Match-winner: Eberechi Eze’s acrobatic goal steered Arsenal past former club Crystal Palace in a tough game
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When Arsenal signed Eberechi Eze in the summer, Mikel Arteta stressed how the midfielder had “the capacity to create magic moments”.
The Gunners have had to wait a while for one of those, but on Sunday they finally got a glimpse of what their manager was talking about.
In a tight game against former club Crystal Palace, Eze’s brilliant goal was the difference and enough to secure a valuable victory.
“That’s what big players do and he’s certainly a big player,” said Arteta. “Hopefully that’s going to give him a big boost and confidence to generate many more moments like this, because these are the moments that sometimes define a season.”
It was a timely moment for Eze to step up, both for Arsenal and himself. The Gunners were able to capitalise on Liverpool and Manchester City dropping points, and they now sit four clear at the top of the Premier League.
Personally, too, it was a significant day for Eze. Before Sunday, there had been flashes of promise during his first few games in an Arsenal shirt, but it felt like he was still waiting for lift-off.
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A goal like that could be just what the 27-year-old needs to truly kick-start his time in north London, especially with competition for places about to ramp up.
A goal like that could be just what Eze needs to truly kick-start his time at Arsenal
Eze has been filling in for Martin Odegaard during the captain’s absence with a knee injury, but the Norwegian is due back next month.
Ethan Nwaneri is also expected to start Wednesday’s Carabao Cup clash with Brighton, giving the 18-year-old another chance to show why he deserves more minutes.
Nwaneri has started just once this season - away at Port Vale in the last round of the Carabao Cup - but he has looked sharp in his cameos off the bench.
If Eze’s performances dip, Nwaneri is ready and hungry to step up. That is exactly the level of competition Arteta wants in this Arsenal squad, believing it will bring the best out of every player.
Eze’s display on Sunday was the perfect illustration of what he offers, and why Arsenal missed a player like him last season.
He was guilty of giving the ball away at times, and his pass completion rate of 75.9 per cent was the 10th lowest of any Arsenal player on the day, but he delivered when it mattered.
That’s what Eze is: a moments player. Even when parts of the game aren’t going his way, he still has the quality to make the decisive impact.
“Whenever Eberechi gets a free shot inside the box, very often it’s a goal,” said Palace boss Oliver Glasner.
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“He scored the game winner like he did for us in the FA Cup final. At that time I was pleased. Today, it’s the opposite.”
Arsenal have sorely lacked that type of player in the past, particularly in games like this.
Palace were compact and disciplined, and it was always going to take something special to open them up.
In the end, as has often been the case this season, a set-piece was the difference - but it only mattered because of Eze’s emphatic finish.
Arteta hailed the result as Arsenal’s most important win of the season so far, given the weekend’s results and the fact they dropped points in this fixture last year.
It could also prove the most important game of Eze’s season, as it feels like his Arsenal career has truly begun.