Arsenal tightened their grip on the Premier League summit with a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium, courtesy of a first-half strike from Eberechi Eze against his former club.

The decisive moment arrived in the 39th minute when Declan Rice’s free-kick caused chaos in the Palace box. Gabriel Magalhães rose highest to flick the ball into Eze’s path, and the midfielder volleyed home smartly to break the deadlock a goal that carried an extra edge given his summer move from Selhurst Park.

From there, Arsenal controlled proceedings without ever fully putting the game to bed. Gabriel hit the crossbar from a corner, while Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard both came close to doubling the lead. Despite their dominance in possession, Mikel Arteta’s side were made to work until the final whistle by a disciplined Palace defence.

The visitors offered little going forward, managing only one effort on target as Arsenal’s back line, led by Gabriel and William Saliba, held firm once again. The result marked the Gunners’ sixth clean sheet in nine league matches a testament to their growing defensive maturity.

With the win, Arsenal moved four points clear at the top of the Premier League table, extending their unbeaten start to the season. Arteta praised his players afterward, calling it “one of the most important wins of the campaign” given the physical and mental demands of the current schedule.

For Palace, it was another frustrating afternoon, their third defeat in four outings. Manager Oliver Glasner lamented his side’s costly lapses but acknowledged the quality that separated the two teams on the day.

A single flash of brilliance from Eze was enough to decide it a reminder that Arsenal’s new-found ruthlessness could prove the difference in this season’s title race.