Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Eberechi Eze has delivered a telling blow to his former team by scoring his first English Premier League goal for Arsenal in a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace, extending the North London club's lead atop the standings.
Eze - who spent five seasons at Selhurst Park, before Arsenal signed him in August - struck in the 39th minute, when Gabriel Magalhaes headed Declan Rice's free-kick into his path. The midfielder leapt to steer a first-time finish out of the air past Dean Henderson.
The 27-year-old, who was a key part of Palace's victorious FA Cup run last season, did not celebrate the goal.
The victory extended Arsenal's unbeaten run to six league matches and 10 games in all competitions, and opened up a four-point cushion over second-placed Bournemouth with 22 points after nine games.
Mikel Arteta's team also opened up a six-point lead over rivals Manchester City, who are fourth, after their 1-0 loss at Aston Villa.
"It's hard to put a finger on [why we are doing particularly well this season], but every season we learn more and more," Leandro Trossard told Sky Sports. "We just want to win, we want to win every game."
The first half had few attempts for either team, with Trossard's shot saved by Henderson.
The second half at the Emirates Stadium had a far different feel, as Arsenal pressed for a second goal with a flurry of chances - including a chance at an easy tap-in for Bukayo Saka that Palace defender Marc Guehi scrambled to boot clear.
A frenzied series of Arsenal shots had Gabriel Magalhaes's header cannon off the bar, and Rice and Saka both got close.
"We're really pleased with the win and another clean sheet," Trossard said. "We need to keep going."
"Lately, it has been like that. We have to keep patience throughout the game, because we know we can score anytime.
"It would have been nice, if we had put the game to bed."
David Raya earned an impressive ninth clean sheet in 12 EPL and Champions League games this season, while Arsenal have scored a league-high 11 goals from dead-ball situations.
"I think everybody knows how Arsenal are defensively and we needed to take our chances," Palace defender Chris Richards told Sky. "Set-pieces are probably their forte right now, but we went toe-to-toe with the best team in the league."
Palace, whose last league win was a 2-1 victory over Liverpool on 27 September, dropped to 10th in the table.
Arsenal had some luck on their side as well, with reigning champions Liverpool and Manchester City - who won six out of seven league titles, before finishing third last season - both losing this weekend.
"You see the other results in the premier league," Arteta said. "You have to be so good to win."
- Reuters
