Arsenal have gone 4 factors clear on the prime of the Premier League however it might have come at a price.
Eberechi Eze‘s objective handed Arsenal a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace, however the outcome was marred by defender William Saliba being substituted on the interval whereas Declan Rice limped off within the second half.
Regardless of the danger of accidents to 2 key gamers unsettling the Gunners, they by no means skipped a beat as Cristhian Mosquera, who changed Saliba, helped protect a 3rd straight and sixth complete clear sheet within the league.
How Arsenal matched feat not seen in seven years
Moreover, Arsenal’s steely defence in opposition to Palace helped them to a one centesimal consecutive sport during which they averted conceding three objectives in a sport.
Mikel Arteta‘s aspect are simply the second English crew to have completed the exceptional feat alongside Manchester United, who did so between October 2016 and August 2018.
The mid-match lack of Saliba and Rice might go away Arteta with a variety headache for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup conflict in opposition to Brighton.
Mosquera is an easy swap for Saliba, though Rice could also be harder to switch given he has featured in all 12 of Arsenal’s fixtures this season.
Arteta offers harm replace on Rice and Saliba
Talking after the Palace win, Arteta conceded he did not know the extent of Rice’s harm ‘as a result of it was a knock’.
As for Saliba, Arteta confirmed he sustained a knock within the first half.
Earlier than Rice departed the sphere, he made certain to have an enormous say within the last outcome because it was his free-kick that led to Eze’s objective.
The England worldwide whipped in a ball from the correct aspect of the pitch and was headed again throughout objective by Gabriel, which was acrobatically put away by Eze.
It was a merciless sucker-punch for the travelling Eagles supporters given Eze left Palace in the summertime to affix Arsenal.
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Alarming Gyokeres run continues
Though Eze took the plaudits due to his match-winning effort, the competition marked the fifth-straight league sport during which Viktor Gyokeres failed to attain.
It was a efficiency to overlook for the Swede as he registered only one shot throughout the complete contest.
Gyokeres additionally completed with simply 27 touches of the ball, the fewest of the Arsenal gamers who began in opposition to Palace.
Given Gyokeres price Arsenal an preliminary £55million in the summertime, one other goalless efficiency will heap strain on him as a result of his tally of two open play objectives within the league this time period.
Gunners’ title hopes boosted by Premier League rivals
Though Arteta could have been targeted on the occasions in north London on Sunday, Arsenal followers may have been delighted about what unfolded within the West Midlands.
Arsenal got a serious increase within the title race courtesy of Matty Money’s left foot as his objective lifted Aston Villa to a 1-0 win over Manchester Metropolis.
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Money’s beautiful strike from exterior the field helped Villa prolong their unbeaten streak within the league to 6 video games and condemned Metropolis to their third Premier League defeat this time period.
The outcome additionally widened the hole between Arsenal and Metropolis, who at the moment are fourth, to 6 factors.
Metropolis’s 16 factors additionally leaves them stage with cross-town rivals Manchester United, who’re one place behind as a result of objective distinction.
In the meantime, champions Liverpool suffered their fourth league defeat in a row with a 3-2 loss at Brentford on Saturday night time.
In a desk few might have predicted in the beginning of the season, Bournemouth and Sunderland spherical out the highest 4.
Bournemouth sit second on 18 factors whereas Sunderland are one place and one level behind, with each groups choosing up wins over Nottingham Forest and Chelsea respectively this weekend.