Eberechi Eze netted his maiden Premier League goal for Arsenal as the league leaders extended their advantage at the top with a 1-0 victory over his former club, Crystal Palace, at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
The England international struck just before halftime, guiding home a composed finish from close range after a well-rehearsed set-piece routine—a trademark strength of Mikel Arteta’s side. The win came at a crucial time for the Gunners, who capitalised on defeats suffered by title contenders Liverpool and Manchester City.
Eze, who joined Arsenal in August from Palace for £60 million ($79 million), had previously scored only once in 10 appearances across all competitions. His decisive strike not only sealed Arsenal’s seventh league win in nine matches but also reinforced their growing reputation as potential champions after narrowly missing out in recent seasons.
Arteta’s men now sit four points ahead of Bournemouth, six ahead of Manchester City, and seven clear of Liverpool, who suffered a 3-2 loss to Brentford on Saturday — their fourth consecutive league defeat. Arsenal, chasing their first Premier League crown since 2004 and their first major trophy since the 2020 FA Cup, have been in dominant form, stringing together seven straight wins in all competitions.
Defensively, the Gunners have been exceptional, conceding only three goals in 13 games this season while keeping ten clean sheets. However, Arteta’s joy was slightly tempered when Declan Rice hobbled off in the second half, following an earlier substitution of William Saliba due to a suspected injury.
In a match watched by rock legend Jon Bon Jovi, Palace nearly shocked the hosts early on when Jean-Philippe Mateta broke free, but Arsenal’s defence, led by Saliba, recovered swiftly. The French centre-back also produced a crucial block to deny Ismaila Sarr as Palace looked to grab an early lead.
After a cautious start, Arsenal found their rhythm. Leandro Trossard registered the Gunners’ first effort on goal in the 33rd minute, forcing a save from Dean Henderson. But just six minutes later, Arsenal’s famed set-piece precision came into play. Declan Rice whipped in a free-kick, Gabriel Magalhaes nodded the ball down, and Eze met it with perfect technique, volleying home from 12 yards to break the deadlock.
Eze’s celebration was notably restrained—a silent tribute to his former club—as he simply raised his arm to the sky amid applause from both sets of fans.
Cristhian Mosquera replaced Saliba after the break, and Arsenal nearly doubled their lead almost immediately. Gabriel’s header crashed off the crossbar before Rice’s rebound was parried by Henderson. Moments later, Bukayo Saka curled just wide from the edge of the box.
Gabriel had another golden opportunity to score from a set-piece but headed off-target from close range, injuring himself in the process after colliding with the post.
Eze was later substituted to a rousing ovation—one shared by Palace supporters—in recognition of his crucial role and dignified performance against his former team.
With the win, Arsenal’s title charge continues to gain momentum as their set-piece brilliance and disciplined defending mark them as serious contenders in the race for Premier League glory.
What You Should Know
Eberechi Eze’s first Premier League goal for Arsenal sealed a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace, strengthening the Gunners’ position at the top of the league. Signed from Palace in August 2025 for £60 million, Eze’s composed strike reflected Arsenal’s growing dominance from set-pieces.
The result extended Arsenal’s unbeaten run to seven games across all competitions, keeping them ahead of major rivals Liverpool and Manchester City.
With their defence among the league’s best, Mikel Arteta’s men continue to look like serious contenders for their first league title in over two decades, despite injury concerns for key players Rice and Saliba.
