Despite another timid display from title challengers, a wonder goal from England international, Eberechi Eze saw Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League as they narrowly beat Newcastle United 1-0 at Emirates Stadium late on Saturday.
With all eyes on ending their 22-year wait for the league title, Mikel Arteta’s side shrugged off a nervy display to move three points clear of Manchester City, with the Coach Pep Guardiola tutored side having a game in hand.
The game’s telling moment came just 10 minutes in when a clever corner routine paved the way for the Eze to arrow the ball into the top corner of the Magpies’ goal to register his 10th Gunners goal.
To take the lead, the Gunners converted from the third of three short corners in quick succession. The ball was worked to Eze on the edge of the box, and the England international curled a first-time finish into the top corner of Nick Pope’s goal.
However, in spite of this very encouraging start, Arteta’s players failed to kick on, and Newcastle had more of the ball through the first half, with David Raya forced into a diving save after almost being wrong-footed by a long-range effort from Sandro Tonali.
The second half continued in a similar pattern, with goal-scoring opportunities at a premium at both ends. Newcastle substitute Yoane Wissa was presented with a great chance to equalise, but he volleyed well over the bar from close range as the game entered its final 10 minutes.
Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard both forced Keeper Nick Pope into saves as the match opened up late on, but in the end, Eze’s goal was enough to settle matters in the home side’s favour.
The victory could prove to be most crucial as Arsenal recovered from back-to-back defeats and return to the summit with four games to go. It may also have bolstered the team’s confidence heading into the Champions League semi-final showdown against Atletico Madrid next week.
The Magpies had arrived at the Emirate in poor form, having lost eight of their previous 11 league games. But aiming to prey on the nervousness of their hosts in the early stages, a mis-kick by William Osula within seconds of the kick-off saw a great chance go begging, before Bruno Guimaraes whistled a shot over the top from 20 yards as David Raya looked stranded in Arsenal’s post.
