Arsenal is back at the top of the Premier League after Eberechi Eze’s rocket shot gave them a tense but important 1-0 win over Newcastle yesterday.
According to AFP, Arsenal have not started a league game from the top since October. This was because Manchester City’s 1-0 win against Burnley on Wednesday sent them to the top.
But Eze’s amazing goal in the first half at the Emirates Stadium put the Gunners back in first place.
Eze’s tenth goal of the season gave Arsenal a three-point advantage over second-place City, who were in league action at the time. City booked their spot in the FA Cup final with a 2-1 win over Southampton.
Arsenal needed this win badly after losing 2-1 Manchester City last weekend, which hurt their chances of winning the title.
Arsenal had only lost three of their first 49 matches in all competitions this season. They had lost four of their last six, which was the first time they had lost two league matches in a row since 2023.
The north Londoners have been in a slump lately, and they are in danger of missing another golden chance to win their first English crown since 2004. They blew big leads in the title fight in 2023 and 2024, letting City win the trophy.
City has one more game than Arsenal, which means they still have a chance to win the title.
But their next league game isn’t until May 4, when they go to Everton. This gives Arsenal a chance to move six points ahead when they host Fulham next weekend.
Before that, Arsenal plays Atletico Madrid on Wednesday in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals.
City’s triumph over Burnley ended Arsenal’s 209-day reign as leaders because they had scored more goals.
Arsenal is back in first place, one goal ahead of City, but not being able to score against toothless Newcastle could come back to haunt them.
Magic Eze
Newcastle has been even poorer than Arsenal, and today was their ninth loss in 12 league games, which puts even more pressure on boss Eddie Howe, who is already under fire.
Howe’s club had only won one league game in 17 trips to the Emirates, and they left without any points again, even though they started out strong.
Osula should have scored from close range in the first few seconds, but Guimaraes’ 20-yard shot went just over.
Eze shot just wide from the edge of the box, which should have been a warning for Newcastle, but the England midfielder scored for Arsenal in the ninth minute.
Once again, Arsenal’s skill at set pieces paid them, but Newcastle’s defense was terrible.
Martin Odegaard passed to Kai Havertz in the box, and he set up Eze, who was unmarked in much the same spot as his shot a few moments before, to hit a great curler into the top corner from 18 yards.
This season, Arsenal scored 17 goals from corners, breaking the Premier League record for a single season.
Arteta’s team had only taken six short corners in the league all season before meeting Newcastle. They took three in the first half alone to take advantage of a weakness in the visitors’ defense.
Arsenal wasn’t perfect either; goalie David Raya almost was caught off guard by Sandro Tonali’s dipping strike from a long way out.
Havertz left the game in the 34th minute with an injury that would keep him out for the rest of the season.
And there was more bad news for Arteta when Eze had to go early in the second half because of an injury.
After the injury, Arsenal lost their flow, and Yoane Wissa should have made them pay when he volleyed over from eight yards.
You could feel Arsenal’s nerves in the stands and on the field when Raya caught Dan Burn’s header at the end.
Arteta shook his head on the sidelines and let out a sigh of relief as the thrilling title battle took another turn.
About the Author
