Arsenal strengthened their grip on the Premier League title race with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, capitalising on Manchester City’s surprise defeat to Aston Villa.

Eberechi Eze, facing his former club, scored the decisive goal just before the interval. Declan Rice’s free kick was expertly redirected by Gabriel, allowing Eze to produce a stunning acrobatic finish to break the deadlock.

The win moved the Gunners four points clear at the top of the table, with second-placed Bournemouth trailing behind. Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta lauded his players for their resilience and tactical discipline.

“We knew the match would be tough,” Arteta said. “It was a crucial win against a strong side. Today we were clinical upfront and solid at the back. The players deserved it. The substitutes made a significant impact once again.”

Arteta also provided injury updates on William Saliba, Declan Rice and Riccardo Calafiori, all of whom were forced off during the game. “Saliba and Declan picked up knocks, and Ricci too. Martinelli seems okay, but we are monitoring him,” he added.

The Gunners will next face Brighton in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday before travelling to Burnley in the league next weekend.

Meanwhile, Manchester City’s nine-game unbeaten run came to an end after a 1-0 loss to Aston Villa. Matt Cash’s precise left-foot strike in the 19th minute secured the win for Villa, lifting them to eighth on the table with 15 points. City remain fifth with 16 points and will host Bournemouth in their next fixture.

Aston Villa will face Liverpool on Saturday, while Arsenal’s attention shifts to domestic and cup duties in the coming week.