, and seven clear of Liverpool. The victory added to the growing belief among fans that Arsenal could finally end their two-decade wait for the Premier League title.
Liverpool’s 3-2 loss to Brentford on Saturday left their title hopes fading, while Manchester City’s struggles continued, making Arsenal’s win even more significant.
The Gunners’ remarkable defensive record also stood out once again. They have conceded only three goals in 13 games across all competitions this season, keeping 10 clean sheets.
However, there were some concerns for Arteta as Declan Rice limped off midway through the second half, shortly after William Saliba was replaced at the break due to a suspected injury.
With rock legend Jon Bon Jovi watching from the stands, Palace began the game with confidence. Jean-Philippe Mateta had an early chance but was quickly closed down by Arsenal’s defence. Saliba made a crucial block to deny Ismaila Sarr from giving the visitors a surprise lead.
Arsenal dominated possession but struggled to break through Palace’s compact defence. Their first real chance came in the 33rd minute when Leandro Trossard’s low effort was comfortably saved by Dean Henderson.
The breakthrough arrived six minutes later through a trademark Arsenal set-piece. Declan Rice’s free-kick delivery found Gabriel Magalhaes, who headed the ball down to Eze. The England international showed superb technique to meet it first-time and send a bouncing finish past Henderson from 12 yards.
Eze’s celebration was subdued, a quiet raise of the arm in respect to his former club, as Arsenal supporters erupted in joy.
Cristhian Mosquera replaced Saliba after halftime, and Arsenal nearly doubled their advantage soon after. Gabriel’s header crashed off the crossbar, with Rice’s rebound saved by Henderson, while Bukayo Saka fired just wide moments later.
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Gabriel had another chance to extend Arsenal’s lead but missed from close range, colliding with the post in the process.
When Eze was substituted in the final minutes, he received a standing ovation from both Arsenal and Palace fans, acknowledging his classy display against his old team.
Arsenal’s win not only underlined their growing title credentials but also highlighted the impact of Eze, a player who seems destined to play a crucial role in their Premier League campaign.
