Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle: Eze nets winner as Gunners move EPL top temporarily

Game is over and the final score is Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle. Here is the match report.

Match Report

Arsenal moved three points above Manchester City at the top of the Premier League with a nervy 1-0 win over Newcastle in which Kai Havertz and Eberechi Eze had to come off with injuries.

Eze scored the decisive goal with a stunning strike from the edge of the box following a well-worked corner in the ninth minute but had to be taken off in the second half after going down off the ball.

His substitution followed the withdrawal of Havertz in the first period, with the striker having also gone to ground off the ball. While Eze was able to take a seat on the bench upon coming off, Havertz looked glum as he went straight down the tunnel.

Arsenal had been knocked off the Premier League summit when Manchester City beat Burnley on Wednesday and had to work hard to regain top spot despite Eze's early strike.

Their sloppiness allowed the out-of-form Newcastle to gain a foothold in the game and Eddie Howe's side had chances to equalise in a nervy finale, with Yoane Wissa firing wastefully over after being played in on goal by fellow substitute Nick Woltemade.

Arsenal created little as they struggled to build any momentum after Eze's goal, only showing some improvement with the return of Bukayo Saka as a substitute for his first appearance since last month's Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City.

The England international sent a deflected effort narrowly wide soon after his introduction and also helped create an opening for Martin Odegaard, who was denied by Nick Pope.

Arsenal had other opportunities to kill the game as it entered seven minutes of stoppage time but their failure to do so allowed Newcastle to continue applying pressure and they had another chance when Dan Burn headed straight at David Raya.

The loss is Newcastle's fourth in a row in the Premier League as their poor season continues. Arsenal, meanwhile, are able to celebrate a return to the Premier League summit, albeit with injury concerns ahead of Wednesday's Champions League trip to Atletico Madrid.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

0' David Raya with a big save!

1' Osula misses big chance!

9' GOAL! Eze plants one into the top corner from distance! Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle

18' Willock shots saved by Raya

28' Saka is warming up

34' Havertz back on his feet but does not look good. Viktor is going to replace him

52' Time for another enforced switch, Eze 🔛 Martinelli

62' Highlight from Arsenal vs Newcastle

71' Yellow Card! Martinelli booked

72' Highlight from Arsenal vs Newcastle

74' Yellow Card! Pope booked

79' Big chance for Newcastle but Wissa blazes it over Raya's goal

81' Saka with an immediate impact

82' Match Event for Arsenal vs Newcastle

Line-ups

Arsenal XI: David Raya, Ødegaard, Rice, Gabriel, Havertz, Ben White, Eberechi Eze, Martín Zubimendi, Saliba, Madueke, Hincapie

Subs: Trossard, Kepa, Jesus, Viktor Gyökeres, Martinelli, Saka, Cristhian Mosquera, Lewis-Skelly, Max Dowman

Newcastle XI: Burn, Pope, J.Murphy, Guimaraes, Willock, Tonali, Sven Botman, Malick Thiaw, Jacob Ramsey, William Osula, Lewis Miley

Subs: Trippier, Yoane Wissa, Ramsdale, Barnes, Anthony Elanga, Nick Woltemade, Lewis Hall, Alex Murphy, Sean Neave