By Ayomide Otitoju
Arsenal moved back to the top of the Premier League after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, with Eberechi Eze scoring the decisive goal.
Eze struck in the first half with a powerful effort to secure Arsenal’s return to first place after briefly slipping behind Manchester City in midweek. His goal, his 10th of the season, gave the Gunners a narrow but crucial win and lifted them three points clear at the summit, although City still have a game in hand.
The result comes at a key stage in the title race, with Arsenal responding strongly after last weekend’s defeat to City had raised concerns over their form. The victory ended a run of inconsistent results that had seen Mikel Arteta’s side lose four of their previous six matches in all competitions.
Arsenal’s win also extended their strong record from set-pieces, with the goal marking their 17th from a corner this season—a new Premier League record.
However, the match was not without setbacks, as both Kai Havertz and Eze picked up injuries and were forced off during the contest, adding to Arsenal’s fitness concerns ahead of a crucial run-in that includes a Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid.
Newcastle, meanwhile, continued their poor league form, suffering their ninth defeat in 12 matches and increasing pressure on manager Eddie Howe. Despite a bright start, they failed to convert early chances and struggled to maintain consistency throughout the game.
Arsenal now sit top of the table again, but the title race remains finely balanced as Manchester City retain a game in hand.
