Eberechi Eze
scored his first Premier League goal for Arsenal as the Gunners’
set-piece mastery secured a 1–0 victory over Crystal Palace at the
Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Eze’s 39th-minute strike against his former club
ensured Arsenal capitalised on defeats suffered by Liverpool and Manchester
City, extending their lead at the top of the table.
The England midfielder, who joined Arsenal from Palace
in a £60 million summer move, had previously scored just once in ten
appearances across all competitions. His composed finish — guiding Gabriel
Magalhaes’ knockdown past Dean Henderson — highlighted Arsenal’s growing
reputation as Europe’s most dangerous side from set-pieces, taking their
tally to 11 goals from dead-ball situations this season.
The victory, Arsenal’s seventh in nine league games,
strengthened belief that Mikel Arteta’s men could finally end their two-decade
title drought. They now sit four points clear of Bournemouth, six
ahead of Manchester City, and seven above Liverpool.
Despite a dominant display, the Gunners had early
defensive scares, with William Saliba and later Declan Rice both
forced off injured. Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr
threatened on the counter, but Arsenal’s backline — the stingiest in England
with just three goals conceded in 13 matches — held firm.
After Eze’s goal, Arsenal pushed for a second,
striking the woodwork through Gabriel and testing Henderson repeatedly through Rice,
Bukayo Saka, and Leandro Trossard.
Eze, who celebrated respectfully against his former
side, left the field to a standing ovation from both sets of supporters
— a moment that underlined his growing influence at Arsenal.
With seven straight wins in all competitions
and 10 clean sheets already this season, Arteta’s men continue to look
every bit the title favourites they aspire to be.
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