It had to be him. Eberechi Eze would not have wished his first Arsenal Premier League goal to come against Crystal Palace. Partly because they are his former employers, but more because it means it has taken a while to arrive.
However, delayed gratification can be satisfying and Eze’s timing was impeccable. With Liverpool suffering a fourth consecutive league defeat at Brentford on Saturday night, Arsenal had a gap to extend. Opportunities such as Sunday presented must not be missed if a title is to be won.
But after his team had spent nearly an entire half offering up stodgy bread pudding when light and fluffy meringue was required, Eze provided the momentary magic that Mikel Arteta et al longed for.
Both feet off the ground, with the ball not quite settled nicely, Eze adjusted and struck a first-time shot that whipped the home crowd into delight. Three times the stadium announcer bellowed “Eberechi” into the north London air. Three times the call was met with a loud response. One-nil to the Arsenal.
And so, nine games in, Arteta is in the unusual and unexpected position of glancing into his wing-mirror and catching flashes of Bournemouth and Sunderland. Yes, you read that right.
