Key Takeaways
- Eberechi Eze’s curling ninth-minute strike proved enough to beat Newcastle and send Arsenal top.
- Mikel Arteta’s side ended a two-game losing run despite fresh injury scares for Eze and Kai Havertz.
- Newcastle remain in mid-table trouble after an 11-game spell that has brought only three points.
Arsenal returned to the Premier League summit on Saturday after grinding out a 1-0 victory over Newcastle United at a nervy Emirates Stadium.
The only goal arrived early, when Eberechi Eze collected a short corner, shifted the ball on to his left foot and arced a superb finish beyond Nick Pope into the far top corner. The strike settled home nerves following back-to-back league defeats to Bournemouth and Manchester City.
Arteta’s men never hit top gear. Havertz limped off before half-time and Eze followed him down the tunnel soon after the restart, yet the hosts defended resolutely. Newcastle, winless in eight of their previous 11 league outings, offered little until substitute Yoane Wissa volleyed over with only David Raya to beat on 80 minutes.
Seven minutes of stoppage time brought more anxiety for the red wall of fans, but stand-in centre-back Malick Thiaw and returning winger Bukayo Saka helped see out a precious clean sheet. The result lifts Arsenal two points clear of Manchester City, who play their game in hand in the FA Cup semi-final this weekend.
