Eberechi Eze scored the decisive goal against his former club as Arsenal secured a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday, extending the Gunners’ lead at the top of the Premier League table to four points.
The midfielder, who moved to Arsenal in a reported 67$ million summer transfer, broke the deadlock in the first half from a well-worked set-piece. Declan Rice’s free-kick was headed down by defender Gabriel, and Eze reacted quickly to fire an acrobatic shot into the corner of the net.
Arsenal, who are now unbeaten in 10 matches across all competitions, pushed for a second goal after the interval. Gabriel nearly added to his assist when his header struck the crossbar, and Bukayo Saka also went close with a curled effort from the edge of the penalty area.
The goal underscored Arsenal’s prowess from dead-ball situations, taking their tally to 11 goals from set-pieces in the Premier League this season, two more than any other side in the division.
Despite a slow start to the match, Mikel Arteta’s side effectively managed the game after taking the lead, highlighting their ability to win crucial points even when not at their fluent best.
Crystal Palace, coming off a midweek European loss to AEK Larnaca, struggled to break down a solid Arsenal defence. Striker Jean-Philippe Mateta provided a physical presence but failed to create any clear-cut chances, leaving Gunners goalkeeper David Raya largely untested.
The defeat extends Palace’s winless run to four games in all competitions. The result will likely add to concerns about squad fatigue as Oliver Glasner’s team juggles domestic duties with its first-ever European campaign. Despite the recent dip in form, Palace remain in a solid mid-table position with 13 points from nine league games.
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