EBERECHI Eze scored the only goal for Arsenal against his former club at the Emirates Stadium today as the Gunners defeated Crystal Palace 1-0 to extend their lead at the top of the English Premier League table to four points.
In other Premier League fixtures today, Manchester City were beaten 1-0 at Aston Villa, Bournemouth defeated Taiwo Awoniyi’s Nottingham Forest 2-0, and Tolu Arokodare’s Wolves lost 3-2 at home to Burnley.
Eze, the England international with Nigerian heritage, joined Arsenal in a deal worth £67m in the summer and his winner came from another trademark Arsenal set-piece.
Declan Rice curled a free-kick into the Palace box which was knocked down by centre-back Gabriel, then Eze acrobatically fired the ball into the corner of the net.
Crystal Palace, who lost to AEK Larnaca in midweek, did threaten on occasion with Jean-Philippe Mateta battling against the solid Arsenal defence – but they did not trouble David Raya in goal.
Arsenal nearly doubled their lead in the second half when Gabriel hit the crossbar with a header and Bukayo Saka went close with a curled effort from the edge of the penalty area.
The win means Arsenal are now unbeaten in 10 matches in all competitions.
At Villa Park, Unai Emery celebrated three years as Aston Villa manager with a hard-fought victory to end Manchester City’s nine-game unbeaten run.
Villa are unrecognisable since the Spaniard took over from Steven Gerrard in 2022 and, after a sticky start this season and shock defeat by Go Ahead Eagles in the Europa League on Thursday, the battling victory over City was their fourth in a row in the league.
The hosts netted the winner on 19 minutes courtesy of Matty Cash’s precise left-foot finish from the edge of the box after a corner, but the visitors were unhappy with the set-piece being awarded, feeling Lucas Digne had fouled Matheus Nunes in the build-up.
City had the opportunity to level just two minutes later when Phil Foden found a pass through to the usually-reliable Erling Haaland, but the striker’s low shot was smothered by Emiliano Martinez.
At Molineux, South Africa striker Lyle Foster’s 95th-minute winner earned Burnley their first away victory of the season to leave Wolves winless and rooted to the bottom of the Premier League.
The substitute struck late just as it looked like Wolves had earned a point after fighting back from 2-0 down.
Zian Flemming’s first-half double put the Clarets in charge but Jorgen Strand Larsen’s penalty and Marshall Munetsi’s header hauled the hosts level before the break.
Wolves were unable to captialise on their momentum and fans again turned on executive chairman Jeff Shi and owners Fosun.
They vented their anger after Flemming’s opener – a brilliantly taken first-time volley – and following his second, with few signs of recovery in sight.
But when Josh Cullen kicked Santiago Bueno, Strand Larsen scored from the spot and Wolves had hope, with Munetsi levelling in first-half stoppage time.
Arokodare, who joined Wolves from Genk in the summer, was brought on with six minutes left on the clock, but it was Bafana Bafana striker Foster who struck the winner for Burnley in stoppage time.
Martin Dubravka’s late save from Bueno helped earn Burnley’s victory – their first on the road in the Premier League since April 2024 – which lifts them to 16th and five points above the relegation zone, while Wolves are bottom.
At the Vitality Stadium, Sean Dyche’s first Premier League game in charge of Nottingham Forest ended in defeat as Bournemouth moved up to second in the with a thoroughly deserved victory.
Forest, 2-0 winners over Porto in the Europa League on Thursday, were comfortably second best at Vitality Stadium, but they fell behind in unconventional circumstances when Marcus Tavernier’s corner sailed over goalkeeper Matz Sels and straight into the net.
Forest were aggrieved at the decision to award Bournemouth a corner in the first place, with Tavernier’s cross appearing to hit Neco Williams and rebound off the Bournemouth winger’s foot before looping out of play.
There was little the visitors could do about Bournemouth’s second, though, as Eli Junior Kroupi collected a loose ball before arrowing a low shot into the bottom corner from 30 yards for his fourth goal in three Cherries appearances.
Dyche introduced Awoniyi at the start of the second half, but there was little the Super Eagles striker could do as Bournemouth eased to victory at home.
The win moves Andoni Iraola’s team four points behind leaders Arsenal, while Forest remain in the relegation zone after suffering their sixth league defeat of the campaign.
With agency reports