Eberechi Eze struck his first Premier League goal for Arsenal to seal a hard-fought 1-0 win over his former club Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, strengthening the Gunners’ position at the top of the table.
The £60 million summer signing from Palace guided home a composed finish late in the first half — his first league goal for Arsenal — as Mikel Arteta’s men capitalised on slip-ups by rivals Manchester City and Liverpool to extend their lead in the title race.
The victory, Arsenal’s seventh in nine league matches, moved them four points clear of second-placed Bournemouth and six ahead of City, with Liverpool now trailing by seven after their defeat to Brentford.
Arsenal, chasing a first league crown since 2004, showcased their remarkable defensive solidity once again, having now kept 10 clean sheets in 13 matches across all competitions.
Eze’s decisive strike came from a familiar source — a set piece. Declan Rice delivered a dangerous free-kick into the area, Gabriel Magalhães nodded it down, and Eze showed superb technique to guide the ball past Dean Henderson from close range. Out of respect for his former club, the England midfielder opted for a muted celebration.
The Gunners nearly doubled their lead after the interval when Gabriel’s header rattled the crossbar before Henderson denied Rice’s follow-up. Bukayo Saka also went close with a curling effort from the edge of the box.
Despite losing William Saliba and later Rice to injury concerns, Arsenal maintained control and held firm to secure another vital win — their seventh consecutive victory in all competitions.
As Eze left the pitch to a standing ovation late on, even the travelling Palace fans applauded their former star, who may have just delivered another key moment in Arsenal’s increasingly convincing title charge.
