Arsenal Edge Past Palace: Eze Strikes Against Former Club in Narrow, Crucial Win

Crystal Palace travelled to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday hoping to claim their first Premier League victory over Arsenal since April 2022. On their last visit to North London, Eberechi Eze — now wearing Arsenal red — had scored in an entertaining 2-2 draw.

Arsenal the Favourites

Heading into the game, Arsenal were strong favourites. Mikel Arteta’s side sat atop the Premier League table, unbeaten at home in 2025/26 (three wins, one draw), though with Manchester City and others close behind.

Oliver Glasner’s Palace arrived in eighth after a spirited 3-3 draw with Bournemouth — a match remembered for Jean-Philippe Mateta’s late missed sitter.

Both managers named unchanged line-ups, marking the first time since September 2024 that Arteta had been able to stick with the same XI. That continuity has served him well — Arsenal have now gone unbeaten in the last 11 matches when naming an unchanged side (10 wins, one draw).

Early Arsenal Control, but Little Cutting Edge

As expected, Arsenal dominated possession early, holding an extraordinary 83.9% of the ball in the opening 15 minutes with 92% pass accuracy. Yet the control yielded few clear chances. Viktor Gyökeres, the Gunners’ main striker, managed just a single touch during that spell.

Palace, meanwhile, threatened through Marc Guehi and Ismaila Sarr, both seeing efforts blocked, while Adam Wharton dragged one wide.

To underline Arsenal’s lack of penetration, this was the first time since Palace’s return to the Premier League in 2013 that Arsenal failed to register a shot in the opening half hour of a league game against them. Leandro Trossard finally broke the drought with Arsenal’s first attempt in the 33rd minute — their longest wait for a shot since facing Liverpool in April 2021.

Eze Haunts His Former Club

Just six minutes later, Arsenal found their breakthrough. In one of football’s ironic twists, Eberechi Eze — facing his former club — fired home his first goal for Arsenal to make it 1–0. True to form, he refrained from celebrating out of respect.

Arsenal’s record when scoring first this season was perfect (five wins from five), leaving Palace needing a big response. But Glasner’s side hadn’t overturned a half-time deficit to win since October 2022.

With Guehi and William Saliba among the busiest players in the first half, it was no surprise that genuine goalmouth action was scarce. The combined expected goals (xG) stood at just 0.20 — the lowest first-half total in any Premier League game this season.

Arsenal Tighten Up Again

Arsenal’s seventh first-half clean sheet in nine matches reflected their defensive solidity — the best record in the division.

After the interval, Arteta’s men shifted up a gear. Within five minutes, efforts from Gabriel, Trossard, Declan Rice, and Bukayo Saka all tested Palace’s resolve, with Gabriel even rattling the woodwork.

By the hour mark, six of Arsenal’s eight shots had come from set pieces — an increasingly dangerous weapon in their arsenal (no pun intended).

Glasner turned to former Gunner Eddie Nketiah, introducing him for his 103rd substitute appearance since 2017/18. The forward managed Palace’s second and final shot on target 10 minutes later, but the visitors rarely threatened beyond that.

Palace’s Frustration and Arsenal’s Composure

Palace’s numbers told their story. Despite a committed defensive effort — more tackles (16–12), more won (9–7), and more interceptions (12–6) — they managed just one shot on target and one touch in the Arsenal box from Mateta across 90 minutes.

Arsenal, meanwhile, extended their run of clean sheets to three league games — their longest since January 2021 — with David Raya marking his 50th shutout for the club.

A Professional Job Done

While the scoreline suggested a close contest, Arsenal were comfortably the better side. Their ability to control games, even when not at their most fluid, continues to underline their title credentials.

With results elsewhere falling in their favour, Arteta will see this as another efficient, composed, and crucial victory — and for Eze, a debut goal tinged with poetic irony.