LONDON — Mikel Arteta recently referred to “magic moments,” and Sunday’s 1-0 victory for Arsenal against Crystal Palace was a perfect illustration of that prediction coming to fruition. Arteta had previously highlighted the impact that Eberechi Eze could have on his side.
If any club needed a reminder of Eze’s capabilities, it was Palace, where he spent five years and scored the winning goal in last season’s FA Cup final. However, this time, they found themselves on the receiving end of his prowess. In the 39th minute, Declan Rice took a free kick that fell to Eze, who made no mistake, skillfully volleying it into the corner as goalkeeper Dean Henderson stood helpless.
Ironically, Eze’s goal mirrored his strike from a previous season’s match against Arsenal—a 2-2 draw that had significant consequences for the Gunners’ title challenge. Fast forward six months, and Eze’s goal this time pushed Arsenal four points clear at the top of the league.
Could this be the quintessential example of those “magic moments” Arteta had referenced regarding their £67.5 million signing? Eze certainly has stepped up in light of Martin Ødegaard’s absence, the team captain who is integral to Arsenal’s attacking play.
Arteta praised Eze’s goal, saying: “Absolutely. The way he struck the ball was exceptional. He did something similar when he scored against us last year from a corner.” He continued, “Against a team that defends so resolutely, it’s important to create chaos and find openings, and he executed that brilliantly. Moments like these can define a season.”
With Arsenal’s disciplined approach to pursuing success—focusing on solid defense and set-piece efficiency—the value of such moments is amplified. Indeed, the scenario leading up to Eze’s goal was preventable for Palace. Many know Arsenal’s strength in set-pieces, so Yeremy Pino’s decision to foul Bukayo Saka from 50 yards out was a particularly poor choice.
Eze hesitated for a moment before celebrating his goal against his former club, eventually opting for a more reserved celebration reflective of his Christian faith. “When you allow Eberechi Eze a free shot in the area, it’s often going to be a goal,” noted Palace manager Oliver Glasner, somewhat regretfully. “We benefitted from similar situations last season.”
Following the goal, Arsenal’s defense remained steadfast, with set pieces continuing to pose a threat. Gabriel Magalhães came close, hitting the crossbar and later the post in his attempts to extend Arsenal’s lead.
Before the match, Glasner acknowledged how well Palace was managing without Eze, noting their top position in the expected goals (xG) metric—including a high of 19.1, compared to Manchester United’s 16.51. However, in this match, they only mustered an xG of 0.47, managing just one shot on target, a late effort from substitute Eddie Nketiah that required a save from goalkeeper David Raya.
Arsenal’s achievements defensively have now reached 385 minutes without conceding, a remarkable feat amplified by the recent loss of center back William Saliba to injury and the integration of new signing Piero Hincapié at left-back for his debut.
Rice was also substituted late on due to a knock he sustained earlier in the match, yet Arsenal continues to set new defensive records, now reaching 100 games across all competitions without conceding more than two goals.
Despite scoring the goal that led to his former team’s defeat, Eze received applause from Palace fans as he left the field. Though his Arsenal career has yet to fully ignite, his contributions, especially the recent goal, highlight the added depth to the squad this summer. In his 13th appearance, he netted his first league goal, adding to three assists, including one against Atletico Madrid earlier in the week, and his influence appears to be on the rise.
Desiring a move to Arsenal, Eze directly contacted Arteta during a period where Tottenham was finalizing a deal for him, indicating his commitment to making a difference in this pivotal match. Arteta acknowledged the team’s progress: “We are where we are. It’s a credit to our consistency, but we recognize the challenges in every match. This lead doesn’t guarantee anything—we must maintain our focus and keep performing well.”