Eze's early strike puts Arsenal back on top | OneFootball

Arsenal are back at the top of the Premier League after a narrow win over Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium

With Manchester City over in Wembley Stadium in their FA Cup semi-final, the Gunners had the perfect chance to get back to the summit of the Premier League, albeit having played one game more.

The home side took an early lead and it came from a corner – although not the usual style. This time it was taken short with Kai Havertz laying it off to Eberechi Eze on the edge of the area who fired a superb strike that Nick Pope had no chance of getting too.

There was almost another brilliant strike with about a half hour gone that would have levelled the score. Sandro Tonali unleashed the kind of shot you may remember from the 2010 World Cup that David Raya had done well to keep track of.

Mikel Arteta was forced into a substitute shortly after when Kai Havertz went down with Viktor Gyökeres taking his place.

A similar scenario happened eight minutes into the second half too when goalscorer Eze couldn't continue and Gabriel Martinelli took his place. Arsenal will be hoping both players will be back soon.

Nick Pope almost got completely caught out in the 74th minute as Gyökeres was through the Newcastle goalkeeper well off his line and then bringing down the Swedish forward. If it wasn't for the fact Malick Thiaw would have more than likely got to the ball before Gyökeres, Pope would have been sent off – he would no doubt be grateful just to receive a yellow card.

The visitors piled on the pressure late on and the best chance came from two substitutes. First, Nick Woltemade chipping the ball into the area and then Yoane Wissa latching on to it but unable to keep it down.

The Gunners eventually survived to earn all three points and win a game that could easily have been a potential banana skin.

Incidents: The story of the match

Arsenal Official Line-ups:

David Raya, Ben White, Piero Hincapié, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães, Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze, Kai Havertz

Newcastle Official Line-ups:

Nick Pope, Dan Burn, Malick Thiaw, Sven Botman, Sandro Tonali, Jacob Ramsey, Bruno Guimarães, Joe Willock, Lewis Miley, Jacob Murphy, Will Osula

1':

The match begins

Arsenal lead 1-0 against Newcastle United. Eberechi Eze scores for Arsenal with a right-footed shot from outside the box into the top left corner, assisted by Kai Havertz after a corner.

9':

GOAL Arsenal: Eberechi Eze (Arsenal) scores!

Eberechi Eze scores goal number 7 in the competition (29 matches)

998':

The referee whistles for the end of the match