Midfielder Eberechi Eze scored his first Premier League goal for Arsenal against his former side, Crystal Palace, guiding Arsenal to a 1-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium and extending their lead at the top of the table. (Vanguard News)
The decisive strike came in the 39th minute. A free-kick from Declan Rice was headed by Gabriel Magalhães into Eze’s path, and the midfielder produced a sharp first-time finish past goalkeeper Dean Henderson. (Reuters)
The win moves Arsenal to 22 points after nine league games and opens a four-point cushion over second-placed Bournemouth. It also increases their lead over defending champions Manchester City and rivals Liverpool. (Vanguard News)
Despite the narrow margin, Arsenal dominated the game and maintained another clean sheet — their recently strong defensive run continuing apace. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace, whose attacking statistical promise has not yet translated into goals, failed to test Arsenal’s goal significantly. (The Guardian)
Eze, who departed Crystal Palace this summer, acknowledged the moment was special but kept celebrations muted out of respect for his former club. (Vanguard News)
With this result, Arsenal remain firmly in control of the title race — but manager Mikel Arteta will want to ensure form and fitness continue, as his side look to translate strong results into sustained consistency.
