It had to be him. Eberechi Eze opened his Premier League account for Arsenal against his former club Crystal Palace, delivering a decisive moment that could prove crucial in the title race.
The midfielder’s first-half strike came at the perfect time for Mikel Arteta’s men, who had struggled to find rhythm before Eze produced a moment of brilliance.
Both feet off the ground and with the ball barely settled, Eze fired a stunning first-time volley that sent the Emirates into raptures. The home crowd erupted as his name echoed three times through the stadium one-nil to the Arsenal.
[The Guardian reports] Eze’s goal arrived just as Arsenal looked to take advantage of Liverpool’s fourth straight league defeat at Brentford, giving them a vital opportunity to extend the gap at the top.
Nine games into the season, Arteta’s side now find themselves unexpectedly glancing back at Bournemouth and Sunderland in the table and looking ahead with renewed belief.
Despite August’s setback at Anfield, where Arteta faced criticism for a cautious approach, the Gunners have cut Liverpool’s lead to seven points and reignited their title push.
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