Arsenal reclaimed top spot in the Premier League after a narrow but crucial 1-0 victory over Newcastle United, with Eberechi Eze producing a moment of brilliance to decide the contest at the Emirates Stadium.
The result marked a swift response from Arsenal, who had briefly surrendered first place to Manchester City following City’s midweek win over Burnley.
For the first time since October, the Gunners had gone into a league fixture without leading the table.
Eze, however, ensured their return to the summit, firing home a superb first-half strike, his 10th league goal of the season to restore Arsenal’s advantage.
The win moved them three points clear of City, who were engaged in FA Cup duties at the time.
The victory was particularly significant given Arsenal’s recent dip in form.
Having lost 2-1 to City the previous weekend, their title ambitions had come under pressure.
The North London side had now suffered four defeats in their last six matches, a sharp contrast to their earlier consistency, where they lost just three of their opening 49 games in all competitions.
Memories of past title collapses in 2023 and 2024, when City edged them to the trophy, have heightened the stakes.
With City still holding a game in hand, the title race remains finely balanced, leaving Arsenal with little margin for error.
Attention now turns to upcoming fixtures, with Arsenal set to host Fulham in the league before travelling to face Atletico Madrid in a Champions League semi-final clash.
City’s earlier victory had ended Arsenal’s 209-day stay at the top, but the Gunners returned with a slender goal difference advantage.
However, their inability to extend the scoreline against a struggling Newcastle side could yet prove decisive.
Newcastle arrived in poor form, suffering nine defeats in their last 12 league outings, increasing scrutiny on manager Eddie Howe.
Their record at the Emirates offered little encouragement, with just one win in 17 visits.
Despite a lively start, Newcastle failed to capitalise on early chances.
Arsenal made them pay in the ninth minute through a well-worked set-piece routine.
Martin Odegaard initiated the move, finding Kai Havertz inside the penalty area. Havertz laid the ball off for Eze, who, left unmarked, curled a stunning effort into the top corner from 18 yards.
The goal underlined Arsenal’s dominance from dead-ball situations, marking their 17th goal from a corner this season, a new Premier League record for a single campaign.
Manager Mikel Arteta appeared to have targeted Newcastle’s defensive frailties, deploying multiple short corners to exploit gaps in the visitors’ setup.
However, Arsenal were not without their own concerns. Goalkeeper David Raya was tested by a long-range effort, while Havertz was forced off with injury before halftime.
Further disruption followed when Eze himself had to be substituted early in the second half, unsettling Arsenal’s rhythm.
Newcastle nearly capitalised, with chances falling to their forwards, but poor finishing let them down.
A late header was safely gathered by Raya, preserving Arsenal’s slim lead.
On the touchline, Arteta cut a tense
figure as the closing stages unfolded, but at the final whistle, relief was evident.
The hard-fought win keeps Arsenal firmly in the title race as the season enters its decisive phase.
