At a Glance:
- Arsenal goalscorer shows he has a different level of class
- Crucial 1-0 win leaves Manchester City with work to do
- Gunners legend believes he must play as much as possible
Arsenal’s home game against Newcastle had it all. A tight 1-0 win for the Gunners saw a phenomenal goal from Eberechi Eze, and gives the Gunners a three-point lead at the top of the table yet again.
However, the game was also not without both surprises and controversy—Arsenal had two players come off injured, while a risky challenge from Nick Pope on Viktor Gyokeres saw the Newcastle goalkeeper escape with only a yellow card despite a noticeable crowd reaction.
There have been debates over whether Mikel Arteta should be sacked if his team are unable to win the Premier League, but the win over their Geordie opponents has now meant Manchester City must win their upcoming game against Everton away to keep their title challenge going.
One player was essential in the Arsenal win over the Magpies, and has gained the praise of an Arsenal legend following the conclusion of the game, too.
Eberechi Eze was both the goalscorer and the gamechanger in a strong showing against Newcastle
The eighth minute of the game saw Arsenal opt for a short corner, with an unmarked Kai Havertz recieving the pass and laying the ball off to Eberechi Eze at the edge of the box.
Eze would curl the ball home to score the only goal of the game, launching the Emirates faithful into pandemonium as he wheeled away in celebration.
Sadly for the 27-year-old, it was not a full 90 minutes for him as he, as well as Kai Havertz, both found theirselves forced into substitutions as precautionary measures.
Eze would come off in the 53rd minute, being replaced by Gabriel Martinelli, but still was able to look impressive in his short cameo, as a real force of energy for the Arsenal attack.
Successfully completing his only dribble of the game as well as three passes into the final third showcased in limited quantity that Eze is both a facilitator and technician, with his goal from range showing that he brings a unique ballstriking ability to the squad.
Paul Merson says Arsenal must rely on their ‘best players’ going forward
Speaking on Sky Sports after the match, nineties Arsenal icon Paul Merson stated that players such as Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, and Eberechi Eze will be the most essential players for the North London club over the next four games.
“[Eze] has to play every game. Every game he is fit—him and Odegaard, and Saka when he is fit—have to be on the pitch, to win football matches.
“When you need to win football matches, you have got to put your best, best players on the pitch… there’s a saying—when things aren’t going too well, just go back to your best players. Some of them might not be playing to their [highest] standard, but they will produce,” claimed Merson.
