Eberechi Eze scored the winner against his former club as Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to four points.
The summer signing scored a sublime volley from a recycled Declan Rice free-kick shortly before half-time to put the Gunners in front against Crystal Palace, with his first Premier League goal for Arsenal coming against his old team.
Despite an end-to-end second half Mikel Arteta’s men clung on to take all three points at the Emirates, while their day was further improved by title rivals Manchester City dropping points in a 1-0 loss to Aston Villa the day after reigning champions Liverpool slumped to a fourth straight league defeat, against Brentford.
Oliver Glasner’s side had chances to spoil the league leaders’ party but could not take them and remain ninth in the top flight.
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Arsenal v Crystal Palace LIVE: Latest Premier League updates
- Gunners beat Palace to extend lead at top of table as Eze scores against old club
- Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Rice, Zubimendi, Eze, Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard
- Crystal Palace XI: Henderson, Muñoz, Richards, Lacroix, Guéhi, Mitchell, Wharton, Kamada, Sarr, Pino, Mateta
- '33 SAVE! Henderson gets to Trossard's low effort as Arsenal struggle to break down defence [ARS 0-0 CRY]
- '40 GOAL! Eze scores maiden Premier League goal for Gunners against former club [ARS 1-0 CRY]
Arsenal FC 1 - 0 Crystal Palace FC
'Crucial win against a good side' - Mikel Arteta
16:50 , Flo CliffordNow for Mikel Arteta, who says: “I’m really happy because we knew the difficulty of the match. It was a crucial win against a good side. Today we were clinical and defensively excellent. No one really generates big chances against them with the way they set up.
“They [the players] earned it. The way they compete and play, the way they want to win, it's amazing. The five [substitutes] that came on today made a big difference again. You see the other results in the Premier League... you have to be so good to win.”
He adds that Saliba and Rice “felt some pain”, but does not specify what. Saliba came off at half-time.
'We went toe-to-toe with the best team in the league' - Chris Richards
16:41 , Flo CliffordPalace defender Chris Richards also tries to see the positives as he chats to Sky Sports: “It was a close game in all aspects. Arsenal are a really good team and deserved the win. I think everybody knows how Arsenal are defensively and we needed to take our chances.
“Set-pieces are probably their forte right now, but we went toe-to-toe with the best team in the league.
“We are still positive. We take today on the chin and we keep trying to improve.”
'You cannot give Arsenal anything' - Oliver Glasner
16:35 , Flo CliffordOliver Glasner tells Sky Sports: “It’s a mixture of frustration about the result and being proud of the performance, especially in first half. You cannot give Arsenal anything.
“It's a silly foul and we gave them the second shot with Ebs [Eberechi Eze], and we know he has a good shot.
“We tried everything. It shows our progress when we are upset with losing 1-0 here. We are still missing a little bit. Mikel Arteta is doing such a great job. It's about us being a bit better in every single phase. When you get two or three chances, you need to score.”
'Every season we learn more and more' - Leandro Trossard
16:14 , Flo CliffordHere’s Trossard, speaking to Sky Sports: “We’re really pleased with the win and another clean sheet. We need to keep going. Lately it has been like that, we have to keep patience throughout the game because we know we can score anytime. It would have been nice if we had put the game to bed.
“We are excited as well. When we get a set-piece we know we can score.
“It’s hard to put a finger on it [why we are doing particularly well this season] but every season we learn more and more. We just want to win, we want to win every game.”
Celebrations at the Emirates
16:08 , Flo Clifford
Arsenal lead Premier League table
16:00 , Flo CliffordArsenal now lead Bournemouth by four points at the top of the table, with the Cherries replacing Sunderland in second after beating Nottingham Forest 2-0 today.
Sunderland drop to third, with City down in fourth, six points off the Gunners.
Arsenal extend lead
15:59 , Flo CliffordIn even better news for Arsenal, Manchester City have lost 1-0 to Aston Villa, so both their likely title rivals - City and Liverpool - have dropped significant points this weekend.
FULL-TIME: Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
15:56 , Flo Clifford90+7 mins: Raya takes an age to take the kick, and that’s the full-time whistle.
Fist pumps from Arteta. Three points for Arsenal, who extend their lead at the top of the table.
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
15:55 , Flo Clifford90+7 mins: Henderson is up for Palace, last chance saloon... he hoofs it forward but Arsenal clear it back to the keeper.
One more minute, the ref signals, to loud booing... Is a free-kick being awarded? Palace boot it away and look resigned to their fate.
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
15:53 , Flo Clifford90+5 mins: Martinelli is through on goal but takes a heavy touch and Henderson slides in gratefully to stop him.
Mosquera very angrily claims a free-kick, no dice.
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
15:52 , Flo Clifford90+4 mins: Lerma launches a throw-in, it’s cleared, Sosa recycles... hoofed away.
Uche curls in a cross from the right, under pressure, but it’s too close to Raya and he collects easily.
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
15:50 , Flo Clifford90+2 mins: Stylish opening contribution from Uche as he gets the better of Gyokeres, through on goal, and punts it down the other end.
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
15:49 , Flo Clifford90 mins: SIX minutes added on. Time for Palace?
Gabriel blocks a Hughes attempt... Lacroix comes again and blasts it well over the bar, that was just dreadful.
Three changes for the visitors: Wharton, Mitchell, and Munoz off, Lerma, Sosa, and Uche on.
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
15:48 , Flo Clifford90 mins: Arsenal have a corner, with Trossard on delivery duty in the absence of Rice. It’s very high as he attempts to reach the far post. Eventually it’s cleared, just to set up another one.
A Palace defender heads it away at the far post.
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
15:46 , Flo Clifford88 mins: Non-stop drama now. Gyokeres does well to maintain possession and Arteta is not happy at all as Merino, on the spin, sends it out.
Eze goes off to warm applause, to be replaced by Lewis-Skelly.
Wharton tries to find Mateta, who can’t believe it as Gabriel lands on his back and sends him to ground. No foul given.
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
15:43 , Flo Clifford86 mins: A clever pass by Wharton as he threads it through, Trossard attempts to cut it out but Palace still have possession... Munoz crosses in but Zubimendi clears!
Five nervy minutes for Arsenal to cling on.
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
15:40 , Flo Clifford83 mins: That’s it for Rice.
Two changes for the hosts: Hincapie is making his Premier League debut, on for Calafiori, while Rice is replaced by Merino.
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
15:39 , Flo Clifford81 mins: Palace have a corner that comes to nothing as Guehi heads over from Hughes’ delivery.
Break in play as Rice is down in the penalty area.
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
15:37 , Flo Clifford80 mins: A tale of two managers: Glasner looks fairly calm, albeit a little frustrated, while Arteta is as animated as ever, windmilling his arms up and down. This is a very fragile lead and Palace are not giving up.
End to end: It breaks to Gyokeres but he’s closed down by three defenders! Now Nketiah drives down the left channel but Gabriel smothers it before Mateta can have a go!
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
15:33 , Flo Clifford75 mins: Change for Palace: Hughes is on for Kamada.
Mitchell plays a poor header more or less straight into the path of Raya.
Hughes has an an immediate impact, opening things up for Mateta, but he runs out of steam.
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
15:30 , Flo Clifford72 mins: A rare chance for Palace as Mitchell drives forward, laying it off for Nketiah - but the former Arsenal man miscontrols it, perhaps not expecting the pass, and the ball deflects off his toe and well wide.
Palace now have a set-piece chance but Raya collects fairly easily.
CLOSE! Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
15:28 , Flo Clifford71 mins: After much grimacing Gabriel is back up and looking okay... but Palace quickly work it down the other end and Raya has his work cut out to save after dropping a cross by Munoz, with Nketiah threatening!
CLOSE! Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
15:27 , Flo Clifford69 mins: Another Arsenal corner, another inswinging Rice special, and Gabriel and Gyokeres get in each other’s way, Gabriel clattering into the post as his momentum carries him too far. Ouch.
To add insult to injury, the ball went into the side netting.
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
15:23 , Flo Clifford65 mins: Arsenal have another corner but there’s a brief reprieve for Palace as it’s a comparatively poor one from Rice.
Another change for Arsenal: Saka, who has been kept pretty quiet today, is hooked for Martinelli.
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
15:21 , Flo Clifford63 mins: Arsenal continue to threaten, taking advantage from a defensive lapse down the other end and speeding away... But Trossard can’t reach Gyokeres as Lacroix clears it.
And Gyokeres flies away down the left again, again teed up by Trossard, but Lacroix is once again there to close him down.
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
15:18 , Flo Clifford60 mins: Former Gunner Eddie Nketiah gets a nice reception as he replaces Pino, on his 150th Premier League appearance. He slots straight into Pino’s position, a slightly unusual change.
SAVE! Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
15:16 , Flo Clifford58 mins: Trossard runs onto a long ball forward and crosses over to Gabriel in front of goal, the ball bobbling across from the byline - Saka is there looking for a tap-in but Guehi makes the crucial block, with the goalmouth wide open!
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
15:15 , Flo Clifford57 mins: The volume in here is considerably higher than in the first half, with Arsenal enjoying the majority of possession and certainly looking more threatening. Timber makes a fine challenge and Saka threads the ball through to Gyokeres... but there’s a quick end to that.
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
15:11 , Flo Clifford53 mins: A Saka attempt flies wide of goal to bring an end to that. Very nervy times for Palace.
SAVE! Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
15:09 , Flo Clifford51 mins: Oh my word, how have they not scored? Rice’s delivery from the edge of the box is recycled back to him, he clips it to the far post where Gabriel heads it goalward but Henderson tips it over the bar!
Arsenal have another two attempts as it pinballs around, Henderson flying to his right to save! Some majestic goalkeeping there.
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
15:07 , Flo Clifford49 mins: Wharton falls hard and looks a little tentative now.
Trossard plays it forward to Calafiori at the byline and Arsenal have a shout for handball, just on the edge of the box by Munoz! He’s lucky it wasn’t in the box itself, but still an Arsenal set-piece in a dangerous position...
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
15:04 , Flo CliffordOne change at the break: Saliba is replaced by Mosquera.
SECOND HALF: Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
15:03 , Flo CliffordBack underway at the Emirates... can Palace find a way back into this?
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
14:57 , Flo CliffordIt had to be him, didn’t it? Having only scored once in 10 appearances since a £60m transfer in the summer - and that against lowly Port Vale in the Carabao Cup - Eze has finally broken his Premier League drought against none other than his former club.
The atmosphere was considerably better inside a rather flat Emirates after that, but the game is by no means over, with Palace having consistently threatened on the counter - just unable to make their chances count.
HALF-TIME: Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
14:50 , Flo Clifford45+2 mins: Half-time! Eze has a nice moment with Kamada, high-fiving his former teammate as they head off the pitch.
It’s the ex-Palace man whose stunning moment of quality - a rare one in this game - made the difference, with a sublime half-volley shortly before half-time.
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
14:46 , Flo Clifford45+1 mins: Two minutes added on at the Emirates, where the atmosphere is very different to how it was ten minutes ago.
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
14:45 , Flo Clifford45 mins: The home supporters boo as Rice’s delivery is easily dealt with. Eze fancies another and drives into the box but a speculative attempt is blocked by Guehi.
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
14:44 , Flo Clifford44 mins: That’s a superb volley from Eze, lashed past Henderson, who had no chance.
Palace win a corner as they look to bounce back but it’s very tame, before Mitchell shoves over Timber and the hosts - the Emirates now absolutely bouncing - have another free-kick, deep on the right flank.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
14:40 , Flo Clifford40 mins: He doesn’t entirely escape punishment actually as Arsenal have a free-kick... Rice sends it looping towards Gabriel at the far post, who knocks it down into the centre of the park...
It falls to Eze and he slams home his first Premier League goal for Arsenal, against his former club!
No celebration as a mark of respect, but you can tell it means a lot.
Arsenal 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:39 , Flo Clifford38 mins: Trossard is held up by Munoz on the edge of the box, giving Palace enough time to get pretty much every man behind the ball. They’re doing well to frustrate Arsenal so far.
‘Come on ref!’ someone shouts in frustration as Pino treads on Saka’s foot and escapes punishment for it.
SAVE! Arsenal 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:34 , Flo Clifford33 mins: Warning signs for Palace, Gyokeres has too much pace for Lacroix and Henderson has to sprint back between the sticks... Trossard fires a long, low effort in but Henderson makes the save!
Arsenal 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:30 , Flo Clifford30 mins: Arsenal win a free-kick deep in midfield, which Raya takes short to Rice... and there’s a bit more noise from the rather subdued home crowd now as Saka wins another in the Palace defensive third.
Rice stands over it, deep on the right... it’s a good ball in but cleared. Zubimendi recycles it but puts too much welly into his pass and Rice can’t quite stretch to it at the corner flag.
SAVE! Arsenal 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:26 , Flo Clifford25 mins: First shot on target for Crystal Palace... but the flag belatedly goes up! Mateta holds up the ball and releases Munoz, who makes an attempt from a tight angle on the right rather than squaring to Pino, and Raya saves.
CHANCE! Arsenal 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:23 , Flo Clifford22 mins: Zubimendi falls asleep in midfield and Palace immediately launch a counter, Mateta is free in the centre but Sarr has a go himself from the right flank - straight at Gabriel! A crucial block.
Arsenal 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:20 , Flo Clifford19 mins: Mitchell escapes down the left and is given acres of room before squaring to Pino... three Gunners eventually manage to nab the ball back.
Sarr now has the chance to shoot but opts to play the ball through to a teammate and looks a bit annoyed at himself for wasting a chance. This is certainly feeling more even than one might have expected....
Now Wharton makes a huge challenge to deny Eze after the former Palace man leaps into the box!
Arsenal 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:15 , Flo Clifford15 mins: Having said that, now Saliba sends a peach of a pass toward Gyokeres and the Swede is let loose on goal... The angle is really tight and he decides not to shoot in the end, under pressure from Lacroix at the post.
Arsenal try to recycle but the move comes to an end as Pino clatters into Saka at the sideline. No foul awarded.
Arsenal 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:14 , Flo Clifford13 mins: Munoz floats a long ball over the top to Sarr but he can’t quite get there in time... this is looking much more promising for Palace after they barely had a look-in in the opening five minutes.
Arsenal 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:11 , Flo Clifford10 mins: Some really untidy defending from Arsenal as Palace lob a long ball forward... Mateta gets the better of Saliba and Pino darts into space, but Trossard makes the crucial late block.
Early warning signs for Arsenal as the visitors have a corner... Wharton nearly heads it down but Saliba is there to clear.
Arsenal 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:08 , Flo Clifford8 mins: A shirt pull by Zubimendi on Wharton goes unpunished as Palace look to counter, the Englishman trying to set up Mateta.
Now Eze scampers away from his replacement, Yeremy Pino, but can’t quite find a pocket of space. Arsenal with all the possession so far.
Thomas Tuchel in the crowd
14:06 , Flo CliffordA familiar face is in the crowd today... keeping an eye on the likes of Adam Wharton?
Arsenal 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:04 , Flo Clifford4 mins: Mateta robs Zubimendi and then slips away from the Spaniard shortly after, trying to release Sarr - but Trossard is there to rescue things and immediately counter, Gyokeres making an enterprising run to latch onto his through-ball... danger averted by Palace, however.
Eze now darts forward against his old club but his pass is straight to Mitchell.
Arsenal 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:02 , Flo Clifford2 mins: Arsenal are on the front foot in these early stages. Zubimendi looks to find Timber down the right, but the Dutchman hooks a cross too deep for Rice.
KICK-OFF: Arsenal vs Crystal Palace
14:00 , Flo CliffordBoth sides take the knee, and away we go!
Team news reminder
13:56 , Flo CliffordArsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Rice, Zubimendi, Eze, Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard
Crystal Palace XI: Henderson, Muñoz, Richards, Lacroix, Guéhi, Mitchell, Wharton, Kamada, Sarr, Pino; Mateta.
How the table looks
13:50 , Flo CliffordArsenal sit two points clear of - who’d have guessed it - Sunderland at the top of the table, with 19 points, after the promoted side stunned eighth-placed Chelsea 2-1 on Saturday.
Crystal Palace are in ninth as it stands, six points off the Gunners - but a win today would see them move above Manchester United into the top four.
Oliver Glasner absolves teen Jaydee Canvot of blame after Crystal Palace defeat
13:40 , Flo CliffordCrystal Palace had a rather more sobering European night as a triumphant return to the Conference League - having already been demoted form the Europa League - was soured by a 1-0 loss to minnows AEK Larnaca.
Jaydee Canvot was at fault for the Cypriots’ only goal, but Oliver Glasner said: “Nobody is blaming Jaydee for this mistake. This happens, it’s part of football, especially when you’re a young player, this is part of your development.
“You will get all the support and then it’s no problem. Of course he’s not delighted to make this mistake, but every player with a big career, I think, missed a few chances and made some mistakes that led to a goal.”
Oliver Glasner absolves teen Jaydee Canvot of blame after Crystal Palace defeat
Viktor Gyokeres is no Thierry Henry but he can be the flat-track bully Arsenal need
13:30 , Flo CliffordMore from Richard Jolly on Viktor Gyokeres as the Swede finally broke his scoring drought - will that open the floodgates?
“Close Arsenal’s goal-of-the-season competition now. They have a winner. If, that is, it was the prize for the scruffiest goal.
Gunners of a certain vintage will recall Dennis Bergkamp scoring one of the most artistic, aesthetically pleasing hat-tricks of all, against Leicester in 1997. A younger generation could enjoy Viktor Gyokeres’ distinctly uglier brace against Atletico Madrid, but for rather different reasons.”
Viktor Gyokeres is no Thierry Henry but he can be the flat-track bully Arsenal need
Four Arsenal goals in 13 minutes stun Atletico and send statement to rest of Europe
13:20 , Flo CliffordArsenal are riding high on confidence after an emphatic display against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League this week.
Richard Jolly reports: “It may not be Arsenal’s most celebrated win over a club from the Spanish capital in 2025 but there was something seismic, something spectacular about it nonetheless.
“Atletico Madrid did not just emulate Real Madrid, who were beaten at the Emirates Stadium in April: they surpassed them. And not in the right way. Real lost 3-0 on one of Mikel Arteta’s greatest nights. In the space of 13 surreal minutes, Arsenal scored four times against the club who used to be the byword for defensive solidity.”
Four Arsenal goals in 13 minutes stun Atletico and send European statement
'There are a lot of emotions' - Arteta on Eze facing Palace
13:10 , Flo CliffordMuch of the focus for this game will be on Eberechi Eze’s return against former side Crystal Palace, with Mikel Arteta saying: “It’s a big game for us, because last season here we dropped points [in a 2-2 draw at home in April] so our focus is on that.
“We know that for Ebs it’s going to be a very special match, with the history and what he did for Palace. There is something in the tummy (when you play against a former club).
“There are a lot of emotions, there are very close relationships, but the focus is on the team. And I am sure Ebs is going to be ready for that.”
Could Eze break his scoring drought against his old side today?
Team news
13:04 , Flo CliffordOliver Glasner makes three changes from the Conference League defeat: Chris Richards, Adam Wharton and Daichi Kamada return and Jaydee Canvot, Will Hughes and Jefferson Lerma drop to the bench, with Borna Sosa back in the squad after suspension.
Team news
12:58 , Flo CliffordOnly a couple of changes for Mikel Arteta: Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori, who were rested midweek, come in for Gabriel Martinelli and Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Eberechi Eze has a starting berth against his former club.
Gabriel starts for the Gunners
12:55 , Flo CliffordThe big news for Arsenal is that Gabriel starts, having been assessed as fit enough after having to go off in the second half against Atletico Madrid.
Team news - Crystal Palace
12:50 , Flo CliffordCrystal Palace XI: Henderson, Muñoz, Richards, Lacroix, Guéhi, Mitchell, Wharton, Kamada, Sarr, Pino; Mateta.
Substitutes: Benitez, Clyne, Canvot, Sosa, Lerma, Hughes, Uche, Nketiah, Devenny.
The XI to face Arsenal ✊ pic.twitter.com/MmlZMXW79R
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) October 26, 2025
Team news - Arsenal
12:49 , Flo CliffordArsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Rice, Zubimendi, Eze, Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard.
Substitutes: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, White, Hincapie, Martinelli, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Merino, Lewis-Skelly.
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 26, 2025
🧱 Saliba and Gabriel holding it down
🇮🇹 Calafiori in at left-back
🪄 Trossard returns to the wing
Let's do this, Gunners 👊 pic.twitter.com/rQpcJADBZ4
Predicted line-ups
12:40 , Flo CliffordArsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Mosquera, Calafiori, Eze, Zubimendi, Rice, Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard
Crystal Palace XI: Henderson, Richards, Lacroix, Guehi, Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell, Pino, Sarr, Mateta
Team news
12:30 , Flo CliffordMikel Arteta has confirmed that high-profile absentees Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard will not be available, while defender Gabriel had to come off in the win over Atletico Madrid with an unspecified knock and will be assessed to determine his fitness ahead of the weekend.
Oliver Glasner will be without Chadi Riad, Cheick Doucoure and Caleb Kporha due to injury and is likely to rotate his squad after only playing on Thursday in Europe. Adam Wharton and Daichi Kamada could be in for more minutes after brief cameos against Larnaca.
How can I watch it?
12:20 , Flo CliffordViewers in the UK can watch the action on Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League, as well as streaming service Sky Go, with coverage starting at 12.30pm.
If you’re not a Sky customer, you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.
When is Arsenal v Crystal Palace?
12:10 , Flo CliffordArsenal host Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday 26 October, with kick-off at 2pm GMT.
Arsenal vs Crystal Palace LIVE
12:00 , Flo CliffordHello and welcome to live coverage of Arsenal vs Crystal Palace.
The Gunners are bidding to extend their lead at the top of the table to five points, taking advantage of rivals Liverpool imploding against Brentford on Saturday.
Kick-off is at 2pm GMT (not BST!)
