Mikel Arteta lauded Eberechi Eze's performance after the midfielder's decisive goal secured a 1-0 victory for Arsenal against his former club, Crystal Palace. The match, played on Sunday at the Emirates Stadium, saw Eze's first Premier League goal for the Gunners propel them four points clear at the top of the table.
Arsenal's manager emphasized the significance of Eze's contribution, highlighting the "magic moment" Eze provided. Arteta noted that such moments can define a season and expressed hope that this goal would significantly boost Eze's confidence, leading to more such instances. He said, "That's what big players do and he's certainly a big player and hopefully that's going to give him a big boost and confidence to generate many more moments like this because that's the moment that sometimes defines a season".
Eze's goal came in the 39th minute from a set-piece, a recurring theme for Arsenal's success. Declan Rice lofted a free kick into the box, which Gabriel headed back into the middle, Eze met the loose ball with a superb half-volley that found the bottom-right corner. Despite the quality of the goal, Eze's celebration was muted, a mark of respect for his former club where he spent five years.
Arteta acknowledged the difficulty of the match, stating, "Very big. Really happy because we knew the difficulty of the match. It was a crucial win against a really good side". He further added, "I just told the boys that I value this victory more than any other victory this season because we knew the difficulty of it". He praised his team's clinical performance and defensive excellence, particularly against Crystal Palace's intense defensive setup. Arsenal have now kept 10 clean sheets in 13 matches this term.
The Arsenal manager also addressed the substitutions made during the game, including taking off William Saliba at halftime due to pain. "We had to get him out. He was in some pain. We have to review, but he wasn't good enough to continue. With Declan [Rice] it was the same. We had a couple changes due to discomforts," Arteta explained.
Eze's arrival at Arsenal this summer for £67.5 million has been viewed as a key move to inject creativity into the midfield. Before this match, since Eze replaced the injured Martin Ødegaard, Arsenal has secured six straight victories. While the Gunners weren't at their best against Palace, they did enough to secure the points. Arsenal capitalized on losses from title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City over the weekend.
The game wasn't without its tense moments, particularly towards the end, as Crystal Palace pushed for an equalizer. However, Arsenal's defense held firm, ensuring Eze's goal would be enough to secure the victory. The final score was Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace.
